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Back in the 80s I really didn't appreciate the proto-Black/Death Thrash Metal of bands like Venom, Slayer or Possessed but it is a style that I've come to really enjoy these days. Bands like Desaster, Witch Grave and Nuclear are the ones that ring the bell for me but there are plenty of others. Enter Sweden's Vornth with a self-titled debut album that intends to rip your face off. Fast, loose and angry riffing, maniacal drumming and tortured, blackened screams are what this album is all about and titles like "Rapid Death," "Rip Rip Rip" and "Spit Black Fire" should leave little doubt in your mind as to what Vornth are all about. The vocals are a bit too tortured for my taste but that doesn't take away from the album very much. Vornth does break out the clear vocals and gets a little serious toward the end with a couple of longer tracks, "Death's Horse" and "Grave of the Living." While some may enjoy these songs, I think they take a little away from the gleefully evil nature of the rest of the record. Give me a couple more songs like "Darkness and Steel" or "Rapid Death," that just relentlessly thrash, and I'll be good.

Vornth isn't original but more than make up for that with intensity and aggression, making their debut a worthy addition to the Black/Thrash pantheon.