Although by no means are they an old band, their debut effort is worthy of the place of metal masterpiece without question. Before everything seemingly started to go wrong in the Evile camp things were looking up with the release of Enter The Grave an album that re birthed thrash in Britain alone. Whilst having their now recognisable style, there was something old school about Evile that everyone loved. Once you’ve got the new school metalheads AND the old school age old “its nothing like old Megadeth…” metal heads on your side, you’re on the right track.
With Enter The Grave we’re thrown into the thrash from the word go the ten track assault is a front to back listen. Each track is able to stand alone without making the listener weary half way through something all to familiar for most thrash bands. Sounding similar, the songs all have their own elements that make them essential to the album. Hailing from Huddersfield of all places no one really saw Evile coming. When brothers Matt and Ol Drake first set out and recruited Mike Alexander (R.I.P.) on bass and Ben Carter on drums the thrash machine was born. Having songs that were well written, typical thrash lyrics and killer solos Evile were a thrash band that understood all thrash fans.
Staking their claim with Enter The Grave we’re treated to the absolutely monolithic “We Who Are About To Die” the biting “Killer From The Deep” and the groovy final track “Bathe In Blood” to name a few. Taking a leaf out of Metallica’s book, each song is about different ways to die, some horrible, some cheesy but all brilliant. Its absolutely essential for any self respecting thrash metal fan. As I mentioned before never mind the fact they are a brilliant band, Evile were instrumental in the re birth of old school modern thrash. It makes me wonder sometimes where it all seemed to change, Infected Nations although good was a complete departure from the sound they had created in Enter The Grave, the songs had less impact and were ultimately more forgettable and it only went down hill from there. Skull redeemed the band a little but there’s still a long way to go. Perhaps there shall be a new Evile born after the departure of guitarist Ol Drake. We shall see…
Nevertheless Evile are absolutely unstoppable on their debut, taking the best bits from their inspirations all the while still managing to have their own identity and not only write a brilliant record but birth an entire movement, hats off lads.
