(Kemado)

www.kemado.com

Children, a new band formed by members of Early Man and S.T.R.E.E.T.S.,  takes metal very seriously. There's no irony on their debut, a mélange of mid-‘80s Metallica-style speed metal (when they were still good), classic rock guitar licks, and sneered vocals. The resulting brew reanimates the ghosts of thrash metal past, and attempts to melt your face in the process.

The familiar chug-chug-chugging of warp speed power chords underneath wailing solos contrasts nicely with the occasional psychedelic keyboard warble, as is the case in the intro of the album's opening track, "Advanced Mind Control." And classic breakdowns in tempo and texture allow some breathing space and enhance the thrill when the band picks up the pace again.

The only complaint here might be that the album's frenetic stride and whitewash of distortion gives it a uniform feeling throughout. But this is metal, and you have to look between the cracks for nuances. They are there, but Children are too busy pummeling your face to allow you more than a split second to discover them.

Standout Tracks: "Advanced Mind Control," "Power Spirit" JONAH FLICKER