SHACKLES

Australia is a veritable breeding ground for blackened thrash and war metal, and Hells Headbangers' recruits heavily in that area of the world, more often than not sniffing out the best the land down under has to offer. Sydney's SHACKLES is the most recent signing to the widely respected label. The act's debut album, "Traitors' Gate", may be blackened thrash (or deaththrash as the band describes it),but it comes with some sweet twists that turn otherwise standard fare into something with a little more to offer the discerning listener.

As far as furious, edgy thrashing, loose (not sloppy) blasts and straight beats, and the charred vocals are concerned, "Traitors Gate" does the job just fine. The DESTROYER 666 and HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH comparison are appropriate. But traditional heavy metal shades are infused into the compositions, making for longer, somewhat more involved songs, but never overindulged ones. "Iron Crosses" is the first track on which those added dynamics appear. Though a frenetic blackened thrasher in a traditional sense, the leads that commence after the chorus enhance the song. "Malignant Expulsion" is the star cut, featuring a brief, yet epic section underlined with acoustic guitar before the song lunges again, blast beating its way into every orifice, while a second drum/vocal-only break and one of many of the album's distinguished solos accentuates the thrash metal positives. Those dirty trad-metal moments make their way into a title track has a swing to it reminiscent of "Devils in Iron" (SCORCHED EARTH). There is a short section of "Exorcised Remains" that is straight from IRON MAIDEN's earlier works. Something along the lines of a cheerleader chant paired with a spine-tingling vibrato that introduces "Cat O' Nine Tails" isn't a HM touch; it's just disturbing. An acoustic interlude called "Exhumed from a Watery Grave" is all well and good, just unnecessary.

Don't be misled by those expansionist tendencies. "Traitors' Gate" is fire-breathing blackened thrash no matter how many ways you slice it. The added elements just make it more of a well-rounded album.