Band Site: unspeakableaxerecords.bandcamp.com/album/pulse

 

Switzerland, land of banks, chocolate and watches...and great metal.

This is the country that gave us genre originators Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and tech thrashers Coroner, and for the most part Algebra seem to be content to follow in Coroner's footsteps.

After a five year absence, the band releases it's third LP “Pulse?”, which is its second album for Unspeakable Axe Records.

For the most part, the band sounds like a cross between Coroner and the good, pre-Cavalera departure Sepultura, with a slight nod towards Pestilence and vocal delivery reminiscent of Prong. At times they also reminded me of obscure Brit eighties thrashers Virus. The instrumentation is diverse and well executed, but I can't say I am quite sold on the vocals. Definitely appreciate the old school feel and approach to songwriting and this is something Algebra do quite well.

The album open up with a nice instrumental etude “Ego Destroyed” which then flows into the Sepultura influenced thrasher “Inner Constraints”. The album continues in relentless eighties thrash throwback fashion, with no bad track in sight. Algebra close out with a homage to Sepultura with “Dead Embryonic Cells”. This LP is a definite must for any serious thrash fans out there.

Reviewed by A. Dorian