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Tyranex: Extermination Has Begun
Tyranex Extermination Has Begunt album new music review

Tyranex: Extermination Has Begun

Heavy/Thrash Metal
3.5/5.0

Inferno Records
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by Craig Hartranft,  05.23.2011

It's time again to bang your head like it's 1983. Sweden's Tyranex makes no apology for wanting to resurrect those early days of heavy and thrash metal. Their debut recording, Extermination Has Begun for France's Inferno Records is a fine mixture of classic heavy and thrash metal. In other words, pure Eighties tape trading bliss for fans of old school metal.

However, Tyranex is unconventional, at least from those earlier days: they have a female lead vocalist, Linnea Landstedt. But don't think Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy); Ms. Landstedt is a screamer and wailer rather than gravel-throated death metal growler. Did I mention she also plays guitar? She's pretty good, too.

Generally, Tyranex operates on a simple formula on most every song. A genuine thrash metal start, quick and relentless. Then at some point, let's call it a seque or breakdown, they move to a more moderate pace for an extensive and invigorating guitar solo. This, in turn, is usually followed by more thrashing about. And you know, on The Weak Strike Back, The Curse, and Dreamland, by example, it works quite well. Then there's a song like None So Cruel which is heavier metal with the thrash kept at bay until the end. Think Destruction with early Testament and Slayer. Mostly, Tyranex gets done in short order: average song length is less than four minutes.

Lately, there's been more than a few bands across the globe returning to and revitalizing traditional metal. Sweden's Tyranex is another, and one of the better ones. Between the arrangements, pace, and stining guitar solos, Tyranex knows their histroy. However, I'm not convinced of Linnea Landstedt's vocals. Here's another case where I dig the metal and then the vocals intrudes. But with thrash heaviness and ripping guitar solos tightend by melody, I can live with it. Recommended.




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In Short

Lately, there's been more than a few bands across the globe returning to and revitalizing traditional metal. Sweden's Tyranex is another, and one of the better ones. Between the arrangements, pace, and stining guitar solos, Tyranex knows their histroy.

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