SPACE CHASER • Dead Sun Rising • LP

This Charming Man Records

Right from the opener “Metro Massacre”, it’s obvious—not just from the cover art—that SPACE CHASER have added a whole layer of darkness to their sound, without losing their catchiness or anthemic quality. Mature, you could say. The guitar tone is sinewy and heavy, and singer Siggi outdoes himself in terms of power and versatility. Really impressive. It seems the band has made an effort to trim the over-the-top comic-book vibe from before; at least that’s the impression I get. Instead, the guitar arrangements are more intricate, aggressive, and refined than ever.

Vocally, Siggi swings between Bruce Dickinson and young Michael Kiske—but far more ferocious than either. In no-bullshit thrash, these guys are masters of their craft. How they manage to play such demanding material at this speed—and with such tightness even when drunk—is beyond me. Anyone who thought their debut was just a Tankard-style blowout of thrash-and-drink might be in for a surprise. But for fans of well-crafted, dynamic thrash metal, there’s simply no way around this band. There’s not a gram of fat in the sound: transparent, crisp, yet crushing. The instrumentalists have leveled up, and the songwriting repeatedly calls to mind lighter-footed Slayer, Overkill, early Deathrow, Holy Moses, ’80s Metallica, and of course Anthrax.

The pace! “Anthem” earns its title with a Maiden-esque chorus that takes serious skill to pull off. “Judgement Day” is a riff storm at such a high level that it literally drops your jaw—complete with a stunning Cliff Burton-style bass outro. “Xenomorph” immediately proves that they can master mid-tempo tracks, here more melodic than my favorite “Predator”, but no less convincing: a huge high-end chorus and an end-riff that’s a skull-crushing delight—can’t wait to hear this live. The metal heart and dedication poured into this record is palpable. “Dead Sun Rising” is easily the most metal album I’ve heard this year—and I listen to a lot of metal. True to the bone, yet modern, without feeling dusty or retro. Metalheads unite and mosh up the unmoshed!

Top marks from me. After an already outstanding debut, I never would have guessed they could elevate songwriting, sound, and performance to this degree—but I’m more than happy to be proven wrong!