When someone talks to me about thrash metal, the first bands that come to mind are Kreator, Destruction and Sodom. There’s no doubt that the German scene has influenced my musical tastes. Since the 1980s, the Germans have kept up the spirit. Make Me Evil by the Berlin-based band Space Parasites is one of this year’s thrash metal releases that I particularly enjoy. Indeed, the band released their third album earlier this month via the label Fetzner Death Records in digital format, digipak CD and limited-edition cassette.
Make Me Evil is a 41-minute, 19-second album featuring 11 tracks. The German band presents a thrash metal sound that blends with heavy metal, known as melodic thrash metal. Most of the tracks intros make a striking opening with a heavy yet melodic rhythm (It’s similar to what Kreator or even the American band Exodus do). And these influences are evident throughout the album. For example, Kreator’s influence is more apparent at the start of the track How Often. After that, the song becomes more heavy metal-oriented than a purely thrash metal sound. However, there are also some dark atmospheres, such as on the track Tarot from 2:57 onwards.
The guitars kick off with sharp tones, blending harsh passages with melodic sections. Some of the most remarkable guitar performances can be heard on tracks such as Bedeviled Witch and Monster. There are several guitar solos, an unmistakable hallmark of German heavy/thrash metal today. The most memorable ones can be heard on Hellbound from 2:14 onwards, on Hostiles from 2:28 onwards, and on Fortress from 2:41 onwards.
The drums are rhythmic and really stand out on tracks like Neckwrecker, where they make a striking opening and kick off a track that I think is one of the most rhythm-driven on the album. But that having been said, in my opinion, the best drum performance is on the track Tarot (and I’ve listened to the album several times and keep coming back to this conclusion).
The vocals are harsh, oscillating between an aggressive tone and a clearer one, while also featuring whispers, as on the title track Make Me Evil thatt create a more evil atmosphere. I absolutely liked the vocals on Hellbound, where in certain passages they’re more saturated, particularly from 2:01 onwards. But it’s on Tarot that the vocals are truly impressive and create an evil aura. On this track in particular, the vocals know no respite: raw, aggressive and malevolent. I’d also like to highlight the vocal performance on the track She and its captivating chorus.
Among the tracks I enjoyed is Bedeviled Witch, particularly from 1:56 onwards, with a melodic composition that makes you want to headbang. There are also the tracks Hellbound and Fortress. I think the structure of the different sections and transitions is well thought out on these two tracks. Another moment I enjoyed is on Monster from 3:23 onwards, with the harmony between the drum beats and the sharp guitar notes.
To conclude, I’d say that Make Me Evil is a well-crafted and well-executed thrash metal album, even if it isn’t one that redefines thrash metal by blending melody with heavy metal. Space Parasites have delivered an authentic piece of work. Fans of Kreator and Exodus, like me, are sure to enjoy this album.
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