EP REVIEW: Venthiax – Rites Of Ra

Swedish evil thrash mob Venthiax unleash their debut mini-album via Dying Victims Productions on February 27th. Let’s get into it!

Rolling drums and lethal riffing fire on all cylinders with clanky bass lines cutting through the mix. The gratifying blend of thrash metal harkens back to the German scene of the 80s with that Swedish edge from bands like Nifelheim creeping in. My first impressions are certainly that this is a band whose direction is carefully and meticulously decided upon. Instrumentally they are extremely tight and the songwriting balances the evil with the epic for an explosive attack of pure hellfire. Unafraid of melody, there is a primitive but catchy venom coursing its way through the veins of these songs as the maniacal vocals haunt the foreground of the mix without overshadowing the ripping instrumental work. The more melodic riffing captures the spirit of Desaster’s more anthemic pieces. From the ferocious onslaught to the more mid-tempo grooves, there is no denying the pacing of their songs is classic in execution with enough variation to keep surging forward with power.

As we forge onwards, the pacing continues to tear flesh with the same formula that has served them well so far. “Speed Metal Mayhem” stands out as an especially fun song that I imagine being killer live, while the rest of the b-side keeps things engaging. What impresses me most is that the playing feels very refined for such a young band. The material feels rehearsed and natural in the playing of all three members rather than a plodding cacophony of amateurish knock-offs. Of course this style is hard to be particularly original with, and I don’t think they’re trying to reinvent the wheel by any stretch, but that’s just fine – playing evil and bestial thrash metal because you’re passionate about it is more than enough for me to be convinced. Speaking of passion, I recommend bassist Wendy’s fanzine Black Pages which she traded a copy for my own Shrieks From The Abyss when meeting at Thrash Nightmare festival in 2024. Underground spirit and the old ways still rule over modern means! Anyways, back to the record; there’s not much more I can say than it’s a fierce hailstorm of molten thrashing mania that will grab the throat of the underground dwellers who aren’t afraid to rage.

A succinct blast of strong thrash metal. Having cut their teeth with a demo, EP and two live releases; Venthiax aren’t work-shy and show a promising step forward with their Dying Victims Productions debut MLP. If the Germanic thrash metal with a blackened edge such as Desaster, Nocturnal and so on appeals then this will definitely be up your street. Keep an eye and ear on these Swedish bangers.