Canada has unleashed the newest thrash onslaught in Waterloo Ontario’s five-piece Raider. Their new full-length “Guardian of The Fire” is eight tracks of raw, old-school thrash modernized for today’s hungry headbanging youth holding the ingredients of their ‘80s and ‘90s forefathers.
Perpetual speed, noise and a nuclear assault on the ears and senses was the goal attained. With first single “Bound By No Fate” being a loud introduction into their musical vision and lyrically into days of yore prophesying a message of forging one’s own path against any constructs of preplanned destiny.
The raid began in 2017, with grit filled creative jamming and blasts of rebellious youth giving a tight delivery with a refined final product. Lyrics are growled from history, literature, the world of today and possibility tomorrow.
With a full lineup evolved they’re ready for live intrusion and domination. If Carcass and Deicide were thrash and wrote about epic biblical battles, mythological history, and blood soaked, battle worn warriors, Raider would be their modern day counterparts with the smell of sweaty hot denim and patches polluting the air. It’s raspy, deliberate and gritty Euro-thrash with odes to Destruction and Kreator and a couple of six minute tunes.
They’re breeding music with feelings of foretelling, foreboding, anxiety and unnerving tensions with lyrics that ponder, what are these guys reading?
“Bond By No Fate” brings out a Carcass-like delivery sparking the opening growl. The first bit of alchemy-laced lyrical/musical fire hit the ears with marching riffs and a catchy non-deliberate pace. Guitars set mood and tell multi-emotional stories with notes and speed.
The gates of heaven are stormed in the end days by heathen and unholy forces in an anti-sacred raid.
“No Sign of the Dawn” rolls out rage and hellfire, shackled to the earth, leaving our human vessels when destruction comes. Insomnia causing notes, strain eyes to the coming light with telling guitar riffs exposing our fate.
“Guardian of the Fire” stokes the eternal thrash fire, from minor guitar tracks to loaded and loud riffs giving their instruments a full body stock workout every tune as space and heavens converge.
The stinging hiss of the “Hydra” begins as notes and riffs sprinkle the sea. It’s a pedal smashing offering of souls with ravenous appetite and feelings of the serpent’s wrath.
Raider satisfies the need for aggressive energy and stand at the beginning of their own personal Book of the Dead, while the next chapters wait to be written with pages and stories earned in stage sweat and blood. Though a ceremonial pact may not be needed for success
