Review
Noisem
Agony Defined

A389 (2013) Jon E.

Noisem – Agony Defined cover artwork
Noisem – Agony Defined — A389, 2013

For all of the hype and bluster that was the so called "thrash revival" a few years later few bands can make a viable claim that they remain, let alone stick out (save for Municipal Waste). Even the standard bearers (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer) have clearly lost the energy the once had (Slayer) or lost the plot entirely (Metallica and Megadeth). 

One may ask what this has to do with Noisem. Honestly little when it's all said and done. Noisem are fairly young and dont make any pretentions of saving or reviving anything. Instead of all of the other crap that came with the thrash revival (or any other revival), Noisem play songs that you wish the originals would still write. Better than just that alone the band seem to do it rather effortlessly. 

For a solid 30 minutes Noisem play somewhere in between Slayers' finest moments and early Morbid Angel. That is to say the record is fast, unrelenting, filled with hooks and guitars that squeal from the netherworlds gates. Everything in the record feels quite modern and classicist all at once. This is the best new thing, rather what it is is something fantastic something that doesn't sit in a place or time and just is. 

If you are a fan of death metal Noisem should be your new favorite. This is a band that takes the greatest hits of Slayer and mixes them into a noxious audio stew for metal fans everywhere to take in. This may be the best album that Slayer missed out on writing themselves (and sadly will never get close to doing now).

7.5 / 10Jon E. • February 17, 2014

Noisem – Agony Defined cover artwork
Noisem – Agony Defined — A389, 2013

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