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Hypertension is a Swedish Thrash Metal act that has been operating from its home town, Östersund, since 2011. They have already released a couple of full-length albums both in 2013 (Primeval Tyrants Prevails) and in 2014 (Distant Thunders Call), as very limited cassette editions (both limited to 100 copies only) that fortunately, Stormspell Records later re-released on CD.

Hypertension play an aggressive and straightforward type of Thrash Metal that often reminds me of Razor, Venom, early Bathory, but especially Deceased due to Henrik's throaty vocal style, which is actually very similar to King Fowley's. What they also do is add a nice NWOBHM-flavor into their sound, with some beautifully working lead work. This latest four-song effort, titled Dark Storms Arise, is about showing and proving to everyone how big and powerful the Thrash Metal muscles of the Hypertension camp have grown over the past years from one release to the next. All three songs, plus a cover of Razor's "Iron Hammer", work immensely well. They are all loaded with some wonderful elements of frenzied and blazing Thrash Metal. It's actually very easy to like Hypertension because these Swedes are all about the unrelenting energy and aggression of Thrash Metal, with a no-holding-back attitude.

Like your Thrash Metal mercilessly mean, unconditionally and murderously fast, heavy and ripping? Good, good... Then by all means get Dark Storms Arise. You won't regret it.