Giant floating skulls and naked women in coffins go together like... well, black metal and thrash, and accordingly it's no surprise that Polish sexmetallers Sexmag play a particularly raucous fusion of the two. Galloping, chaotic, unpolished, and surprisingly unsexual, Sex Metal will please the type of metalhead that appreciates their thrash of the raw and speedy style. And, having picked this out of the promo pool based entirely on the band name (apparently a tribute to countrymen Kat and a song of theirs called Mag-Sex) your humble reviewer is pleased to note that they are also terrific, a sure-fire live hit if they come to your town based on the sheer amounts of energy exhibited here alone.

A tribute to the Polish underground in ways that will please those that know more about it than you or I, the EP simply rattles along and remains enjoyable many listens in. Even the Intro and Outro pieces fit in well, the former a gothic bit of malevolence that introduces first track proper Zapomniany Czarci Kult ("Forgotten Devil's Cult") well, and the latter a rumbling, thrashy, early-Sepulturan gang-shouted workout that promises more from future releases. And although wild and untamed, this is hardly unskilful. The members of the band are young and lusty, sure, but also capable of cranking out the galloping metal well, particularly the riffs and guitar leads, while vocalist Truposz has the kind of yelp that more than suits the music. Songs move along quickly, infectious if not catchy, but will more than exercise the neck, and although there's nothing particularly original going on it's more than enough to keep your ears.

Most of us would turn with disdain from an act that called its debut EP Sex Jazz or Sex Classical, yet there's something about metal that makes eyes light up at the mere suggestion of impropriety, and by the time you've unearthed the compelling groove-meets-speed metal of Nałożnice Hrabiny ("Countess' Concubines") which shows off enough hints of an intriguingly early Voivodianness to suggest the style can be progressed, it's easy to be persuaded. Sex may not always sell, but sometimes it's a welcome addition; check this EP out (and please do pay for Sex, you disgusting monsters) at the Bandcamp link above.