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If you are a thrash fan and some of the above guys look familiar, it's because they should be familiar to even the most casual thrash metal fan. /speed\kill/hate\ are made up of 3 members of Overkill. Founder of the band Dave Linsk started writing songs with the intentions of them being used for Overkill. Dave and Drummer Tim Mallare got together to demo the tunes. These songs took on a different direction then the direction Overkill is currently taking, hence the birth of /speed\kill/hate\. Bassist Derek Tailer, also a guitarist from Overkill, was soon added. Linsk contacted his old singer Mario from Anger on Anger, and the line-up was complete.
 /speed\kill/hate\ - Acts of Insanity (independent) 2004 1. "Walls of Hate" (4:12) 2. "Setting Me Off" (4:19) 3. "Violence Breeds" (3:32) 4. "Enemy" (4:12) 5. "Won't See Fear" (4:33) 6. "Face the Pain" (4:26) 7. "Revelation at War" (4:01) 8. "Not For Me" (3:15) 9. "Repent" (3:41) |
 Dave Linsk |
I don't know why, but for some reason I wasn't expecting "Acts of Insanity" to live up to the hype. I had read on the band's website that this was pure "East Coast Thrash" metal, I knew that 3/5 of the bandmembers were from seminal thrashers Overkill, and I also knew that band ringleader Dave Linsk was a shredder, yet for some reason I was expecting something a bit more modern and more on the lines of all the modern metalcore bands that are currently describing themselves as "thrash." However, /speed\kill/hate\ are the real deal. "Acts of Insanity" is 100% real thrash metal. From the opening note of "Walls of Hate" to the ending explosion of "Repent", the intensity level never drops. Each and every song is packed full of manic guitar riffs, speed, quick double bass, furious guitar solos, and angry, grunt and grind vocals. Even the most intense thrashers like Sodom, Kreator and Slayer have nothing on these guys as far as musicianship, speed and energy. As the song titles suggest the lyrics are fueled by genuine, testosterone injected anger, almost as if the music is therapy and a way to let off a little steam. Unfortunately without decent label backing and marketing this one will be relegated to an underground favorite, which is a shame. "Acts of Insanity" could really be a guidebook to so many on what real thrash is suppose to sound like.
speed\kill/hate- Out For Blood (Hammerfist) 2011
1. No Remorse (2:54)
2. Breeding Hate (2:46)
3. Written In Blood (3:11)
4. Behind the Mask (3:23)
5. Deceiver (4:07)
6. Slain (3:25)
7. Mark Of Judas (3:49)
8. Brotherhood Of Arms (3:45)
9. Stains Of Callous (4:29)
10. The Cleansing (4:00)
It's been nearly five years since speed\kill/hate independently released "Acts of Insanity" in 2004. That band was made up partially of Overkill members. Since that time all band members have changed, save for founding member, guitarist and songwriter Dave Linsk. speed\kill/hate is now made up of Bob Barnak: vocals, Tony Ochoa: drums and Dave Bizzigotti: bass.
"Out for Blood" is a fast-paced, driving old school thrash metal album with a newer production edge. As well as the thrash metal crux, the band also adds some elements of death metal, groove and a hardcore punk vibe. Being that Linsk has been a member of Overkill for longer than any other Overkill guitarist, it wouldn't be out of the question for some of this album to echo that modern Overkill sound. However, while a song like "Written in Blood" sounds like something that could have been written for an Overkill record, most of what is present here would not be accepted under the auspices of Overkill. "Slain" is straight-forward thrasher with a Slayer-influence, at least musically, that is one of the standout cuts on the album. "Mark of Judas" also has a bit of a Slayer-influence. "No Remorse", "Stains of Callous" and "The Cleansing" are ultra fast tracks with machine gun riffing and Bob Barnak screaming his lungs out. "Breeding Hate" seems to have a slightly more modern vibe. While the music would never be mistaken for metalcore, as the riffing is just too thrash-like, the song marries hardcore and old school thrash and has Bob barking out "I'm breeding hate for you..." in an anthem-like manner. Unfortunately Bob Barnak's vocals are the biggest disappointment on this CD, in my opinion. He is indistinguishable from any number of metalcore/hardcore screamers. At times he reminds me of Phil Anselmo, but at most times Randy Blythe (Lamb of God). Still, despite the criticism of the vocals, I found myself enjoying this CD over and over again upon first receiving it in the mail.