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Metal/Prog Metal CD Reviews

Xentrix Shattered Existence Review by Gary Hill I have to admit that I never heard of these guys before. That's a real shame. This album was their 1989 debut, and it definitely makes me think of early Metallica. These guys were one of the better bands of the movement. This re-master includes a nice booklet and bonus tracks that were originally released as an EP titled "Ghostbusters." I am definitely very interested in hearing more from this band. They are back together these days, too, by the way. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2022 Volume 3. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2022.

Track by Track Review

No Compromise Driving out with smoking hot galloping riffing, this shifts gears toward a thrash sound that makes me think of early Metallica from there. The vocals call to mind Metallica, too. This is a real powerhouse that's among the best of that era's metal.

Balance Of Power Here we get another fierce and driving stomper. This is chugging, mean and so cool. I dig the guitar fills on it quite a bit.

Crimes The riffing on this is mean. The song really does make me think of early Metallica. This is frantic, smoking hot and so cool. the vocals remind me a little of a gravelly Dave Mustaine.

Back In The Real World I love the guitar riffs on the introduction to this. The track works out to more powerhouse pounding from there. It's another stomper. I'm not as enthused about this one as I am about some of the cuts that preceded it, but it still rocks like crazy. There are some cool twists, though and the guitar solo is on fire.

Dark Enemy They don't let up at all, as this is another thrashing hot screamer as it comes out of the gate. There are some changes here and there. This is another number that reminds me of early Metallica.

Bad Blood The introduction to this is dramatic with a series of pounding chord sections punctuated by tasty guitar riffs. The track moves from there to a driving thrash mode that is again reminiscent of early Metallica. This is one of the real standouts here. The shift mid-track to a dramatic new movement is so cool, as is the expressive guitar solo section that follows. A cool slightly off-kilter and almost hardcore punk section comes in after that.

Reasons For Destruction Drums and a frantic bass line bring this in. The riff that comes over the top of that is so tasty. The cut is another driving thrash beast. It has some great twists and turns. It drops back to just the drums and bass for the first verse. Then it fills out and fires upward from there. There is a drop to an almost Spanish guitar section further down the road. They chug out with thrash fury from there, and the changes keep coming. The guitar solo has an almost psychotic early thrash sound to it. This is quite possibly the best song of the whole set.

Position of Security Starting with percussion, this tune screams out with a lot of fury and power from there. There is some particularly strong riffing on this. The song has a mean vocal arrangement and great plodding sections.

Heaven Cent While not a big change, this is another scorching hot thrash screamer. It's a great way to close the album proper. It reminds me a bit of Megadeth.

Bonus tracks:

Ghostbusters Yes, we get a thrash version of the theme song to "Ghostbusters." I absolutely love this. Then again, I love that movie and whole franchise. They do a speed up at the end of the track.

Nobody’s Perfect The galloping sound at the start of this is classic. The whole tune has a lot of that old school Metallica vibe. It's another screamer that stands as tall as anything on the album proper.

Interrogate More driving thrash, this is another powerhouse. There are some pretty crazy twists and turns on this tune. It has some real hardcore punk angles, or perhaps skate punk.

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