There is so much metal out there today. Much of it is experimental. Blending samples, background noises and layers of styles and textures to create something wholly unique and entrancing. But, sometimes, you just want metal. Metal the way it’s supposed to be. Straight forward, driving and punchy. Welcome All Hell and their 2015 LP The Red Sect. The blackened thrash trio pull no punches, play no games and in no way try to confuse your brain. It’s an instant connection to every reason that you started listening to metal in the first place.

Asheville, North Carolina is home to many things. Tobacco farms abound. As a result, the steam punk movement is well anchored in the hills of Asheville. But there are also a share of demons, witches and folklore associated with the area. There is the Zealandia Castle fire and Helen’s bridge. There’s the Phantom Train Wreck of 1891, which is said to be replayed each year on the morning of August 27th. There’s the Phantom Hiker and many, many haunted houses. So there is plenty of evil and demonic lore to content with.

Drawing on that history, and the history of pirates that held camp off their coast on the Outer Banks, All Hell put together a driving, raucous style of blackened thrash. Almost punk-like at times. The lyrics spat forth from a mouth of loose teeth and weak morals. Lyrical themes include revolt, vengeance and ritualistic possessions. The guitars are classic. As if played through a Crate amplifier without any effects other than an overdriven guitar head. The drums are ferocious, flying straight ahead and complimenting the speed with snare fills.

The Red Sect is unrelenting. In the year off from their 2014 release The Devil’s Work, little changed about All Hell. But they were able to concentrate their sound into a more punkish, slightly old school blackened thrash sound. The odd guitar solo is slightly more mournful and melodic than what might expect only serving to enhance the aura surrounding All Hell. They are, an unrelenting auditory assault of old school thrash passion with a healthy dose of newer blackened influences.

The trio, Erik Ballantyne, Jacob Curwen and Kurt Henderson, spend all of their time and energy on All Hell. With no other bands to distract them it’s no wonder they have put out two full length LP’s in only two years. The band has also been heavily touring with heavier, more black metal focused bands like Skeletonwitch and 1349. The Red Sect being mastered by Joel Grind of Toxic Holocaust adds a nice touch of credibility as well as pure thrash sound. The album is beyond an enjoyable listen. When the day calls for a pick me up, All Hell is there to lend a helping, skeletal hand.

– Manny-O-War

The Red Sect is available 10.16.2015 via Horror Pain Gore Death. Fore more information on All Hell visit their Facebook page.