NEFARIOUS – Addicted To Power

The title “supergroup” usually carries a negative connotation—members of formerly famous bands, now far past their prime, trying to ride the wave of old achievements. Many of these supergroups end up delivering mostly mediocre music at best. But there are exceptions to that rule.

These Thrash Veterans Bleed Metal

For every fan of U.S. thrash, the lineup of Nefarious should be mouth-watering in itself. There’s Doug Piercy on guitar, who played with Heathen, Blind Illusion, and the sadly overlooked Anvil Chorus. Joining him on guitar is none other than Exodus’ Rick Hunolt. On bass, we have Tom Gears, who played in Ancient Mariner and also with Piercy in Blind Illusion. On drums is Will Carroll, known for his work with Death Angel and, before that, Ulysses Siren. And what about vocals? That’s handled by one of the most original, underrated, yet truest souls of Californian thrash: Katon W. De Pena, founder and mastermind of Hirax—another underrated band from the early days of U.S. thrash. That’s a lineup with the potential to deliver a great metal album. Or fail miserably!

Experienced, Modern, But Still Hungry

When the announcement came that these five would collaborate, it generated quite a buzz—soon justified by the first single, “One Nation Enslaved.” The full album does not disappoint, even though not every track maintains the same level of excellence as that first teaser. What each song does offer is a blend of the members’ combined, formidable musicianship. They’ve been around long enough to know what works in thrash—and what doesn’t. At the same time, they’re all still active and attuned to the times. Addicted to Power doesn’t dwell on the past but stands firmly in today’s metal scene in both composition and production, finding a fine balance between heaviness and catchiness.

The Sum of All Their History Combined

So what does it sound like? Fortunately, it doesn’t try to emulate any of the original bands these veterans once called home. The biggest surprise may be vocalist Katon, who screams a lot in Hirax but sings far more melodically for Nefarious, making songs like “One Nation Enslaved” truly shine. At times, he sounds like he could be an excellent fit for Metal Church. “Together We Rise” is proof of that, and there’s hardly higher praise. While occasional glimpses of the members’ musical past shine through—especially in the Exodus-like riffing of “Together We Rise,” which cannot hide its origin in Hunolt’s guitar style—when it’s done with this level of craftsmanship, no one will complain. Overall, the music carves out its own identity within thrash and earns its place on your shelf from the very first spin. Adding to the appeal, the lyrics go beyond typical metal tropes—these guys have something to say. Another welcome parallel to Exodus.

A New Glimpse at Modern Thrash

Five seasoned musicians from different backgrounds have created a highly satisfying and promising debut for their new project. And yet, Addicted to Power likely isn’t the zenith of what they can achieve. After a few listens, certain songs begin to stand out more positively—suggesting the band could raise the bar even further next time. In particular, the double punch of “Day After” and “Snarler” in the middle of the album falls a bit short compared to the rest. But that’s actually good news as it means there’s room for even greater things on the next release. In the meantime, let’s hope we get to see this band live on stage, delivering a proper thrashing!

Album tracklist

1. Mirror Death
2. Addicted To Power
3. Master Plan
4. Together We Rise
5. Day After
6. Snarler
7. Avatar of Chaos
8. One Nation Enslaved

Band Lineup

Katon W. De Pena – vocals
Rick Hunolt – guitars
Doug Piercy – guitars
Tom Gears – bass
Will Carroll – drums

Listen to “One Nation Enslaved”: