Chupacabra is an interesting name for a Thrash/Death Metal band. I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t been taken for a band already. Perhaps the band may tour with Thrashsqatch in the future, perhaps call it; Into the Crypt with the Cryptids. 

The group comes to us from Bristol (UK) and is made up of a few scene veterans. Fortified With Ashes (Self-Released) is the band’s debut EP and they are already making waves. Chupacabra is providing all of the music for the new audiobook version of DX Ferris’ Slayer Biography: Slayer 66 ⅔  A Metal Biography. 

“Burn the Clowns,” starts off the EP with a savage slap. The riffs are nasty and Heather Tyler’s harsh and often guttural vocals are even meaner. Chupacabra slows down just a bit to offer some pretty tasty solos. If you dig the Glasglow era of Arch Enemy you’ll find plenty to love here.

“F.T.T.D,” begins with some nice mid-tempo melodies before amping up. The track does excellent work with varying tempos without any sacrifice to the heaviness. Again, Tyler’s vocals really shine on some of the slower passages.

The title track ends this short little EP. Opening with some incredible melodic guitars, this song just has that EPIC feeling from the get-go. Chupacabra really lets their thrash influences take over on this one. If you weren’t banging your head in the beginning, you will be by this track. Tons of shredding and plenty of blistering speed can be found here perfectly ending this EP. 

Let’s hope this is a preview for more to come soon.

Buy the album here:

https://chupacabrametal.bandcamp.com/album/fortified-with-ashes

8 / 10

ANDREW RISCH