Killing is a Danish band that has been thrashing about for more than ten years now, with an EP and a full-length to show for it. Their debut album, Face the Madness, came out a couple of years ago and is a pretty decent slab of thrash metal. Killing unashamedly channel a mix of old-school Teutonic and Bay Area peers, and thoughts wander to both Kreator and Death Angel whenever I put this on. The songwriting is simple but solid, with the standout performance coming from vocalist Rasmus Soelberg, who sounds frothing-at-the-mouth insane with his rabid, raging barks. With some notable exceptions ("Don't Get Mad, Get Evil" in particular), the songs are mostly sharp, emphasizing speed but with frequent shifts in intensity to keep things varied and interesting. I'm not loving the flat guitar tone, but songs like opener "Kill Everyone," "Legion of Hate," and "One Last Victim" at least showcase solid riffing capabilities that, together with the rhythm section, provide a firm foundation for Soelberg to belt out his twisted tidings. This album has good energy, and while they falter at times, Killing produced a solid thrashing debut with Face the Madness, making me eager to hear what comes next.