Power Trip are a crossover Thrash metal act hailing from Texas, and this is their second full length release, Nightmare Logic. Now in preparation for this review, I did go back and listen to their debut record, Manifest Decimation, and I've gotta say, I urge you to do so also, because these guys are one of the finest crossover/ throwback acts I've heard in recent memory, and the fact that I'm just now hearing about them is almost criminal. They bring classic, hard-edged riffs, quick and nimble fretwork, and vocals that scream out in anguish on almost every track. They manage to fuse the intensity of a hardcore punk band with the ferocity of Thrash, and also manage to bring elements of Death metal to the table as well.
And that hasn't changed on their latest offering, Nightmare Logic, in fact, I'd argue that they've only gotten better. With production that still pays homage to the classic 80's sound, but with a slightly more crisp and clear recording, and riffs that give me the same urge to head-bang as the first time I heard Metallica, I think Power Trip have hit a stride here, one that is truly awesome to behold. The album opens up with the dark and foreboding "Soul Sacrifice", and follows it up with the insanely catchy "Executioner's Tax (Swing of the Axe)" which is easily my favorite Metal track of the year thus far; with it's classic riff-age and killer hook that reminds me how it used to be okay to have a clear and distinct hook in a metal track.
The album continues to assault the listener with Thrash goodness, especially tracks like "Firing Squad" and "Waiting Around To Die", and doesn't let up until the very end. Unfortunately, that end does come sooner than I'd like it to. Just like their debut, Power Trip take the "all killer, no filler" approach, but that means their are only 8 tracks here, clocking in at just over 30 minutes, which is great, but I have to admit I was willing to continue headbanging for at least another 10 minutes.
Regardless, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying metal release at this point in the year. Power Trip know what they're doing, and they do it with such ease, it makes you wonder why other bands have trouble doing it just as well.
9.0/10
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