X.Trun.K - All Comes to an End
Self-Released - 2006
By Adam McAuley
This is a fairly left-field take on the thrash genre because it also takes cues from a slightly groove-oriented metalcore approach to go along with what would typically be expected from the genre. What we have here is a moderate at best attempt at infusing some originality into a very consistently samely genre.
Because the performances themselves are also only decent at best and as a demo the track listing is very short, the entire effort comes across as a very mediocre effort at best, making the band a forgettable item and one that may be best altogether overlooked. The vocals come across as somewhat cheesy and not fitting to what could be considered a quasi-thrash album. There's also a very groovy vibe present as well as a futuristic one, making the album seem slightly more compelling than the sum of its parts might suggest. Right from the onset it catches your attention with great aspirations, but the real lack of replay value and true grit really slows down the album overall. It lacks the force, drive and compassion that create such excellent thrash albums a lot of the time.
It comes across as a decent attempt at a slant on the thrash, but had the band attempted a more ingenious or aggressive approach, the album may have come across as far more of a standout than it has. As it is, the album semme like something less than it potentially could have been and is thus a rather lackluster affair overall. If I want real thrash, I'll go to the classics and the rare decent new album by bands like Blistered Earth and when I want metalcore I'll go to interesting bands like Burst. Still, not a bad album, but there's nothing particularly noteworthy to make me recommend it. XTrunx simply seem to come up a bit short.
4.5/10
Official X.trun.K Website
Self-Released - 2006
By Adam McAuley
This is a fairly left-field take on the thrash genre because it also takes cues from a slightly groove-oriented metalcore approach to go along with what would typically be expected from the genre. What we have here is a moderate at best attempt at infusing some originality into a very consistently samely genre.
Because the performances themselves are also only decent at best and as a demo the track listing is very short, the entire effort comes across as a very mediocre effort at best, making the band a forgettable item and one that may be best altogether overlooked. The vocals come across as somewhat cheesy and not fitting to what could be considered a quasi-thrash album. There's also a very groovy vibe present as well as a futuristic one, making the album seem slightly more compelling than the sum of its parts might suggest. Right from the onset it catches your attention with great aspirations, but the real lack of replay value and true grit really slows down the album overall. It lacks the force, drive and compassion that create such excellent thrash albums a lot of the time.
It comes across as a decent attempt at a slant on the thrash, but had the band attempted a more ingenious or aggressive approach, the album may have come across as far more of a standout than it has. As it is, the album semme like something less than it potentially could have been and is thus a rather lackluster affair overall. If I want real thrash, I'll go to the classics and the rare decent new album by bands like Blistered Earth and when I want metalcore I'll go to interesting bands like Burst. Still, not a bad album, but there's nothing particularly noteworthy to make me recommend it. XTrunx simply seem to come up a bit short.
4.5/10
Official X.trun.K Website
