Artist: Parasite
Country: USA
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Digital
Year: 2025
I’ve probably said it more than once before, Thrash Metal isn’t exactly the most frequent featured genre of Extreme Metal here at out pages, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like out fair share of hard-hitting Thrash. On the very contrary. Personally I am not super closely following that scene, but I still try to keep an eye on what’s coming our way. And, well, my eyes were actually caught by this great old school artwork of Parasite’s ‘Indoctrination Rituals’. It is clearly inspired by the many B-grade covers of Thrash Metal albums from the 80’s. And that happens to be precisely where my interest in the genre lies, so my attention was piqued.
‘Indoctrination Rituals’ might sound a bit more modern compared to those records from 1986, but as a whole, this debut album by a few young Americans is thoroughly enjoyably old school. They offer not much of the more melodic sort of American Thrash, instead they go for the fast and shard sounding brand. If you’re still having fun with your Defiance, Vio-Lence, Atrophy, Toxik, Gammacide, Hirax, Xentrix and EvilDead records, this is probably something that is right up your thrashing alley. Melody is overrated, we’re on a path of shredding and chopping riffs. These youngsters still have a thing or two to learn, but this first proper offering is far from bad. In fact, I have been enjoying it quite a bit.
Just like the best records from the bands mentioned before, ‘Indoctrination Rituals’ is an album that thrives on a certain feel and sense of youthful impertinence. That’s an ingredient that is absolutely vital for a good and successful Thrash record and ironically enough, something that is missing with most of the releases by such genre giants. And, as a whole, it is even missing with the majority of the younger generation of bands as well. The thing that makes ‘Indoctrination Rituals’ a great listen is a good amount of raw edges and unpolished ugliness that truly harkens back to the genre’s ultimate peak of the late 80’s. Even if this is not perfect and especially vocally there’s a bit of tweaking to do, I rather listen to this than 95% of what’s currently on offer in the Thrash Metal scene that’s either way too clean or lacks the necessary quality riffing.
