With their thrash infused speed metal assault, Evil Invader’s debut Pulses of Pleasure was one of 2015’s more memorable albums. A juggernaut of bludgeoning riffery, blazing guitar leads and dementedly fraught wails, their take on ballsy, early 80s NWOBHM was well received in the metal world. This year’s In for the Kill EP is a companion piece to said album, with two new songs and two live tracks culled from their tours in support of their first born beast.
The two studio cuts pretty much pick up where Pulses of Pleasure left off. “As Life Slowly Fades” is the quicker of the pair, opening with a guitar wailing over quickfire riffing as the band goes for the jugular from the off. A double bass barrage anchors more savage, high octane thrashery, with rip roaring solos and riffs galore as the song proceeds to mercilessly tear its way through the four minute barrier. “Raising Hell” scales back the pace ever so slightly, with more spacious, hanging riffs that accentuate the gritty, raw guitar sound on offer; vocalist Joe’s defiant lyrics spat forth with plenty of bile and conviction. The production, like the music, is akin to that of early-mid 80s speed/thrash, the lack of modern sheen and polish giving the songs a more authentic feel. It’s particularly pleasing to feel the thump of each bass drum kick, something a lot of modern recordings sorely lack.
The title track from Pulses of Pleasure kicks off the live combo, which retains the same rabid intensity of the studio version. On the contrary, “Victim of Sacrifice”, plucked from the band’s self-titled 2013 EP, manages to surpass the frenetic madness of the original. Although the clarity of sound isn’t the greatest, it’s clear enough to be able to appreciate the performances from the group, which, whilst tight, is still loose enough to give the music that added edge. One bothersome aspect is that the crowd noise seems to have been artificially enhanced, which I guess isn’t unusual for officially released live songs. However, it seems to randomly drift in and out of the songs, proving an unwelcome distraction at times.
This will be a welcome release for the Evil Invaders fan base, hungry for more of that vicious speed metal that they do so well. The live tracks won’t replace the studio versions in regular rotation, but it does show that the band are capable of transferring their aggression and power into a concert setting. With a sophomore album hopefully not too far off into the future, this EP will prove a pleasant supplementary release to ease the wait slightly.
Rating: 7/10 – “A good stop gap that’ll help tide over those waiting for the next full-length”
Band links: Facebook, Official Website
