Review by Dominik on December 16, 2025.

I've always had a soft spot for Ravager. Not only because they come from my home turf and deliver a modernized, no-nonsense version of thrash metal, but mainly because the band has been walking a very particular path since day one: namely the one that only goes upward. With every release, Ravager refine their approach, polish their strengths, make incremental improvements, and evolve bit by bit. Because this progress happens in small, sensible steps, you never get those jarring stylistic detours that feel as wrong as a polar bear sunbathing in the Sahara. "From Us With Hate" keeps this trajectory alive.

It takes barely a minute to understand that album number four won't suddenly implode, and no artistic disaster is lurking around the corner. The sound is nearly perfect, maybe a little too polished, like someone ironed the distortion, but very well suited to the band's modern thrash direction. The riffs grab you instantly, whether they're grooving along with purpose or—like around the 45-second mark of the opener—happily shredding away as if someone handed them a fresh pack of guitar strings and a reason to live.

Most of the record stays firmly within Ravager's well-established formula, though two tracks stand out for very different reasons. First, there's the band's decision to cover "Bonded By Blood". I admire the intention: paying tribute to one of thrash metal's greatest debut albums is noble and a risky move at the same time, a bit like challenging your grandfather to an arm-wrestling contest because he "looks old now". However, covering a true classic is almost always a losing battle. I can't think of a single cover that genuinely surpasses the original, and that's not the cover bands' fault. You just can't recreate the specific zeitgeist, youthful recklessness, and mild insanity that forged a classic. So, technically, the result is spotless. Emotionally, it has all the soul of a freshly sterilized operating table. Thankfully, it's tucked away at the very end, where it can do the least damage.

The second deviation, "Defender", right before the closer, is the kind of surprise that makes you perk up. Not the band's first eight-minute track, but probably their most ambitious. Here they offer a formidable mini guided tour through metal history. It starts with gentle acoustic strumming, shifts into Iron Maiden worship, then picks up speed and thrashes away with gusto. Later it loops back to the heavy metal elements and sprinkles enough solo chaos in between to make any fretboard fan grin. The song isn't overly complex, but it's impressive how effortlessly Ravager transition between sections. It shows they can push their boundaries without betraying their thrash credentials.

Aside from these two outliers, the album offers a wealth of strong material. The opener "Freaks Out Of Control" takes its time to build before it kicks the door open. Right away the band proves they fully understand the fundamental principles of thrash and the song captures perfectly what makes Ravager tick: groove meeting speed, sharp solo work, drumming with surgical precision, and vocals that are aggressive but never unhinged. The quality remains high throughout. Some tracks put more emphasis on constant speed—"Aggressive Music for Aggressive People" or "Speed Trap" (the most Teutonic-sounding song here) come to mind. Others rely on midtempo intensity to break up the frantic energy, perfectly demonstrated by "Legends Of The Lightning", which also boasts an outstanding chorus.

The title track is another highlight. It opens as if modern-day Artillery were introducing a new single, before Ravager launches into gang shouts, memorable riffs, and a chorus that practically begs to be shouted along by a crowd that has lost all sense of restraint. The song again shows why this album works so well: there is enough variety in the musical foundation, no section drawn out too long, and those small extra touches that keep you fully engaged and make for a compelling listen.

I'm convinced that every listener will discover their own favorite moment on "From Us With Hate", which only reinforces the impression that there are no true weak spots on the record. If Ravager keeps climbing at this steady pace, latest album number six might well be the one people will one day call a genre classic. No pressure, of course, just the entire future of German thrash riding on it.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10, because Ravager deliver a consistently strong album whose only real drawback is that their "Bonded By Blood" cover reminds us why classics are better admired than imitated.