The 2010s saw the arrival of more metal subgenres, microgenres, fusions, and amalgamations than ice cream flavors at Baskin Robbins. Among these styles which are left to be dissected and analyzed by metal internet nerds like yours truly is “the Power Trip sound”. Made popular by the Texas crossover thrash act of the same name, it’s characterized by militant vocals, concrete coated riffs, and a production value akin to Sepultura’s Arise (1991). Like every other 2010s metal offshoot, “the Power Trip sound” is not without its worshippers and imitators. Falling somewhere between the two is New Jersey’s Paralysis.
Paralysis hails about an hour outside of New York City, but they would’ve had me fooled. They infuse this take on modern thrash with a healthy dose of NYHC anger and intensity. It’s to the point where their latest album, Mob Justice, sounds less like thrash metal with hardcore influences and more vice versa. And there’s nothing wrong with this. There aren’t many bands out there specializing in that Cro-Mags/Judge/Killing Time crossover approach which makes Paralysis all the more welcome.
Mob Justice is a little under a half hour of hard hitting riffs that go between two modes: two step (mid tempo) and throwdown (slow/unexpected breakdown). There are some blasts of neck snapping thrash on songs like “Had Enough”, “Cut Short”, and the short but savage “Tombstone”. But Paralysis largely sticks to a more mid paced thrash which focuses more on the brutality of the riffs and lyrics than speed. “Master Manipulator”, “Yes I Stay”, and “Oblivious” are great examples of this. I give Paralysis credit for being able to so seamlessly switch tempos and throw in gnarly breakdowns without sounding cliche.
Mob Justice is hardcore enough for the hardcore kids, yet thrashy enough for the thrashers. It’ll be a beautiful day when concerts return and the legions can slam in unity to the unrelenting fury of Paralysis.
6 out of 10
Label: Independent
Genre: Crossover Thrash
For fans of: Power Trip, Cro-Mags, Leeway