When we see artists and bands come forward with a tenacious mentality that results in a speedy release schedule from one album to the next, it tends to carry the stigma that such efforts aren’t given the time and polish necessary in order to become the best that they can be due to the people behind the scenes not knowing how to take their time. That is certainly something we still deal with throughout the depths of the underground, but it is in recent times that we’ve seen plenty of musicians come forward to defy such a trend. Thunraz had poised itself to become such a regarded act with two albums already released in 2023 in February and May. Now, with its third album this year, Thunraz walked the line to put forth another display of its evolving sound with the results definitely defying my expectations.
Where we saw Thunraz tackle its previous effort, “Revelation”, with a clear approach that found itself more within the industrial reaches of metal without once forgetting to include its death-metal-aligned tendencies into the mix, it’s clear with any given minute within the new excursion of “Borderline” that Thunraz is not content to stay in the same spot for long. Be it in fear of stagnation or a constant desire to see what’s possible over time, “Borderline” sees Thunraz take on a much more wild and aggressive sound that is acidic to the touch and just a constant assault upon the senses in virtually every possible form. A nine-track offensive that really shows off the more brutal and unrelenting side that Thunraz showed in its previous creations, it takes the entire stage here. Whether it’s through distorted riffage or an all-consuming fury that really pulls the listener further into the swirling madness without so much as a shred of mercy for its absolute entirety, “Borderline” is constantly bashing, slashing, and hacking away without a thought for the spraying blood, pulverized bone, or raw devastation that is left in the wake of such a powerful work. Never once losing an ounce of calculated and pin-point accurate menace as its power is simply overflowing in every given aspect, Thunraz certainly delivers the goods.
Where others could have easily fumbled and failed to bring such a dominating presence to the table to bring forth a chaotic listen that still has enough form and substance to lose yourself in, “Borderline” sees Thunraz rise above the challenge with astonishing potency. No matter if it’s to be not even six months before we hear from Thunraz again or a year, the ever-shifting sound of the act is sure to hits its mark yet again with “Borderline” certainly promising such a sight.
LISTEN to “Borderline” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Thunraz on Facebook here.
Head-Banger Reviews 