Early Man

Shifting away from the indie rock confines of Matador and slipping into something a little more comfortable with metal brigade the End was one of the smartest moves Early Man made a couple of years ago. Celebrating that merger with the Beware The Circling Fin EP was great, but only now have the power trio been able to issue something of true girth, with sophomore full-length Death Potion. Following up 2005's Closing In, Death Potion is a far more refined and solidified attack steeped in thrash's greatest era: when acts such as Testament and Exodus were raging, while M.O.D. and Ludichrist were responsible for maintaining revelry. Here, those influences result in a modestly rudimentary thrash that chugs along with bared teeth and red-hot eyes, even though the clean, unmotivated vocals get in the way like some sort of fly in the metallic ointment. But it does little to deter from enjoying the authoritative, old school Anthrax feel of the verse riffs that ensure Death Potion is a bonafide ripper.