Review by Felix on December 5, 2019.

My favourite football team loses almost every match and my job eats my brain. Only the energy of pure thrash metal keeps me alive. This is where In Malice's Wake come in. Full of adrenaline, the band delivers 32 minutes of fiery sounds. It is a brief but intense dose of endorphins that the band injects. Take a seat in the thrash metal paradise and enjoy the liveliness of the compositions.

The album combines a modern, powerful production (which is equipped with a lot of reverb) with generic, more or less traditional song patterns. It is a fact that the Australians use only well-known tools in order to create their anthems. There are no special mysteries to discover. Anyhow, the songs hit the target. The band has never heard the term "tiredness" and its dynamic compositions leave no doubt that the restless guys are able to channel their energy skillfully. This applies to the vigorous lead vocals, but the vibrant instrumental section does not fall flat too. While relying on their instinctive understanding for the balance between unleashed parts and rather filigree sections, the band rolls over the listeners with eight ironclad vehicles. But avoid premature conclusions. Despite their heaviness, these vehicles are easy to maneuver.

Straight attacks like "Join Us and Fight" show the difference between "normal" metal and fanatic thrash. The combative song explodes right from the get-go and there is no chance to remain unimpressed. The guitar salvos appear as cannon shots. Unquestionably, they will find their goals. "Onslaught" conjures up pleasant associations of the British thrash kings, but its biggest assets are the ominous beginning, the carefully designed riffing and the catchy chorus. In view of the spontaneous method of the band, it comes as no surprise that this track also does not lack of straightness. Yet it does not matter at all from which point you start to explore the full-length. All songs have this infectious aura. The fresh guitar sound is only one of the reasons why convinced thrash maniacs will be infected by this album. For example, listen to the very lively riffing of "Evil by Design" that has the might to invigorate even the most jaded listener. Or feel the juvenile energy which is expressed by the rebellious chorus or the provocative riffs at the beginning of "Fuel for the Fire".

The handy output is short enough to avoid boring sections. Everything appears to be from a single casting and the signature of the spirited group cannot be ignored. The Thrashening is a very suitable name for the stimulating effort of the band. In saying this, I am not implying that the tunes lie in close proximity to those of a specific legendary role model of the genre. Old heroes like Vio-lence, Exodus or Forbidden have left their footprints on the road that In Malice's Wake are going. But with the glory of these pioneers in mind, the Australians have forged their own piece of red-hot iron. They do not take a time jump in order to bring back the mid-eighties. This is autonomous, intelligently conceived thrash metal of the 21st century and elements of other sub genres do not show up. That's a good thing. Thrash metal can stand on its own feet. And with talented formations like In Malice's Wake, it will not fall down in the near future.

Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Review by Jack on August 8, 2002.

Mess Age is clearly an outfit that doesn’t thrive on the originality and mind-blowing alterations to their metal, but instead works at reliving the golden years of the thrash eras in the 80s and 90s. While there is an abundance of bands that do go about rehashing old guitar licks/themes on albums today, but I do not have a problem with Mess Age’s new album; “Self Convicted”. While not doing anything overtly bold and radical on “Self Convicted”, Mess Age do have one prodigious aspect attributed to them, that being that they are a band who are fun to listen to.

5 lads from Poland playing an infectious brand of death/thrash metal that is traditional and turns back the clock and “Self Convicted” is pure enjoyment to listen to. I mean fun as what In Flames has done for the metal industry. “Self Convicted” is so damn catchy and enthralling to listen to that it is almost impossible to sit or stand still. Every riff and every note is backed by expert guitar playing and contagious vocals from Raaf (which incidentally are not much different to the roaring done by Daemon on Zyklon’s “World Ov Worms”, although far more upbeat and not as morose). The drumming is truly cool and has the same sort of production values as what Nick Barker’s did on “Puritanical Misanthropic Euphoria”; making you want tap your hands on your knees, beat your feet on the ground or even slap your girlfriend on the ass to keep in time with the skin beating of Otwieracz.

Bottom Line: I don’t care that “Self – Convicted” isn’t the most original and genre defining record, but I can assure you that if you do end up picking up a copy of this work of art that it will be one of the more loveable albums of the year.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality: 4
Overall: 10

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Review by JD on July 18, 2009.

Another old school styled album flies onto my radar, and lands right into my lap. Lets see if this album can hold water for the NWOTM (New Wave Of Traditional Metal) movement and prove even more that what it has that old school is not obsolete.

At first glance, you see the bands name...Prodigal Earth... is a pretty unique sort of handle. You immediately think that the group that has this name is being beyond the literal term for pretentious as all yet you will instantly be intrigued at the same time. That is why you will, like me... press the play button on your CD player.

What you have here boys and girls is Black Sabbath mixed with Iron Maiden and they are all on very high doses of steroids... that is what comes to mind right off to describe what this band is setting out to do. Massively heavy yet melodic riffs collide inside your mind like a demolition derby jacked up with rocket fuel... and then it mercilessly assault your soul as it thunders throughout your senses. It comes across like a concussion bomb... it does not leave any marks to the naked eye, but it ends up really scrambling your giblets.

Musically tighter than most bands today, they come at you with fire and the certain non-learnable thing called attitude. They describe themselves on their MYSPACE© page as Iron Maiden on drugs. What the band sounds like is not far from a self expressed truth here... but they still sound damned good. My favourite Prodigal Earth song on the album has to be 'Lonely Gods'... one of those tunes that seem to really stick in my head.

This is just great music by a great band. I hope to hear more about this Cyprus based band in the future... because they just have some great music and have potential to be even better.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:7.5
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 7.5
Originality: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.8 out of 10

Review by Jack on August 8, 2002.

Mess Age is clearly an outfit that doesn’t thrive on the originality and mind-blowing alterations to their metal, but instead works at reliving the golden years of the thrash eras in the 80s and 90s. While there is an abundance of bands that do go about rehashing old guitar licks/themes on albums today, but I do not have a problem with Mess Age’s new album; “Self Convicted”. While not doing anything overtly bold and radical on “Self Convicted”, Mess Age do have one prodigious aspect attributed to them, that being that they are a band who are fun to listen to.

5 lads from Poland playing an infectious brand of death/thrash metal that is traditional and turns back the clock and “Self Convicted” is pure enjoyment to listen to. I mean fun as what In Flames has done for the metal industry. “Self Convicted” is so damn catchy and enthralling to listen to that it is almost impossible to sit or stand still. Every riff and every note is backed by expert guitar playing and contagious vocals from Raaf (which incidentally are not much different to the roaring done by Daemon on Zyklon’s “World Ov Worms”, although far more upbeat and not as morose). The drumming is truly cool and has the same sort of production values as what Nick Barker’s did on “Puritanical Misanthropic Euphoria”; making you want tap your hands on your knees, beat your feet on the ground or even slap your girlfriend on the ass to keep in time with the skin beating of Otwieracz.

Bottom Line: I don’t care that “Self – Convicted” isn’t the most original and genre defining record, but I can assure you that if you do end up picking up a copy of this work of art that it will be one of the more loveable albums of the year.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality: 4
Overall: 10

Rating: 7.2 out of 10