I’ve considered myself a Thrash Disliker for quite a while. Perhaps it was seeing so many local openers in SoCal that seemed to go by the mantra of “Hey, remember that riff from the ’80s? No, the shitty one”, the implosion of a certain Arizona band (and rightfully so) that I once loved, or maybe just the genre itself actually getting stale on the whole. A couple albums this year are forcing me to completely rethink my writing off of thrash, the latest of which comes from the Polish three-piece Species. These Warsaw sci-fi fanatics have crafted a sophomore album that is not just technically proficient, well-written, and keeps the listener on their toes at all times, but is fun as hell from start to finish. This is Changelings.
Even though I’m one to rarely gloss over an upcoming 20 Buck Spin release, Changelings felt special right from the get-go with first single “The Essence.” The syncopated riffs that transform bit by bit — shifting rhythms throughout, even if it’s a single extra beat or note thrown in — the prominent bass that doesn’t just mirror the guitars but often complements them with bright fills and melodic lines, the understated drum performance that anchors the entirety of the sound with a similarly wide ranging display of moods; manic thrash skank beats, classic metal rhythms, softer jazz fusion-inspired moments, and more. This three-and-a-half minute tease proved to be a perfect window into the rest of what Species has to offer on this album.
One of my favorite aspects of Changelings is the stripped-down nature of the entire production package; it certainly doesn’t feel like lo-fi or akin to a demo, but doesn’t fall into the overproduced wall of sound trap that a lot of “modern” metal seems to be falling into. This shines through especially in how the instruments themselves are tracked. Almost without exception, whenever the guitar is soloing there’s no rhythm guitar; not only does this allow the fantastic performance of vocalist/bassist Piotr Drobina to shine through, it gives the sound a much more authentic feel, like it’s just three guys jamming together in a rehearsal space. And speaking of guitar solos, Michał Kępka has no shortage of them… and they all kick ass. From the neoclassical flourishes in the arpeggiated guitar sweeps that often characterize both solo and riff (“Inspirit Creation”) to the clear ear for melodicism (likely another factor in why this album clicks for me so well), Changelings takes me back to the high school days when I was addicted to the guitar wizardry of Rust in Peace and Hatebreeder.
As good as Species are at tech thrash this is very much a progressive metal album as well, with most songs featuring a softer, jazz fusion-inspired section that sees the band exploring even broader horizons. There’s clear echoes of Rush in the instrumental “Voyager” in both the “Xanadu”-esque guitar effects or the “Strangiato” hi-hat roll that kicks off the heavier section of the track. And like that legendary Canadian power trio, this power trio — as incredibly proficient as they are at their respective instruments — never feel like they’re showing off too much, or feeling too self-serious about both their music and lyrical themes. “Born of Stitch and Flesh” opens with a scream of “it’s alive!!!” after all; Species aren’t afraid to have fun in addition to all the complex music. In classic prog fashion the album closes with its longest track, the 10-minute barnburner “Biological Masterpiece” whose tremendous finale reaches for the cosmos in a manner not unlike just Absolute Elsewhere, but the opus of the fallen sci-fi thrash legends I mentioned in the introduction; few songs this year have gotten me as pumped as this one does. My only critique of this song is that it contains the best riff on the entire album, but it’s only played a few times! That just makes the anticipation even more special upon every relisten.
Whether you’re a seasoned thrash veteran or a lapsed fan like myself, I find it hard to believe that you’ll find much to dislike about Changelings. Impressive tech thrash and softer prog elements co-exist in great harmony, all wrapped up in a sci-fi package that doesn’t forget to have fun at the end of the day. Thank you to Species for reminding me that great thrash metal is still possible in 2025.
— Colin
Changelings is available now through 20 Buck Spin. For more information on Species, check out their Facebook and Instagram pages.