Dutch hardcore thrashers Vitamin X return to the scene after eight long years bringing us Ride The Apocalypse, out now on Svart Records. Amsterdam’s finest in crossover has brought us a masterpiece brought to life in the studio by Joel Grind (their American thrash counterpart of Toxic Holocaust fame) and visually with art by Andrei Bouzikov (who has worked for their … other American thrash counterpart Municipal Waste) and the result is 16 tracks of no-nonsense, business-as-usual, Vitamin X brand hardcore punk meets crossover thrash.
Ride The Apocalypse by Vitamin X Cracking to life with a snare count, “Chop, Chop, Chop” sets intentions for what is to be a saga that is equal parts terrifying and filled with rage, a great way to come in—with easy to remember, participatory lyrics. All that and over in under two minutes. Followed by “Ride the Apocalypse,” the record continues with melodic bass lines, face-melting guitar leads, and even more singalongs. “Sociopath” is a thrasher that explores key changes and “Unleash the Wolves” brings a traditional verse/chorus structure before manipulating a riff three ways—stoner style, hesher style, and two-step singalong style. “Siren’s Call” brings us the dark side of surf (Agent Orange, anyone?) riddled with infectious vocal melodies and absolutely relentless floor tom hammering. In under two minutes, this establishes the next segment of the album.
“Devolution/Devilution,” the album’s third single, contains a nasty buildup sure to send the most ferocious of moshers into flight. Also, circle pits, anyone? “Bite The Hand that Feeds” is giving a bent-out-of-shape, Southern-rock-meets-thrash vibe, and “Brainfreeze” gives early 80s Metallica a run for their money. Soldiering on through the tracks is “Genetic Mutation”—which sounds like a forgotten Dead Kennedys track, “Symphony of Doom”—containing some of the album’s best drumming, and “Wanna Be Me”—apt use of the word “wanna”, which could possibly be a nod to the Ramones, who were famous for the use of the word “wanna” in their song titles, as well as their box-like structured chord progressions.
The next four tracks each bring something special and unique to the record. “Break Away” (the posicore anthem), “W.A.R.” (the early 80s D.C. punk fist raiser—complete with a Black Flag My War-era metal breakdown), “Toxic Reality” (one of the only other songs on the album that uses the strict verse / chorus structure before employing one of the album’s best breakdowns), and “Fear” (a sleazy, biker gang thrasher). “It Never Ends” is Ride The Apocalypse’s shortest song, clocking in under one minute and acting as the prelude to the end. The final track, “Over the Line,” isn’t much longer, which concludes the album in a short and sweet way.
Vitamin X’s lack of new music lo these last eight years was noticed. The band prove that they are fit for a place in the thrash cannon, having a home within alongside classics like D.R.I. and modern heroes Drain. Pick up the vinyl from Svart Records.
