Initially formed in 1985, Toxik’s musical path has been as challenging as the music they play. Two albums released in 1987 and 1989 in the shape of World Circus and Think This were followed by 15 years of inactivity from 1992 – 2007 before the original line-up reformed only to split again a few years later. Rumours of new music have been circulating for the best part of a decade and now, having refreshed the band with a new line-up, only guitarist Josh Christian remains from the original , we finally get Dis Morta, a mere 33 years since the sophomore.
Musically, it’s a bit of everything thrown in. The band are keen to maintain the thrash backbone which runs through each song, but there is so much going on that it’s almost impossible to keep up and placing them in any individual pigeon hole is just plain wrong. It’s stunningly schizophrenic in technicality, with odd time signatures contrasting with ferocious BPMs, lightning-fast guitar lead breaks and sonically shattering screams of new vocalist Ron Iglesias.
Dis Morta is a conceptual piece of work but one that stands flexibly rather than restricted by some of the more clunky albums one might consider when thinking about concept work. The interesting artwork on the cover of the album provokes questions, whilst the album retains some of the punk themes of previous releases and centres on a dystopian view of society. A band focused on the unbalanced and rather hinged society we inhabit, there is certainly plenty to think about on this release.
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Hit play and you’re confronted by the ferocious “Feeding Frenzy,” all searing lead work and fiery thrash. As a first introduction to Iglesias, it’s a bit of a shock, for the man has a high-pitched delivery which sits closer to Agent Steel’s John Cyriis, but it tends to work within the context of the album.
There are elements of Voi Vod concealed within this album, such as the carnage created in “Hyper Reality.” The intricate attention to detail, the constant time changes and movement leading it at times to present as somewhat disted. It’s the type of metal that I often struggle with but it’s not difficult to appreciate.
Interspersed with sound clips that enhance the songs, such as the abusive woman at the start of “The Radical,” Dia Morta is a cleverly constructed release that certainly has its moments. It’s a rollercoaster of a ride that ebbs and flows, rarely allowing time for breath with the frantic nature. At times it’s all a little overpowering. The sheer tempo of “Straight Razor” blends thrash with over-the-top power metal, and it is this in-tour-face delivery that makes it difficult to fully enjoy.
But overall, if you like technical shredding, blisteringly fast metal with high-pitched vocal, you could do a lot worse than giving this album a go. After all, it’s been long enough coming.
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Dis Morta is out now.
Header image by Henk Brouwer
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