Review by Sonny for Critical Defiance - No Life Forms (2022)

A few of you have probably seen me banging on about Chilean thrash metal for some time now and if you haven't yet been swayed by brilliant albums from the likes of Demoniac and Parkcrest then maybe Critical Defiance's sophomore may be the one to push you over the edge. Forming in 2013, Critical Defiance released their debut, Misconception, in 2019 to pretty good reviews and it was certainly one of my favourites of that year and has only risen higher in my estimation after repeated listens. Since the debut's release rhythm guitarist Felipe Espinoza has been replaced by Mauricio Toledo of Unholyness and more excitingly (to me at least) they have added a second lead guitarist, Javier Salgado, who is main man in Parkcrest as well as a member of Hellish and Mayhemic. Misconception was packed to the brim with great riffs, but the addition of Salgado on No Life Forms has pushed Critical Defiance even higher with some absolutely brilliant lead work to match. Don't get me wrong, vocalist / guitarist Felipe Alvarado did a good job on the debut, but Salgado brings a greater level of proficiency to the soloing on this latest album and without having to handle all the lead work himself it also frees up Alvarado - much to his benefit.

The tracks are generally shorter here than on Misconception and the band have raised the ante as far as tempo, intensity and technicality are concerned. So this all sounds like a No Life Forms is a superior album to the debut, doesn't it? Well yes... and no. All the above is true and it does make a really great modern thrasher for sure, but it just feels like the band have lost a bit of something from the debut that made it so awesome. The longer songs of Misconception made them feel more complete and gave them time to breathe, whereas some of the tracks on No Life Forms are just so short and intense that it feels like the band have omitted a vital ingredient from the songs' makeup, with them sometimes feeling a bit too dense. Don't misunderstand, I still love this new album and the addition of Javier Salgado is a real coup, but it feels like a little bit of the band's soul has been sacrificed in an attempt to produce the most brutal and intense thrash album of recent years.

All negativity aside though, Alvarado's vocals are savage, channeling a fist-fight between Mille Petrozza and Tom Araya and Salgado's soloing is superb. Riff follows riff with machinegun-like precision and the rhythm section are complete monsters. Drummer Rodrigo Poblete is never left wanting by the pace or intensity of the guitarists and bassist Ignacio Arévalo is imperious as his basslines reinforce and sometimes dominate the lead work and riffing. OK, so very few straight-up thrash albums are going to present much new to genre devotees, but I believe that had either of Critical Defiance's two albums been released in the mid to late eighties they would easily have stood out above 90% of the thrash of the time and even given some of the classics a run for their money. So obviously in modern days where even decent thrash albums may be in short supply, this towers over most thrash that has come out in the last few years. If you only listen to one 21st century thrash band then make it Critical Defiance.