Evildead – United States of Anarchy

Evildead

‘United States of Anarchy’

SPV/Steamhammer Records

Thrash Metal

FFO: Holy Terror, Dark Angel, Whiplash, Nuclear Assault, Vio-Lence, Atrophy

Evildead are often namechecked amongst the more cult thrash metal bands with the LA thrashers releasing the seminal ‘Annihilation of Civilization’ in 1989. Fast forward 30 years, one more album and a couple of reformations and breakups and Evildead are back, this time they’re armed with a new album ‘United States of Anarchy’.

                For many, this third album from Evildead is the holy grail of thrash as the band return to the forefront of the movement complete with a none other than an Ed Repka album cover that really seals the deal. Therefore, it is no surprise that ‘United States…’ announces it’s arrival like a thermonuclear thrash metal warhead from the same line-up that brought you ‘The Underworld’. 2020 seems like the perfect time for a new Evildead album; this is an angry album, it is a venomous, dripping with bile and ready to snap at any given moment as Juan Garcia and co tackle large contemporary American issues such as politics, religion and war with powerful anthems such as ‘Napoleon Complex’, ‘Seeds of Doubt’ and ‘Greenhouse’; the latter of which pulls a real Slayer in their prime vibe out of the hat.

Evildead have once again delivered an excellent album, of course this won’t get the attention it so deserves, but that is where Evildead and indeed this album really do thrive. In fact, this album is Reagan styled thrash for a Trump era and if you close your eyes, other than a modern sleek production, it almost feels as if no time has elapsed at all. Welcome home.

Adam McCann