Shameless self promotion time: My band, Secönd Wind, will be playing Reggies in Chicago on Tuesday, December 15th, opening up for the legendary Deceased. Tickets can be found here. Why do I mention this? Because also on the bill happens to be the subject of today’s review, Vigil. Just like Deceased, Vigil also hail from Virginia: A state with a rich history of prolific metal bands. In the grand scheme of things, they are a newer act, having dropped their debut demo in 2023. The “Blood Dust” single followed in 2025, which brings us to the band’s debut full length, Primordial Rites.
The album consists of 9 songs, 3 of which were rerecorded after initially being featured on past releases (“Abhorrence”, “Tortured for Christ”, “Blood Dust”). From top to bottom, it’s about as no frills as a brutal thrash album can get, assaulting the listener with all of the tropes one would expect from a release of this nature, and doing a solid job at it. As the opening “Nocturnal Hunger” takes charge, it becomes apparent that the band’s two biggest reference points are Demolition Hammer and Slayer, effortlessly fusing the knuckle-dragging intensity of the former with the sinister derangement of the latter. Frontwoman Jessica Timberlake’s vocals serve as the figurative cherry on top, at times channeling the stylings of Morbid Saint’s Pat Lind.
Following “Nocturnal Hunger”, we’ve got “Seventh Circle”, a midtempo thrasher with mosh-worthy riffing and flashy soloing, and “Search for Steel”, a rager that expands upon the breakneck frenzy of “Nocturnal Hunger”. While there are flashes of Beneath the Remains era Sepultura-esque death/thrash throughout, particularly on the aforementioned “Search for Steel”, “Tortured for Christ”, and the title track, I wouldn’t go so far as to call this a death/thrash album. Sporadic deadliness aside, the overall backbone of Vigil is rooted in thrash, which can range anywhere from old school death-thrashing devastation to new school crossover crush-fests.
Yes, while Vigil aren’t a crossover act in the traditional sense of the term (Not a hint of Suicidal in sight!), one can certainly pick up traces of acts like Power Trip and fellow Virginians, Enforced, in their sound. These undertones are most evident during the mosh sections scattered throughout Primordial Rites. I’m sure the production has something to do with this as well, but when confronted with the likes of “At the Stake” or “Sanctum”, I could totally see myself raging to these maniacs on a mixed genre metalpunk bill at Reggies circa 2018, the Riley Gale-fronted Power Trip serving as the headliner.
Far from a reinvention of the thrash metal wheel, Vigil sure keep it rolling with Primordial Rites. These songs are fast, evil, and most importantly, punishing, fusing the best of both old school and new school thrash. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, proving that 40ish minutes, give or take, is all one needs for a worthwhile offering of this nature. I just can’t wait to rage to these tunes in person, and look forward to doing so this December. So should you. Don’t be a coward! Circle back to the first paragraph and get your ticket today!
7 out of 10
Label: Shadow Kingdom Records
Genre: Thrash Metal
For fans of: Demolition Hammer, Slayer, Enforced
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