Fast, aggressive, feral, and ferociously raw. That’s my summary of this snarling debut release by Spaniards Retador. Formed in 2020, the quartet’s history is limited with the usual early line-up changes resulting in a settled formation comprising guitarist Rolo, vocalist and guitarist Jofre, bassist Migueli and Juan Jolocaust on drums.
Retador is 36 minutes of uncontrolled thrash metal, sung in Spanish and underpinned by a ferociously energetic if slightly flawed style. After the opening intro” La Venda” spews forth a truly vicious combination of Maiden and Sepultura, all at a pace that never slows or pauses for breath.
The album continues in the same vein throughout. The riffs lacerate, slashing with a jagged, unrefined approach, with the band making up for their unwieldy form with sheer enthusiasm and ion. “Furia” (Rage in English) does exactly what you’d expect. Speed metal with a rusted edge, screaming high pitched vocals that will be something of an acquired taste, it’s a bottled-up energy burst that sits comfortably within the new wave of thrash metal.
And whilst the polish needs attention, the sheer intensity, and relentless attitude is something that you can only applaud. It’s fabulously chaotic, with gang chats, searing lead breaks and a powerful rhythm section that at times just about hold things together.
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Songs like “Violencia,” “Deseo de Matar” (Desire to Kill) and “Jucio Final” (Final Judgment) all provide big clues to the band’s influences, much of it pointing to the gnarlier side of thrash and big hints to the death metal scene as well.
I would imagine that their shows are savage, with plenty of pit action. The obvious Exodus and Slayer influences sit comfortably with early Sepultura and Death. Even the instrumental “Ton 618” that links the midpoint of the album has something that attracts, despite it being done a million times before. Overall, it is a savagely rough yet strangely compelling release, of which Retador should be rightly proud. If you fancy a slice of honest, intense thrash, this is one for you.
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Retador is out on September 13th
Retador: facebook
