I normally steer clear of year end “best ofs” for the blog but this year will be an exception.  While I often buy quite a bit of music it is rare for me to put one particular release in constant rotation, come back to it months down the road, and STILL get jazzed on based on the songs, excitement, and energy level based on the material within.  That, my friends, is the mark of a great album and a big reason why Power Trip’s “Nightmare Logic” is my favorite release of 2017.

I wrote about this album back in June (check that out HERE) and everything still applies, even moreso.  And it’s not just me…  check out metal music sites and you’ll find scores of bloggers/writers/etc praising the album, many including it in their own personal top ten or even at the top spot.  As many note, this band has crossover appeal for thrash fans, death metal fans, speed metal fans, punk fans, hardcore fans, and is winning over people en masse based on the blending of those styles into a concise eight song, thirty minute album of relentless energy, conviction, and intensity.

A big reason why I enjoy this album is because it reminds me of 1986/1987 and the burgeoning thrash metal movement headed up by Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth.  I’m feeling the same exact vibe listening to this as when thrash finally “clicked” with me and became a full on love affair, but Power Trip is not a full on throwback band.  They don’t sound like one band in particular but are a perfect mix of multiple artists plus just enough of their own tenacity and spirit to make you take notice.  Such relentlessness and a “take no prisoners” performance from beginning to end deserves much critical praise.  Play this one straight through- it’s a Goliath of an album.