Review by Carl on October 15, 2024.

Whoa, this one packs a punch alright. We get the almighty Angelcorpse teaming up with the older-than-old-school black/death metallers Martire to deliver a slice of blackened hostility right across the face. I'm very sorry, but I'm just going to be dooling all over this one from here on.

The first kick in the arse comes from Angelcorpse, delivering a massive re-recording of a track off of their debut full length, as well as a blazing take on Sarcofago's "Desecration of Virgin". The original track showcases everything that Angelcorpse is known for: ripping guitar leads, sick intricate riffing coming at you at inhuman velocity as if this is Morbid Angel's final form, a musical execution performed like clockwork, and of course Pete Helmkamp's raw belching croak to wrap it all up together. The song plows ahead at reckless speed without losing grip on the precision playing showcased, and the final bow around this pulsing package comes in the form of a balanced out, powerful, and yet still gritty production, simply heaving with malice and menace. The Sarcofago cover is presented in pretty much the same way, with Angelcorpse amping up the speed and intensity of the original up to 11, doing this with ease. Are these two blasts of vitriolic aggression the perfect embodiment of death metal perfection? Could very well be, I say.

The second kick up the arse comes in the form of Australia's Martire, and they do their home country's reputation for extreme metal proud. They are a band equally as intense as Angelcorpse, but with their focus more on the bludgeoning force, and less on precision, landing them in the good company of bands like Bestial Warlust, Conqueror, and Blasphemy. They deliver two strikes of barbaric black/death, spurred on by blasting velocity and battering percussion, with a thick layer of hyperactive frenzied chainsaw guitar riffing, almost bordering on white noise at times. On top of this intense assault of high-speed sonic terrorism comes a dual raw bellowed vocal attack roaring over the mayhem at play, only leaving some space for the unhinged guitar leads in the vein of Deicide and Massacre. The production follows suit with a grainy, distorted soundmix that sounds utterly deranged, something that only increases the psychotic intensity at play. The raging guitars and tortured vocals take centre stage, sounding demented as fuck, but with a downside that it pushes the drums into the background. The poor drummer is struggling to get through at times, but while this isn't optimal, it does sound absolutely nuts in combination with the rest of the music. Total Aussie madness, and I love it!!

This is one of those combinations that only happens once in a blue moon. The ferocious precision bombing of Angelcorpse versus the sonic barbarism of Martire, this is the stuff that I honestly live for. Everyone even remotely serious about black/death metal should take notice of this EP, as well as both bands' other output because this stuff is simply just that good.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Felix on July 26, 2020.

Death metal maniacs are of the opinion that only death is real, but I say only thrash keeps you young. The zombie-esque warrior that attacks D. T. on the cover surely agrees. D.T., who has lost his “Make America Hate Again” cap does probably not share my point of view, but who cares about this irrelevant guy? Germany was heavily involved in the outburst of two World Wars, so I see no reason to worry about D.T.

Fist to Face is the second album of the Spanish unit called Holycide and I must say their configuration of thrash gives me an energy boost. Swift fingers fly over six strings and create riffs over riffs, while the drumming supports the dynamic performance of the guitarists. Lead vocalist Dave Rotten (typical Spanish name) convinces with his unfriendly shouting. Conveniently, he is not only the front man of Holycide, but also the label owner of Xtreem Music and so it comes as no surprise that the album was released by this company. But even if he would not run a label, I’m sure his combo would have signed a record deal. The liveliness, the musical potential and the degree of aggression are simply more than just satisfying.

Holycide do not have written “retro” all over their music, but they also do not wallow in Machine Head-like grooves. The band does not care about the different decades and faces of thrash. It is just here to let steam off and even songs with almost Dadaistic titles ('Trapped by the Crappy Trap') let the hammers circle. Rotten spits out his lyrics in a constantly expressed bad mood and his comrades integrate some pinpoint background shouts. Forget the Mekong Delta shirt Rotten wears on the band pic; his group has rather a more or less hidden affinity for death metal or hardcore. Sometimes they sound like Biohazard gone wild. However, the band knows neither friends nor relatives when they give full speed in songs like 'The Aftermath'. Translate lyrics like “Political assholes have stabbed us in the back” into music and you know the level of velocity.

Frankly speaking, I miss one or two songs that keep sticking in the ear immediately. It’s always easier for old fellows like me to decode an album when having one or other point of orientation. Anyway, the aptly titled Fist to Face has enough elements that make fun, just listen to the highly energetic instrumental part of 'Napalm Sweet Napalm'. I am no big fan of solos in general, but here the dudes from Madrid have forged one of many very nice parts. They do not dish up easy listening thrash in view of some pretty bulky riffs, but they also do not fall victim to an over-ambitious technical approach. This transparent, hefty and powerful album just makes the kind of fun thrash was invented for. And for even more fun it’s time to get rid of D.T., if I am not mistaken.

Rating: 7.9 out of 10