I think you can safely say that when you listen to something, be it metal, classical, blues or whatever and you can close your eyes and the hair on the back of your neck tingles, goosebumps flow freely through your body and your mind instantly connects to the music,
you've found something you truly love, and Thuum's debut EP got me instantly! Let's do it.
The EP opens with Intro, an otherworldly instrumental, chanting, huge guitar tones and subtle symbol crashes intensify as the song progresses. After a few moments in your on a journey and one your happy to ride. The song teases you with a groove about 3mins in that any metal head would be proud to earn a bangover from, your eager to for it to end, but only because you know the rest of the EP is going to melt your mind, and when it does finally end your gagging for more of the same, and Worthless delivers it!
What can only be described as a bears war song tears through your ear drums in the first few seconds of the song, the groove is intensified and the hair is still standing straight up on your neck when the song kicks in. We've a haunting guitar solo after a few minutes which fits the track perfectly. Then we bring the tempo up slightly only to be brought back down to earth with a crunching bassline pounding through the mix for a belting middle section all the while the dirty vocals are punishing you still. We ain't finished with the groove either, the song barrels along its journey taking you with it, every, step.
HAFGUFA is a different animal altogether. The faster tempo and blistering guitar runs and subtle pauses make the song feel empowered and while it's the shortest song on the EP I certainly think it's packs just as mighty a blow as the others, if not more. A melodic vocal on the chorus is unexpected yet very welcome and leads the song on to its finale of that up tempo groove and slick licks.
I don't know what it is, but I love when bands add a little bit of the raw, room recorded sounds of a drum kit at the beginning, or even end, of a track. It tells me that this guy is hammering that kit and loving every second of it and it's not electric! And for it to happen on the title track of this EP, is for me, the icing on a lemon drizzle cake!
Through Smoke, Comes Fire is another masterpiece. The tone on this EP is outstanding, both guitars, bass and drums all sound phenomenal, the production is top draw that's for sure. The intro riffs take the song along various tempos and melodies but always with that 'Thuum' groove shinning through, the gruff powerful vocals cut through the mix well. If I had one critique to make it would be I'm not a huge fan of the cleaner vocal, while it shows off Bears vocal range well I personally think it could have not had as much effects on there. With that said the track is still outstanding. Over 7 minutes of beat downs, solos, harmonics, groove, melody and more make this track, no this EP, metal at some of it's finest.
A beastly 9.5 outta 10!
Review by Donk.