CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THRASH KIND III featuring HARLOTT, ALKIRA and more at the Bendigo Hotel July 4 2015

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First band up on this amazing night of thrash was Abraxxas. After a brief hiatus and line up change the band are back with a new line up fire on all cylinders. Playing their awesome style of blackened thrash they really helped kick start the mosh. Playing a few new tracks and hinting at starting recording of new album the band seemed to be on top of things and the new members have slotted in seamlessly as they were incredibly tight. Quick fast set that band tore through quickly and was a great way for the night to begin

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Next act was Atomic Death Squad who showed the crowd what cross over thrash is all about. Quickly blazing through their songs, some under 2 minutes in classic cross over fashion The band still had classic thrash metal riffage just played at 400 times the regular speed. Guitarist/Vocalist Kevin Thrash having to take off his shirt from the pure heat coming off his blazing fast riffs. The crowd when nuts for their fan favourite track “Cause Stone Cold Said So” and they closed with an awesome cover of the S.O.D. classic “Speak English Or Die” 50 times faster that S.O.D. ever played it.

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Then all the way from Sydney the next act cross over thrash heavy weights Disintegrator. With frontman Ran Thrashlee jumping around the stage like a man possessed and again the entire band just playing at break neck speed it was truly a sight to behold. Playing amazing songs referencing the likes of Mondo Gecko from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and various He-Man play sets as a child of the 80s/early90s this to me was pretty much the ultimate in metal. Also while pushing their merch between songs they pointed out they were also selling their own hot sauce made by guitarist Jaywatch Maddogg which I did get and its great. By the end of their set the band and the crowd were equality drenched in sweat and personally this was the highlight of the night. Amazing to finally see this guys live.

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Next came Adelaide’s premier thrash band Alkira. These guys always slay live have been a fan of them for a long time and seem them live many times, never fail to deliver. Playing awesome songs like “Submission Therapy” from their debut album “Juggernaut” that came out last year, which I still have in heavy rotation, as well as a few tracks from their Red Devil EP. Highlight of the set to me as always was “Hells March”. Always great, any chance I get to see these guys I will jump at it.

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Final band to take the stage is Melbourne’s undisputed reigning kings of Thrash Metal Harlott. The crowd lost their collective minds for Harlott and moshed and stage dived and just plain went bananas for them. Having recently released their second album “Proliferation” which even though its halfway through the year i know it will be my no. 1 album of 2015 and about the head on a European tour in support of Thrash Legends Annihilator the band are clearly at the top of their craft. This guys are always amazing on stage and cannot be topped. While I was more excited to see Disintegrator live for the first time and that was the highlight for me, Harlott’s set was untouchable. They always are untouchable and literally blow everyone else off the stage. This guys have in the last week been signed to Metal Blade Records and are just going from strength to strength. These guys are destined for big things and they prove it live every time. If you haven’t already seen them live and they come your way you have to see them. It should be mandatory

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Abraxxas
https://www.facebook.com/AbraxxasOfficial
Atomic Death Squad
https://www.facebook.com/atomicdeathsquad
Disintegrator
https://www.facebook.com/Disintegratorcrossover
Alkira
https://www.facebook.com/AlkiraMetal
Harlott
https://www.facebook.com/HarlottOfficial