Album Review: Primal Creation - News Feed
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Having created a stir with their debut ‘Demockracy’ in 2017, Belgian thrashers Primal Creation found themselves opening for Skeletonwitch and supporting D.R.I and having won the Belgian Wacken Metal Battle Fields, they were also playing at the 30th anniversary of Wacken Open Air. Listening to their latest record, News Feed, and it is easy to see why this five-piece achieved those accolades.
40 minutes of heavy riffing thrash metal with an overlap of crossover makes for enjoyable listening. The songs are uniform in their approach but varied in style and delivery. Combining cutting social commentary with a desire to hit the accelerator at any opportunity, this is classic thrash with a contemporary flavour. Vocalist Koen Mattheeuws delivers with aplomb, mixing harsh guttural singing with much cleaner crossover styles which fits with the band’s savage assault. Having started 2020 with a broken hip, it’s to his credit that his performance here is intense and passionate.
Coming at their music with a fresh, modern approach that soaks up the influences of some of the originators of the thrash scene, you can hear the likes of Kreator, Megadeth and Death Angel laced through the songs. A Post-Truth Disorder, Antillectual Disease and Follow the Reader all tick the right boxes. Driving the engine room, the drumming of Clint Dusslier and bass work of Ewoud Herregat keep the groove tight. With two guitars, there’s opportunity for visceral lead work which Ruben Dhaene utilises to great effect.
It's the freshness of this album that makes it so appealing. There’s big chugging semi-industrial riffs on ‘Lie-share-Subscribe’, and a punky aggression that surges throughout the album. The snarling, spitting anger that forms the lyrics resonates and it’s fantastic to see bands continuing to rage against the machine. This is 40 minutes of progressive and expansive metal which will hopefully see the band gain higher prominence in the coming months.
