The thrash metal revival over the past few years has birthed a number of really good bands like Evile, Havok, and Warbringer (to name just a few) but there is only one who’s had a release that has been in constant rotation in my CD player.  With one listen to lead cut “Executioner’s Tax” I knew I’d found a band that had a little extra oomph in the tank over this new breed, so much so that I felt like a mad scientist on the brink of discovery:  “YESSS!  YESSSSSSSSSS!”  That band is Power Trip and their newest release is the mighty Nightmare Logic.

I’m not kidding that this has been non-stop in the CD player.  I may take the occasional break to listen to something else but I’ve returned to this one quite frequently based on multiple factors.  Nightmare Logic is relatively short for the modern CD era but that’s part of its effectiveness-  its eight songs are generally no more than three or four minutes with only one topping out over five, leading to a sonic punch to the gut that’s barely over a half hour.  Once you are done playing it, you want to hit repeat again and again and again.  There is not one wasted moment here-  just one solid wallop after another of varying speeds, heaviness, and intensities that get your blood flowing.

Granted, what you are hearing here is nothing groundbreaking-  you’ll definitely hear elements of various thrash bands:  gang vocals, boot stomping riffs, manic lead breaks, and often politicized lyrics.  But there are a few reasons why this works moreso than their modern day peers:  For one the production leans more old school, sounding as if this was recorded deep in an echoey cavern with everything clotting together in one giant (and I mean GIANT) wall of sound-  riffs are thick and meaty and drum tones are thumping.  And speaking of the drums, sticksman Chris Ulsh is as old school thrash\metal as you can get.  There are no blastbeats or double kicks here; Ulsh is more of a compact pounder akin to early Lars Ulrich, Philty Animal Taylor of Motorhead, or Kirk Arrington of Metal Church, which is very refreshing compared to modern heavy metal drummers of today who rely more on triggered drum kicks.

However, the BIGGEST reason this disc ranks high is the incredible vocal presence of Riley Gale.  Sounding equal parts hardcore roarer and death metal bellower, Gale pulls every note from somewhere deep in the depths of his soul as he belts each lyric with serious conviction.  His delivery is “venomous maximus”:  there is no screwing around here as Gale means business.  The amazing part of his delivery is varying layers of intensity-  you may get a deep howl to intro a cut followed by a menacing spit take of a few lines and then on to a half sung, half shouted chorus.  Just when you think he’s going out of control he’ll reel it back a little with a commanding bark of a few lines before that mania creeps back in.  Awesome awesome stuff.

As for songs…  well, you’ve got your pick of the litter here.  The aforementioned “Executioner’s Tax”, with its straight out of the 80’s video, is huge, as are its closest rivals in chug factor in “Waiting Around To Die” and “If Not Us Then Who”; all three featuring massively stomping riffs and classic gang vocals.  If you want speed, look no further than a good chunk of lead off cut “Soul Sacrifice” (dig that Slayeresque lead break!) and all throughout the incendiary “Firing Squad”.  Or how about slightly less speed but just as much intensity?  “Ruination”, “Crucifixation”, and the title cut.  There is really no weak link in the bunch.

So if you miss old school thrash vibes and have a hankering for seriously raw yet massive production and a singer with an incredibly intense vocal approach, go out and grab a copy of Power Trip’s Nightmare Logic.  Be forewarned… your neck may be sore for weeks!