When I first saw this promo, I suspected that the review would write itself, though I hoped otherwise. Sporting an album cover whose thrash cred was rivaled only by Holycide’s logo, Towards Idiocracy seemed destined for a middling score. I adore old-school thrash for its power and nonconformity, but the majority of underground 2020s bands yelling about AI and Orwell don’t stick. After one listen through Towards Idiocracy, I sighed and claimed Pyrrhic victory, resigning myself to writing a generic 2.5 review to match the blandness of the album.
I was wrong. Towards Idiocracy may not break new ground, but it thrashed me into oblivion. Lead guitarists Salva Esteban and Ankor Ramírez shred thirty-nine minutes into dust, with a riffs-first philosophy that sounds sharper with every listen. The rhythm section steps up when it counts, like Vicente J. Payá’s album highlight bass riff on “Pleased to Be Deceived.” Holycide imbue this thrash ambush with late-1980s speedy blackened Sodomy and techy flourishes that’ll send you to the Coroner. These detours enrich Holycide’s color wheel, using blistering Persecution Mania cuts and proggy syncopated melodies to offer some violent respite (“Remote Control”). The goofy chorus of opener “A.I. Supremacy” leaves a puzzling first impression, but don’t let that turn you off. Holycide’s third record combines the conceptual simplicity of thrash with careful songwriting that adds depth to every spin.
Towards Idiocracy by HOLYCIDE
Towards Idiocracy is chock-full of vicious riffs, whose variety keeps them sounding fresh even on consecutive listens. Esteban and Ramírez’s guitars pummel (“A.I. Supremacy”), cleave (“Power Corrupts”), juke (“Technophobia”), flail (“Lie Is the New Truth”), and serenade (“Angry for Nothing”). Each piece is handled with care and passion, keeping me rocking throughout. Meanwhile, Holycide’s choruses balance thrashy anger with catchy melodies, leaving me shouting “POWER CORRUPTS” for hours afterward. While it took me several listens to realize this, Payá’s supporting bass performance feels like Heath Ledger’s Joker. Payá isn’t the main character, but he toils in the background to elevate Holycide’s sound, like his terrifying descending melody on “Angry for Nothing.” Every member of Holycide fires on all cylinders, and every moment of Towards Idiocracy has something for listeners to love.
Although Towards Idiocracy has few climaxes, it blossoms through its meticulous songwriting. Holycide’s songs unfold like mystery novels; blink and you’ll miss a critical callback or a variation on an earlier melody. Tracks like “Towards Idiocracy” weave their stellar main riffs throughout to string you along for a roller coaster ride. Conversely, Holycide makes short digressions count, like the 15-second melodic break of “Remote Control” and the mutating off-rhythm opening of “Technophobia.” These details keep me excited to return to Towards Idiocracy, to dismantle its straightforward facade. Still, the album’s lack of peaks and valleys blunts its impact. Holycide’s style varies within each song, but the record feels like a monolithic slab of mid-paced thrash. Without climactic sections to latch onto, I sometimes struggle to recall specific moments of Towards Idiocracy or maintain interest by its end. Having more centerpiece songs or stand-out moments would help Holycide’s attack pierce even deeper.
Towards Idiocracy is underwhelming on its first spin, fun on its second, irresistible on its third, and eye-opening on its fourth. Holycide’s newest outing reminds me of Raider’s last album, spiritually if not musically, by hooking me with riffy thrash before reeling me in with powerful writing. Holycide claims to be “not suitable for commercial ears,” but their thousands of Spotify listeners and near-zero Bandcamp supporters suggest a public appeal that lies outside the community of trve metal socialites. Thrash fans should heed the unwashed masses on this one. Towards Idiocracy doesn’t rewrite the playbook, but it’ll take you for a ride.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Xtreem Music
Websites: holycide.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/holycide
Releases Worldwide: June 6th, 2024
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