Two years on from their debut EP Deal With The Devil, which was a very positive hit in the underground Thrash scene, Indian old-school Thrash Metal trio Kasck are back with their debut full-length, The Universal Lie.
Kasck – The Universal Lie
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Jools Green
The Universal Lie is a blistering offering which I hope will bring Kasck to the attention of the wider Thrash scene, especially after they also successfully made very positive waves at both Wacken Open Air and Bangalore Open Air. They certainly deserve it.
The band have put their heart and soul into this release, explaining that “every note, every production choice, every lyric, every detail, artwork, every decision that went into making this record, carries a part of who we are. Our ideas, our influences, our inspiration, our experiences, and our souls, stitched together into this album.
“If we had to describe this record in one word, it would be sincerity. Because our fans deserve nothing less, we stand for something real, something authentic, and we always will.”
Lyrically, they explain further that “this album doesn’t give you answers. It asks questions about what to believe, what we accept, who we are, and what is truly real.
“So, open your mind, your heart, and your soul. Listen. Question. Agree. Disagree. Find your own meaning. Think for yourself. Perhaps that is the only real and true privilege we have on this planet.”
Opening and title track, The Universal Lie, is lyrically very powerful and contemplates the darker aspects, the reality and point of human existence. It is an atmospheric builder that elevates and rapidly delivers a catchy, punchy edge throughout its duration.
The phrasing of the delivery is superb, adding even more impact to a punchy and powerful offering, and rather than having a burst of lead work in the second half, you get a crushing swathe of heavy, dark riffing, adding even more impact, as do the haunting clean guitar and drum beat close.
Divide By Design deals with themes of corruption and evil, be it religious or political. Delivered at a galloping pace, unleashing driving waves of thrashy riffs, it drops back midway to a more sparse sound, with whispered lyrics. Then it breaks into a second-half swathe of lead work that builds from reflective to searing and soaring.
Sharp, eerie repeating riffs open Terror Of The Night. Building in depth as the piece progresses, this takes equally sharp twists and turns in direction, adding to the unnerving atmosphere along with rapid lyrical delivery and powerful repeat chants, echoing vocals.
Then, midway through, the tolling bell sound and spoken element, alongside haunting distant screams, adds to the unnerving atmosphere further, as does the closing haunting leadwork. I love the intriguing lyrical ambiguity that leaves you wondering just what terror our victim is trying to escape from.
The next piece, Be Quick Or Be Dead, might have the same title but is definitely NOT a cover of that song by Iron Maiden. This is BY FAR a deadlier beast of a track. A short, sharp, thrashy driver with catchy chants of “Be Quick or Be Dead” throughout, it might be a brief piece at just over a minute long, but it is an intensely packed and powerful listen.
After an impressively epic intro embellished with marching soldiers, militaristic drum rhythms and a haunting melodic undercurrent, A Bastard’s Tale pans out into a more melodic piece. A thrashy groove grabs your attention, and the raw vocal delivery adds punch to this hugely addictive sing-along piece, lyrically inspired by a mysterious warrior.
Returning to a more intense old-school sound, Saviour is a lyrically dark piece which looks at suicide. The dark mood is musically reflected, ebbing and building in intense chugging waves with a frantic, thrashy drive and a dramatic fade-out at the close.
Final piece Oblivion returns to a largely more reflective pace. The lyrical inspiration is reflected in the title, looking at things from “the other side.” This is a gradual builder that ebbs back to clean vocals. The leadwork is haunting, reflective and restrained, and in the more powerful swathes, the drum work is just superb.
As the piece moves into the second half, the pace elevates the line “Remember now before you cry, We made the choice to hear the silence again and again.” With the vocals returning to the rawer, thrashier style, this heralds a ramp-up in pace to an intense, high-speed thrash delivery.
Ending on a scream of “Aaaaaghhhh,” the music drops away in dramatic steps and delivers a powerful, thought-provoking end to the album.
The Universal Lie is a superb slab of powerful Old School Thrash.
This is an essential listen for all Thrash lovers, and it is also the best Thrash album I have heard in quite a long while. So if you have forgotten how much you love Thrash Metal, this album will remind you.
The Universal Lie is out now via Witches Brew and is available as a vinyl from The Universal Lie – elasticStage, or CD and digital download from The Universal Lie | KASCK | WITCHES BREW.
