Album Review: Mindwars - V
Reviewed by Carl Black
It seems like we've been here before, I've got a sense of deja vu. No it's not me going mad, it's because this album is nearly a year old. Released independently in 2024, the good people at High Roller Records have realised what they've been missing out on and decided to release Mindwars latest album 'V'.
I always get a bit excited when Mindwars release a new album, not least because of the involvement of Mike Alvord. Although very publicly pronounced by the man himself that this is in no way a poorer relation to Holy Terror but I still can't dampen down my expectations. I know we're not going to get the vigour and voracity but I still can't help feeling slightly disappointed when we don't get the full on thrash that Holy Terror bought us for such a short space of time.
What we do get is some intelligent thrash metal played by three guys who have been around a block a few times. We get plenty of intros, a few outros, plenty of guitar solos and many galloping riffs. At times the material gets very close to power metal. Check out the songs 'Crusaders' and 'Chasing the Wind' if you don't believe me.
The vocals can range from Jello Biafra-esque all the way through to Alice Cooper's menacing talking/singing. We get our traditional sing-along choruses here and there dotted throughout the album and the rifts are very high quality. Although the album doesn't vary a lot in style what it does do is big bulky heavy riffs. The album rounds off with a nine minute epic before the new release having the obligatory thrash metal cover version treatment, this time 'The Logical Song' by Supertramp.
'V' never slips into full-on-Maiden worship but you're not a million miles away. That's what makes me a little bit disappointed. Remembering how vicious and nasty Holy Terror were at their peak. Still worth a spin? Absolutely. Just could have done with it being a bit more visceral.
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