It’s taken ten long years but Edinburgh thrashers Black Talon follow up highly promising full-length studio debut Endless Realities with their independently released second album, Scenes of Agony.
Avoiding the constraints of what has historically been a pretty limiting genre, listening to Black Talon is like stepping back in time to the late eighties when many Thrash acts became more technical and progressive in an attempt to delay the looming Grunge age just around the corner. Something that luckily is of no concern these days.
Featuring lyrics that reflect the state of the world, society at large and the human condition in general, the album opens with the sound of a quickening heartbeat before the socio-politically aware title track explodes from the speakers. With lyrics such as “I paint the scenes of agony / in colours that no eyes should see,” singer Johnny Steele adopts a similar style to Howard ‘H’ Smith from UK Thrash legends Acid Reign as the rip-roaring opener recalls the likes of Forbidden and Heathen, combining fast and aggressive riffs with mid-paced groove and adept soloing.
Short bursts of riffing soon become an avalanche as “Cryptocracy” hits even faster with just the right amount of light and shade before multifaceted nine-minute epic “Isolation” combines brooding progressive Thrash featuring some quality work from bassist Eddie Campbell with some not-so-subtle full-on speed, guitarist Rory Strachan supplying riffs which sound like they were created in a lab overseen by mad scientists wearing Slayer and Forbidden shirts.
Drummer Dave Taylor leads the charge on “Falsifier,” another complex but accessible barrage of progressive-minded Thrash while desolate interlude “Forlorn Hope” serves as the introduction to the elaborately muscular “Obnoxion.”
“Killing Time” almost tries to cram too much into its short but energetic three and a half minutes, while “The Bastard Gene” (no, not Simmons) arrives with more mid-paced groove, bursts of speed, and ominous riffs before the album climaxes with the final deluge of dive-bombing and thunderous thrash of “Not Meant To Last.”
Taking its cues from some of the finest, Scenes Of Agony is labyrinthine yet instantly accessible, nostalgic but ambitious and forward-thinking, but most of all it’s simply a collection of absolute bangers. Also, bearing in mind the eighties influence is so prevalent here, you do wonder if frontman Johnny Steele is aware he shares his name with the fictitious big-haired rock singer from sci-fi comedy/horror Critters.
Buy the album here:
https://blacktalonthrash.bandcamp.com/album/scenes-of-agony
8 / 10
GARY ALCOCK
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