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Released way back in 2008 from the wilds of Virginia of all places, The Day of the Beast's self-titled debut is a roaring Black/Thrash assault that actually focuses more on the Thrash than I'd generally expect. The playing is furious, the riffs are aggressive and occasionally really sharp, and the vocals are a feral snarl that's reminiscent of an angrier Cronos. The production gives everything enough space to stand out while coming together for the relentless assault, though I will say the drums sound a bit thin. My only real gripe is that the closing track "Upon the Throne" is only about three minutes of actual Black/Thrash—some of the best on the album, actually—and after a minute of ambient sounds it's padded out by two minutes of silence followed by a brief studio outtake that doesn't really add anything. There's not an ounce of originality here, but you can tell them that in Hell, because The Day of the Beast has arrived, and none will escape their wrath. Recommended.