Must Kill open their set with solid riffs and a galloping pace. The vocals shift from gruff and deathly to higher pitched and blackened. However, the vocalist seems like he's trying far too hard and it doesn't sound natural. They have a modern thrash based sound, like latter day Machine Head or maybe Skeletonwitch. 'Bete Noire' has a mechanical feel, whilst there's also quite a Metallica influence at play too and at various points I'm reminded of 'One', 'Harvester Of Sorrow' and 'Creeping Death'. The lead guitarist is pretty good, pulling out some Alex Skolnick style solos but generally Must Kill are functional rather than inspired.
Reaper are rampaging old school thrash metal reminiscent of Death Angel. They have a real energy and intensity to them. A couple of songs are more groove orientated, like the funkier tracks on 'Act III', although I prefer it when they let rip like on the crushing 'Awake'. The comparisons don't just extend to the music because Daniel Moran's vocals have a Mark Osegueda feel too. The bassist and singer both have great stage presence and charisma. Apparently, the bassist is just standing in tonight but he does an excellent job. The closing number has a 'Rust In Peace' feel and is excellent. Good stuff.
Costa Rica's Chemicide have a real Death Angel feel on record. However, they are much rawer live, and they play with a primal ferocity which reminds me of Hirax. The lead guitarist has a very laid back style. He looks very disinterested while his fingers whizz around the fretboard. Although they slow it down from time to time, generally they play at a furious pace which is intense and powerful. 'Indoctrination' is an absolute barrage with rabid vocals. Considering how polished their studio output is, they are definitely more on the aggressive side of thrash live, like Destruction, Hirax or 80s Kreator.
Chemicide ****
Reaper ****
Must Kill ***
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