DEFIANCE

No messing around for this Oakland, California band with album number four. Straight in with their heavy hitting thrash, feeling like Testament firing on all cylinders, these are a thrash band from the old guard. Formed in 1985 with three albums released between 1989 and 1992 Defiance sound damn hungry for thrash with ‘The Prophecy’. As I listen, though, I can’t shake that Testament feel! Don’t get me wrong, it is great but if someone said this was a new Testament album I’d have probably believed them (at least until track three). The production is sharp and weighty with enough of a nod to the old school to make it sound like real people playing the instruments rather than machines! The lead guitar work of Jim Adams is melodic and uplifting (not too many miles away from the feeling of Testament!!!). Unlike many of the more modern thrash bands these guys know how to throw a good solo together mixing technicality with melody over a well honed riff. I reckon if you cut the band members in half it will say ‘Bay Area’ through and through, because when listening to Defiance I’m certainly transported back to those halcyon days. One of the highlights of the album for me is the instrumental ‘Eschaton’, reminding me of some of those great instrumentals from Testament. So as you can see, whether you get Defiance’s The Prophecy really depends on how much you like Testament and want to listen to a band that, to tell the truth, are almost as good on this album.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Candlelight Records

Album

THE PROPHECY

Review by Paul Sims

RUNNING TIME:

40:22

RELEASE DATE:

19th Oct 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Prion
2) The Prophecy
3) Bastard Son
4) The War Inside
5) Fuel the Fire
6) Eschaton
7) Sloth
8) Desert Sands
9) Dissolving Around You
10) Asthmaphere
11) Eyes of the Front

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"I reckon if you cut the band members in half it will say ‘Bay Area’ through and through, because when listening to Defiance I’m certainly transported back to those halcyon days."