Blog Post
Chemical Storm – 'Digital Dementia'
Reviewed by Sam Fuller • Jul 17, 2024
Digital Dementia is Chemical Storm’s first release for six years, and for those who’ve been waiting for any new material, I am happy to announce they have definitely not disappointed; this is old-school thrash in a modern age! Opening track God Forbid is a Nuclear Assault on your ears: the powerful snare hitting you first, with hardcore punk vocals and high-gain, blazing guitars emulsifying you only seconds later. The strong group vocals and harmonised tremolo guitars are akin to the likes of Municipal Waste and are a Testament to both the classic and modernistic elements of thrash metal.
Second track Shallow Hole ups the gear and revs, with blast beats even mirroring Morbid Angel intensity in places. It reeks of classic Slayer influence and tone, with a punchy bass and rhythm guitar helping to build the intensity of the intro riff as it builds into the song. Blunt Force Drama follows with almost tribal sounding drums and a dirty bass to carry the song through. It starts slower and chuggier, with that high-reverb snare slowly concussing, hypnotising you into a continual full-body headbang. The vocals throughout have the essence of 2000s-era Onslaught, with the more aggressive tone showing the versatility of Big Lez’s fackin’ skitz vocals.
The closing title track serves as the perfect summary of everything this EP stands for, commenting on the toxic modernity and technological addiction which are both commonplace in today’s society as our memories are lost to a digital grave. This track gives us one more serving of a traditional thrash metal guitar solo, with both shredding and excessive vibrato made paramount. Chemical Storm have found the perfect balance of aggression and virtuosity, maintaining the music’s intensity throughout with precision-tight playing and masterful production. Digital Dementia is certainly not a record you’re likely to forget!