Artist: Evil Warrior
Country: Chile
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2026
‘Thrash Metal Hunter’, as a title, leaves little to the imagination as to what this debut demo from this new Chilean band has to offer. If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard of this band before, there’s a good reason for that. This is a brand-new band made up of (rather) young guys, who, interestingly enough, draw their inspiration from the heyday of Thrash Metal, a time when their parents might have been listening to ‘Kill ’em All’ and ‘Reign In Blood’. But if you look at the band name, the drawing on the cover, and the fact that this is a self-released demo tape, you’d be more likely to think this is something that came out in 1985.
The musical foundation of Evil Warrior is clearly built on the remains of those vibrant eighties metal scene. A scene in which extremes like the aforementioned Metallica and Slayer were already emerging, but where a strong Heavy Metal tradition still existed. Evil Warrior is a mirror to that era and shows both sides. ‘Thrash Metal Hunter’ is a mostly a Thrash Metal affair, but there’s obvious bits and pieces of Speed Metal and Heavy Metal and even a bit of frantic 80s-style Crossover.
Musical similarities with bands like Defiance, Vio-Lence, Overkill, Whiplash and Dark Angel are easily found. Especially due to the rather high speed and venomous riffing. But amidst this musical whirlwind known as Evil Warrior, it immediately becomes clear that while these may be young guys, they have an extraordinary command of their instruments. Bassist Jorge Araya, in particular, is a treat for the ears; his technical playing is clearly audible and holds a prominent place in the band. I do get the impression, though, that they’re a bit at a loss with the vocals, since a large part of the music is instrumental. Personally, I don’t think Ricardo Sánchez’s singing is bad; the somewhat shouty style fits well with the hard-edged music and even bears a resemblance to the sadly defunct Merciless Death. The fact that they draw inspiration from more than just American Thrash Metal is evident in the Darkness cover, ‘Deathsquad’, which they very commendably give a much tighter sound than the original.
This is a must-listen for anyone who loves fast, aggressive Thrash Metal with a raw edge from days gone by!
