Engines of Sin

Engines of Sin is the second album by the thrash band Bloody, from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Whilst they are a relatively new group (formed in 2002 but releasing their debut in 2006), they don't really fit into the current "retro" scene in terms of their sound. This doesn't necessarily mean that their music is any more original than their Bay Area-worshipping contemporaries from North of the Equator. Whilst it is common for young thrash bands nowadays to reference old-school US and German legends, or else crossover acts such as Cryptic Slaughter, the tradition from which Bloody draws inspiration is the one in their own back yard; the brutal, death-metal orientated thrash of Sepultura. The influences on Engines of Sin seem to span that band's middle period- the best comparison is probably Arise, but there are also shades of Chaos AD in some of the record's groovier moments.

For those that love these albums, there is no doubt much to enjoy here. The playing can't really be faulted; Paulao on vocals gives a reasonable performance that reminds me, surprisingly enough, of Max Cavalera; and there are a few riffs on here that get your attention. Forbidden Words, in particular, showcases the band's sound nicely. Chunky thrash riffing that is pacey but never fast enough to really break sweat, with a tight rhythm section in which the drums in particular do a nice job of bringing the music to life. Evil's Science is maybe the album's strongest track, ditching the speed for some inventive mid-tempo chugging that manages to sound rather hypmotic.

But, this is a long way from being anything especially exciting. This is especially true if, like me, you prefer the battering youthful exuberance of the ineptly performed earliest Sepultura recordings to the more polished sound of Arise etc. that Bloody are channelling the spirit of here. Admittedly, it often seems as if I am one of a pretty small number of people that really digs Morbid Visions above later works, so perhaps a lot of people will find this album more inspiring than I do.

As such, I don't want to discourage people from checking this band out. They play their music well, and this South American spin on thrash has obviously attracted a lot of admirers over the years. If you are one of those admirers, listen to it. Personally, however, I find that it delivers a few thumps to the chest, when this kind of music should really be tearing out your jugular. For a more interesting and probably more worthwhile take on this type of sound from another Sao Pauloese band, you don't have that far to look... Torture Squad's Hellbound is also reviewed this week, and it leaves Engines of Sin in the dust.