Label: Running Wild Productions
Genre: Thrash Metal
Length: 51:16
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They come straight from Austria and get even the most reluctant necks moving. Their thrash metal, both brutal and groove-laden, exudes pure destruction. Today, I want to revisit their latest offensive: Beneath the Flesh, released last June by Running Wild Productions, available digitally and in a limited edition of only 100 copies on CD Digifile. Before reaching this new peak, Silius had already released two previous albums: Hell Awakening (2017) and Worship to Extinction (2020).
Beneath the Flesh is a 14-track album with a total running time of 51:16 minutes. Okay, it's a thrash metal album, sure, but there are many parts in the composition that come from groove, hardcore (especially on the vocals) and even death metal. German thrash metal influences are noticeable. The guitars are wild and the drums frenetic, the vocals a wave of rage and powerful screams. The album also stands out for its modern thrash metal production. To enjoy this album, grab a beer and give it a careful listen.
While listening, several passages caught my attention. From the very first instrumental track, Gone and Forgotten, you are gently drawn into a heavy atmosphere that sets the mood perfectly. Then Captive Breeding arrives without warning and hits you right away: the surge that starts at 1:10 leaves no one indifferent. The same intensity continues on Reign Divide, with a powerful solo that bursts in at 2:04. On Columbian Necktie, I particularly enjoyed the entrance of the vocals, the flawless transition at 2:10, then the sharp solo at 3:18, before an inexhaustible final vocal performance. The instrumental The Shadow Over... darkens the whole with a more disturbing and oppressive atmosphere to the soundscape.
Innsmouth returns with even more intensity, where the vocals are even more prominent and dominate everything. The final scream is simply phenomenal, with impressive power. The title track, Beneath the Flesh, plunges into an even more oppressive atmosphere: at 3:05, a perfectly pitched solo rises, soon joined by a vocal performance of remarkable ferocity. With Down My Stone, the band lets loose: I loved the build-up from 0:50, carried by flawless drumming, before a short but powerful solo. Verdun arrives at a fast and massive tempo, tempered by a tireless vocal performance. The compositions follow one another in a frenzy, perfectly showcasing the band's identity, until the masterful solo bursts in at 2:58.
On Shell Shocked, I particularly liked the section that starts at 2:14, with a strong bass line, soon followed by a long solo superbly placed at 2:31—arguably the most well-crafted on the entire album. Eat the Priest surprises at first with an unexpected melodic intro before quickly shifting into high-speed frenzy. Rise in Riot showcases impressive vocal performance, particularly with its high-pitched, shrill screams; the rhythm at 1:57 caught my attention, just before an incisive solo at 2:21. Satanic Embrace: two minutes of uninterrupted energy, a tempo that never falters, and an absolutely devastating solo at 2:15. For me, this is the album's standout track, the one I immediately added to my annual thrash metal playlist. Finally, the cover of Black Sabbath's Solitude closes the album on a respectful note.
In short, Beneath the Flesh is a veritable thrash metal uppercut: massive compositions, relentless rhythms, finely crafted solos and energy that never wanes from start to finish. Each track finds its place, whether it's atmospheric instrumentals or more frenetic tracks, and the vocal intensity constantly elevates the whole.
