Power Trip

Playing legitimate underground thrash metal in 2014 is a task, to say the least. Make it too gimmicky, or try to modernize a sound that is wholly associated with the short window of 1985-1989 (by '90 the whole genre had gone mainstream), and you're dead in the water. But Texas thrash quintet Power Trip have the classic thrash sound nailed. First off, the correct t-shirts worn on stage: Faded Obituary shirts that look like they were bought on the Slowly We Rot tour to replace the unfortunately torn and soiled Exodus Bonded in Blood t-shirt, not to mention a goddamn Razor shirt (new-looking or not), and immediately we're off to the races. But instead of taking the thrash sound and goofing around with it the way bands like Municipal Waste do (this is serious shit, guys), Power Trip take the completely authentic approach of thrashing like they are playing Ruthie's in San Francisco in 1987, sharing the bill with Death Angel and Vio-Lence. And so, violent lyrics were shouted, heads were whipped in a circular fashion, solos were shredded and kickboxing and head-banging were prevalent throughout Dickens Pub on this night. Hey, we'll even forgive Power Trip for having a song called "Manifest Decimation," which is almost a direct D.R.I. rip-off. With the thrash mania they displayed at Sled Island, they've earned that honour.