Band:	Raider
Album:	Trial By Chaos
Style:	Death metal, Thrash metal
Release date:	April 2023

01. Trial By Chaos
02. Rite Of Conquest
03. New Dominion
04. Fearless
05. Labyrinth
06. Ark Of Empyrea
07. Juggernaut Cerebrivore
08. Devour The Darkness

Feast your ears on some pure aggressive death/thrash, but please be warned, it will most surely be a true Trial Of Chaos for those faint-hearted, easy listeners.

This mighty Canadian death/thrash metal act, Raider, unleashed to us an impressive debut back in 2020 titled Guardian Of The Fire. Well now they're back, and this time they return with a much heavier, faster, and even more aggressive release, titled Trial By Chaos. Just as the cover art depicts, this album is themed in a fantasy-based setting, that's centered around a lone warrior who battles serpents, dragons, and god knows what else that are attacking from every single angle possible. The music Raider creates here most certainly matches the album's theme, through its overwhelming ferocious tempo, and unprecedented levels of devastating aggressive energy.

Right from the opening title track, Raider make it evidently clear that they aren't just going to be like your typical new wave thrash metal revival act. The high-end turbocharged tempo, non-stop furiously frenzied riffs, manic pounding drumming, and insane shredding solos that are present throughout clearly show the band opt towards a style that leans more towards death/thrash, rather than regular or classic thrash. You could say bands such as Revocation, Vader, and at a push Testament's The Gathering, would be the closest resemblances to this album's particular style.

The vocals are Vader-like in the way that they cross between monstrous death growls and blackened shrieks, with mighty secondary shouts often chorusing in the background, adding that extra aggressiveness to an already outrageously aggressive album. The riffs are never short of groove, making the enjoyment factor simply fly off the chart, and the rhythm section (drums and bass) throughout is sheer manic. However, the real stand out factor for me is just how relentless the flow truly is, the tempo is simply unforgiving, and is comparable to Skeletonwitch, with a touch of Slayer's Reign In Blood.

There is, in fact, one occasion where the tempo actually decreases, that is during the track “Juggernaut Cerebrivore” (also the longest track featured at over six minutes), and that's only due to the slower chugging riff style at the beginning, accompanied by an acoustic melody. That tempo only slows momentarily though, as in less than a minute the song returns to its usual full ferocious force, as if that slow beginning never even happened.

There is, however, a downside to this aggressive structural pattern, and that's in the repetitiveness. Over the course of the album, you'll find both the rhythm section and riff structures start to feel slightly on the repetitive side. This means the repeating grooves, beats and melodies, can make the album perhaps seem that tad bit one-dimensional overall. Thankfully, the album length doesn't allow this to go overboard, and with most of the tracks generally being as short, you may find yourself having such an enjoyable headbanging time to even notice.

There are personal highlights worth me pointing out, the first being the fantastic guitar leads with this striking echoing tone they possess. This is most noticeable on the track “Devour The Darkness”, which is also perhaps the most unique track featured on the album. You will hear just as many melodeath influences than thrash, and dare I say a hint of meloblack too.

Trail By Chaos is only the sophomore release by the newly formed death/thrash act Raider. So I suggest you stay tuned for more aggressive mayhem from these crazy Canadian thrashers in the near future, if you can stomach this release, that is.