Wartooth were a new name to me when I first heard about their debut album "Programmed Dichotomy" however, based on word of mouth (or internet), it seemed like a pretty safe investment when it was released in April. Given my longstanding love of thrash metal it is always great to have an opportunity to discover yet another new band doing it well and Wartooth certainly acquit themselves admirably over the course of the nine tracks on offer.
Once again this is an independent release that exudes quality, from the packaging through to the production, and this always stands a band in good stead from the beginning. Of course, that in itself doesn't guarantee success as it ultimately comes down to the music but Wartooth have this covered as well. While they certainly stick to the traditional thrash tropes that you would expect, which is not necessarily a bad thing, it is the tangible energy and attention to detail that makes "Programmed Dichotomy" such a strong first effort.
Opener "Wired To Die" sets the scene perfectly for what is to come, a blend of old school thrash sensibilities run through a thoroughly modern filter, and for the following forty minutes it remains both memorable and engaging at all times. There is also sufficient variety in their approach, particularly the use of varying degrees of speed, that it never gets bogged down at any point, even with the longer songs, and it ultimately ends up flying by in no time which all good thrash should do.
With "Programmed Dichotomy" Wartooth have ticked two boxes simultaneously, firstly, as yet another excellent metal band from our fine country and, secondly, creating such a strong addition to the annals of thrash metal in general. There have been some strong thrash albums recently and I think it is fair to say that this is right up there with the highlights of the year so far in that style which is all the more impressive when you take into account that it is a first attempt, not to mention the extra points earned for the temerity of including a Skid Row cover.
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