One would think that anything with ‘Raider‘ in its band name should get onto this webzine. Something like – immediately because the RMR crew over here usually has a soft spot for namesakes in metal band multiverse. Yet, the folks at the review desk were pussyfooting about the record for long months without rhyme or reason. Too much aggression in one record or just abject laziness? I guess, we’ll never know. They’re a tight bunch over there. Chaotic trials straight ahead.
Alright! If you’re looking for measured slightly oldish Death Metal à la Rogga Johansson, Raider ain’t your band. Trial by Chaos would probably burn the latter’s pants off their mutual asses. Because here we came across a band that only knows one speed and direction, full steam ahead! And at 100K knots to boot.
And it’s almost funny. At first, all you hear is this slightly melodic frenetic brand of Death Metal. Only a short while later, the trash becomes ever more apparent in that red-hot jambalaya of Extreme Metal. Thrash that indeed moves way beyond the Yeah-screaming old geezers from LA in good ol’ California. If ever, the latter would be able to learn something from the folks over at Raider. And in a way, the band very much sounds like the Archspire of the thrash death realm.
Now, don’t think for one moment that this will be yet another of those Neanderthal cudgel-swinging slam records. Even if the feisty album cover would suggest exactly this style. Instead, Trial by Chaos – brutal as it may be – smoothly moves down its thrashy road to oblivion. This is proof of excellent songwriting and a pretty flawless arrangement. I mean, you get those instances where the rough-hewn riffing effortlessly transforms into one of those stellar solos. Just to return to its crazed incarnation of Speedy Gonzales with a steel helmet. And the ultimate proof of the pudding – as always – remains with the bass. That it is always audible in this mess of crazed riffs, licks, solos, and demented rasps just showcases a musical prowess that we had trouble finding fault with.
Yet, that brutal wall of sound surging towards the esteemed listener also has its downsides. Any MINO1 or – Loki forbid – a metal n00b will just give up the ghost. Anybody up to the onslaught will need to devote some serious listening time. Otherwise, Trial by Chaos will feel like a brutal thrashing2 with no end in sight. And you’ll lose the (not so) subtle elements in the process to boot.
In the end, Trial by Chaos is a lot of fun. If you take your time to take it all in, that is. It’s not only that brutally artful mix of Death and Thrash Metal. You’ll get those insane runaway solos that suddenly appear from nowhere. Breaks to melodic elements where there should be none and hints at tech death out of the left field. Then suddenly, tasty choruses will appear in the mix and – indeed – feel strangely ‘right’ when they logically shouldn’t. And didn’t we all share a good laugh at how the band poked their noses at ‘established’ Death Metal bands by borrowing some of their riff and growling patterns. And yes, Arch Enemy, I am looking straight at you. Now, we don’t know if this was intentional or accidental. But whatever the case, we – again – found another element that generated some evil chuckles over here.
But finally, it is the band’s massive songwriting chops and ability to produce an almost flawless production that made the record. It indeed takes a lot of skill to write such a dense piece of work and not bludgeon everyone to death with some barbarous and oafishly witless wall of sound. Instead, Raider here brought us refined yet deliciously toasty Thrash Death Metal. Exactly what the good metal doctor ordered on this difficult summer morning.
So, if you’re starved of Extreme Metal, Trial by Chaos will be your long-awaited medication. The only way to increase intensity still is – indeed – to go see Raider live. And the RMR crew here might just do that. We already hunger for more.
Record Rating: 8/10 | Label: Self-Released | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 7 April 2023