Southern Lord Recordings - 2013
9/10
Back in 2017, I was quite fast to hop on the Power Trip hype-train with the release of their incredible record titled Nightmare Logic (should you stumble upon my review from back then, be nice to me!). It wouldn't be long before I'd go back and discover that the Texas thrash act had already broken some ground several years prior. Manifest Decimation these days feels a little overlooked because of how massive their follow-up was, but I do find it to have some charm of its own, and evidently I'm not alone in this assertion. While not too far removed from what would come, I'd still say it satisfies the same craving.
By that, I mean it's still a harsh and punishing thrash metal record with extra attitude, harder punches, and a dash of crossover. What separates things here is that the debut taps into a deeper layer of rips and cuts, with the production coating a little more echo at the expense of some clarity. This is all fine though, as its burred edges allow for an ever harsher feeling when swallowed, giving it that aforementioned charm. The delivery itself also feels a bit more pissed off, fueling the machine with mightier feelings of anger. That would pair well with the fact that the record is named after one of the harshest historical blows to a society by colonizers, at least on our side of the globe.
The only complaint one might have is that this opens less space for standout numbers, something that its successor would specialize in, however if we aren't comparing this to what's to come, I really see no issue. In exchange, this feels as consistent as it ever could, and the songs never let up. Notable moments aren't non-existent, however. "Conditioned To Death" is arguably their most powerful tune, swinging in with slower chugs before breaking the chaotic speeds and unlovable vocal blasts in with such a menacing aura; something about the bouncy chorus chugs and echoed backing vocals feels so brash! "Heretic's Fork" has one of the sharpest solos on the entire album, while "Crossbreaker" slows down the tempo for a rhythmic rumble and bass-heavy ride. For such a quick ride, I'd say this is more than enough anyway.
A seasoned listener knows this by now, but the moral here is never let the brighter gem outshine another gem. The raw fury with a muscular delivery and strong ear for hooks found in these 34 minutes is an incredible feat, and I couldn't recommend this enough. Power Trip only got two full lengths to their name in before the late Riley Gale met his tragic end in 2020 (Rest In Peace). While I may be ever-so-slightly partial to the second album, Manifest Decimation is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with.
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