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Dethonator is a band from the U.K. with a name that makes me think thrash metal, but they play music of a traditional bent. I received both this album, Race Against the Sun, Part One and the follow-up, Race Against the Sun, Part Two in one promo package and, apparently, they were initially intended to make up a double album, a plan that was ultimately changed to two single albums released a year apart. Part One features several stand-alone tracks where the band sings about dark and dangerous topics while playing driving, pummeling metal full of clear vocals and catchy choruses, sweet guitar harmonies and galloping rhythms. Standout songs include the opener "When Lucifer Fell", "Nightmare City" and the superb "Pyroclastic" where all Dethonator’s strengths come together in rousing, raucous fashion. This last song is about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and subsequent destruction of Pompeii, and I think the use of death vocals to describe the actual eruption itself is an inspired bit of songcraft. The band cites Priest and Maiden as influences, and that can be heard, but if you also dig less mainstream acts like Jag Panzer, Pharaoh and Sough Feg, then Race Against the Sun, Part One may well be right up your alley.