TEARABYTE – Gloom Factory

Reading the press release for the latest offering from Tearabyte, Gloom Factory on Screaming Ferret Wreckords, the band’s sound is compared with Thrash icons such as Slayer and Exodus. And from the second track “Doom Gloom,” one almost expects to hear Tom Araya of Slayer release one of his trademark banshee-like screams. It certainly would seem that Tearabyte have set forth to lay claim to the throne of Thrash Metal.

With songs like “Technophobic,” “Romper Stomper,” and “Insanity,” it is an all out assault of blistering, head-pounding music that spews forth from the speakers. The only time there is any room to catch your breath is during “Suffer,” which offers a slightly slowed pace and starts with an interesting piece of guitar and bass riffing, and the song “All Grey,” which is the only track to really feature vocalist /bassist Al Mead’s bass prowess. Otherwise, Al is running headlong, duplicating most of riff master Kevin Mead’s guitar lines, while howling over the top with his dictatorial crooning. Skin-pounding Jeff Owens rounds out this Dallas trio and he sets a breakneck pace with his double bass onslaught from start to finish. Even Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” cover gets a Thrash makeover as the album’s last track.

Despite their best intentions, the disk fails to create the sense of urgency and anger that came with the original Thrash movement. It is never clear if these guys are serious about the angst of a world gone wrong or if they are just having a good time with some loud throbbing Metal. But where the disk really suffers is the poor production and the fact that the overall sound never comes together. At best, this disk sounds like a demo done in a hurry under a tight budget. The guitar tone is thin; the bass has no bottom and is buried underneath the guitar. Jeff Owens sounds like he has double bass chops that would keep pace with Charlie Benante and Dave Lombardo, but the sound of his kick drums appears to be a pre-set trigger sound, which at some moments sounds more like a drum machine rather than an actual drummer.

The disk is also broken into two parts, the first 11 tracks are all studio numbers and then there is a hidden bonus track that is 31:00 minutes in length. This actually is a collection of live songs which are a combination of originals and traditional Christmas classics given the Thrash makeover. Again the sound here is very thin, and although it probably rocked if you were there at the show, it does not translate well to just sit and listen to.

If you’re wearing out your Exodus Bonded by Blood, your Metal Church Metal Church, and even your Slayer Show No Mercy and Hell Awaits disks, and you just want that same Thrashing sound with some new songs, then Tearabyte’s Gloom Factory just might be the album for you!