Having undergone a major upheaval in 2022, Illinois thrashers Misfire return with a very different line-up and some of the gnarliest ’80s San Francisco Bay Area riffs to come out of modern-day Chicago. Second full length studio release Product of the Environment (MNRK Heavy) not only finds the band in devastating form, but also boasting guest performances from the likes of Rob Cavestany from Death Angel, and Rob Dukes (both formerly and currently of Exodus).
After the Spaghetti Western vibes of intro “Borrowed Time,” the real thrashing begins with “Day To Day.” Opening in a similar vein to Metallica classic “The Thing That Should Not Be,” bassist Dan Stapinski is joined by Konstadin Kostadinov‘s thickly distorted guitars and Exodus-esque riffs, the cut bolstered by an Anthrax-style breakdown and the first of many expertly performed guitar solos.
Drummer and sole original member James Nicademus launches the venomous “All Over The Place,” vocalist Tim Jensen spitting blood and broken glass like someone cross-bred Phil Anselmo, Dave Mustaine, and Schmier of German speedsters Destruction. Another great guitar solo follows, as does a part not far from Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”.
Part Warbringer, part Slayer, all instant neck ache, the absolute thunderbastard of “We Went Through Hell” is followed by “Born To Die,” a cut that fucks your shit up even further with Pantera power grooves and a Hatebreed “destroy everything” attitude. ‘Living The Dream’ is part hardcore, part Exodus, while “Left For Dead” throws hefty Warbringer meets Bay Area punches with Rob Dukes guesting for extra Exo-thenticity.
‘End of an Age’ finds studio engineer and From Exile guitarist John Douglass lending his digits to the slashing and thrashing, the equally vicious ‘Privacy’ and ‘Twist of Fate’ following closely behind. ‘Artificially Intelligent’ opens with a delightfully unhinged opening riff before erupting into probably the fastest cut on the record, Jensen spitting out lines like, “What doesn’t kill you makes your stronger. That’s what they say before they hit you harder”.
Closing out the album, the title track comes with axe assistance from the aforementioned Cavestany, Alex Parra of Sadistic Ritual and Cauldron Born, and feels like being fisted in the face by an angry Anthrax.
Total thrash, total riffs, total devastation, Product of the Environment has all of it, so don’t go running to mummy when your eyeballs burst and you face falls off. You brought this on yourself.
Buy the record here:
https://www.misfire.ffm.to/productoftheenvironment
8 / 10
GARY ALCOCK
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