Album Review: Poison The Preacher – Vs The World
Reviewed by Matthew Williams
If you like your thrash crossover delivered with the flair of Carlos Valderrama and the punch of high-quality coffee, then look no further that Columbia’s Poison the Preacher. Formed in the capital Bogota in 2021, they are 4 lifelong friends who don’t shy away from their cultural roots and are ready to showcase their talents on a global stage.
After the short opening track “Future Tense” which is serving as an appetiser, it screeches into life with “Sucker Punch”. That intense guitar sound from Juan Camilo Bernal and Juan Pablo drags it forward, before the solo hits and Pablo launches his vocal assault. It’s short and snappy and has that hardcore drop just in case you needed a reminder of what the quartet are all about. They follow this with “Dying Everyday” which will wake the neighbours up if you play it loud. It’s fast, intense and relentless, with a scintillating solo set against a pulsating rhythm from bassist Thomas Lopez and drummer Sergio Cortes. Those slower parts mix well, and I do like the odd grunt from Pablo.
“1312” sees a bass lead set the tone, and then chaos ensues!!! It’s quite fierce, with a manic solo, that it so enjoyable to listen to. They aren’t reinventing the wheel but adding new spokes with a traditional South American flair. The songs aren’t too long either, which adds to the dynamism of the album, and the piano intro on “Hate too Much” is fun to hear, before the pace picks up and they are back on familiar territory as the drums are given one hell of a kicking from Cortes. One part of the vocal does remind me of early Suicidal Tendencies, which is particularly pleasing to my ears.
Their debut album continues with “Congelado en el Tiempo” where their Latin roots shine through at the beginning before the guitars take over. Each song just makes me want to get off my backside and start jumping all over the place, and that takes some doing these days. They have a flair and creativity that will set the scene alive, and “Promise to Pay” sees another aural kicking with that slow, intensity shining brightly before you get battered again by the sensational solo.
The band are keen to share their heritage with everyone, and “One Man Army” delivers another great song, with a well delivered bass fill that doesn’t let the potency drop. You can hear the passion in their composition as they seek to stretch themselves further and go faster and more cutting with each track. It ends with “Us Against the World” and has the trademark hardcore opening, as the guitars drop in and out before the vocal screams enter the frame. You’ve got another mosh pit ready track with slick solos and a fire in the belly attitude that wraps up an album that delivers from start to finish.
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