Once upon a time, many, many beers ago (or was it years?), Chicago had a vital, thriving thrash scene. On any given weekend you could pack into a Pilsen backyard known as the Fallout and catch the likes of Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre, Savagery, and Reign among others, for the low, low price of $5. Alas, time went on and so did these bands. Some weathered the storm, some changed styles, and some broke up altogether. However, every now and then a local band comes along reminding me of these early 2010s glory days. Last year it was Misfire which features former members of Diamond Plate. This year it’s Feral Vision which features Braulio Correa (guitars, bass, vocals) and Josue Gutierrez (drums) of Savagery and Michael de la Mora (guitars) of Reign. Together, they unite to create a band even more brutal than the usual breed of Chicago thrashers.
Symbols is more or less a concept EP with all of the songs relating lyrically to the ancient Mayan civilization. We’re given a short but sweet collection of an intro and 3 songs: “In Pursuit”, “Broken Spears”, and the title track. All of these songs feature fast, aggressive riffs, unexpected mosh parts which hit the listener like a left hook, and glorious solos from de la Mora. I’ve known Michael (or Mikey) since around the time he joined his main band, Reign. This EP demonstrates how he has grown as a soloist. “In Pursuit” stands out with a solo that rivals the great Marty Friedman. It’s not just the solos which shine. When it comes to delivering those neck breaking riffs, look no further than the title track. He and Correa are a twin assault, unleashing a lethal dose of Demolition Hammer worship.
It’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for Feral Vision. With all members at peak performance, it’d be a disservice if they didn’t record a full length album. For now, this slab of thrash goodness will suffice.
7 out of 10
Label: Independent
Genre: Thrash Metal
For fans of: Demolition Hammer, Sepultura, Slayer