The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer said during the 2018 World Economic Forum annual meeting that “New technologies are rapidly giving rise to unprecedented methods of warfare. Innovations that yesterday were science fiction could cause catastrophe tomorrow, including nanotechnologies, combat robots, and laser weapons”. The new album called Nanotech by Euphoria Ω uses technically driven thrash to bring a forbidding tale of technology subsuming humanity into violent focus.
Detroit is quickly becoming an epicenter for a tsunami of talented metal bands and Euphoria Ω is at the crest of the wave. Musicians Justin Kelter (vocals), Bubba Colonna IV (guitar), TJ Richardson (guitar), Louie Badalament (drums), and Max Neal (bass) combine razor-sharp thrash with doses of technical precision. They then infuse core elements from the progenitors of metal such as Iron Maiden to generate a new synthesis of hellbent metal fury on Nanotech. This just scratches the surface of how utterly enjoyable and heavily satisfying each listen of this album is. When you add in the sci-fi storyline, you have one hell of an awesome metal experience.
Tales of our creations running amok have been around since Mary Shelley penned Frankenstein. Euphoria Ω’s tale of our technology subsuming us begins with “Electro Hypnosis”. Justin Kelter’s vocals range from caustic growls to venomous howls as he lays the foundation for the album’s story of the subjugation of mankind. This mid-paced stomper gives the listener a taste of the raw power this band generates. The tasty harmonized arpeggios and break-neck guitar solos from Bubba Colonna and TJ Richardson heighten the musical gravity. Can this album get any better? You bet.
Taking a cue from the great technical thrash bands like Forbidden, Vektor, Obliveon, and Testament, the song “Labyringth Online” uses percussive riffs that convey mechanical movement. Louie Badalament and Max Neal create a rock solid and propulsive foundation for the guitars and vocals to express the grinding maw of the cybervoid. The pace changes within this song and exemplary performance make it a stand out on the album.
A contemplative guitar solo with a touch of mourning leads us into the anthemic “Neon Dreams”. You can envision a legion of metalheads banging their heads with fists raised to this one. Euphoria Ω blend technical riffs with a classic crunch to perfection on this gem. Closing out with fury is the song “Brainstorm”. Like the eye of the hurricane, this song features a trippy Voivod-esque break in the middle of the song. Husky riffs like a battering ram take control to complete this listening experience.
Nanotech by Euphoria Ω uses vicious thrash metal to tell a terrifying near-future tale of the demise of mankind. This album radiates with exhilarating riffs coalescing into songs of savagery. The mark of great metal music is how well it infects your brain. If an album makes you want to rage, then you have a keeper. Euphoria Ω make exciting thrash music that consumes your mind and unleashes the monsters within.