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The Identity Of Discord

   
       
       
       
     
             
NACARBIDE are a female fronted heavy metal band from Thailand formed in 2016, releasing their debut album 'Lots Of Eyes' in 2017, sophomore album 'Iron Lotus' in 2020, and third album 'The Identity Of Discord' in 2023...    
             
...featuring the bands trademark red hot scorching speed! The blistering pace is incredible - take a back seat DragonForce, Cellador and Victorius, for sensational Thai heavy metallers NACARBIDE are out to claim your crown as "kings of extreme speed metal". Or should that be "queens"? Or even "kings and queens"? 'Cause NACARBIDE are female fronted, featuring the raspy roar of Hitomi Tada - the new album coming to life with 'Kourui', storming outta the gate at a hundred miles an hour! The band leave jet fighters, rockets, and even the Japanese bullet train in their wake, 'Kourui' a blazing inferno of all out heavy metal guaranteed to violently bang the head of every single metalhead around the world. A sensational opener to leave listeners gobsmacked, 'The Identity Of Discord' powers on with the jaw dropping 'Hit The Road'. Hurtling along the highway at top speed, 'Hit The Road' is a gloriously fast paced "foot on the monitor" gallop that's gonna plant smiles a mile wide on the faces of every listener, fan and follower. A simply stunning opening one-two becomes a one-two-three with the aggressive 'Code' maintaining the frantically furious pace of the album so far.    
             
I mentioned in a previous review that Hitomi's vocal delivery reminds me a lot of Rob Halford (Judas Priest, Fight, Halford) - and on the evidence of 'The Identity Of Discord' so far, I'd even go as far to say Hitomi is the female equivalent of the legendary metal god! Her powerful rasp and amazing high range is simply outstanding - 'Legitimate' taking a more melodic approach than any other song heard so far. Although the phenomenal intensity level of the album since it began remains unbroken, the band an unforgiving force of nature, battering listeners, fans and followers with an incredible metal onslaught! An onslaught that is far from over - 'Purgatory' portraying the power driven style of British stalwarts Judas Priest, incorporating a mighty mid tempo foot stomp among its perfect persona! NACARBIDE first came onto my radar six years ago with their fast and furious debut album 'Lots Of Eyes' - and never left! Their brand of heavy metal is breathless - 'Beast From The East' burning fuel for fun as it devastates the earth with scorching pace and power! The speed of 'Beast From The East' is terrifying, rocking heads back and forth so violently neck muscles are gonna stretch to breaking point! So readers, make sure you got the telephone number of the local A&E department to hand. You know, just in case you need it!    
             
Without pausing for a breather, 'The Identity Of Discord' storms on with the full throttle 'Guardian'. Moving faster than the speed of light, 'Guardian' maintains the albums immense intensity and head bang ability - if you're looking for a fast, furious and quite frankly frantic work-out, then this is the album for you! Adrenaline, pulse and heart rate will all rocket to sensational highs, as will dopamine and endorphin levels! The pleasure oozing from 'The Identity Of Discord' is orgasmic in magnitude, the album blazing a fiery trail across the land with 'Intoku', launching the fiercest barrage of heavy metal heard so far. NACARBIDE are fitter than a fiddle and a butcher's dog, setting an incredible pace that many bands just can't keep up with! Imagine trying to keep pace with 'Stranger' - it simply can't be done! The speed of the four piece outfit from Thailand is very much like a typhoon - or should that be Thai-phoon! And yes eagle eyed sports fans - one of Thailand's greatest sporting exports was snooker player James Wattana, who was given the nickname of "The Thai-phoon" due to his quick playing speed. So a perfect description for NACARBIDE too then!    
             
And on we speed with 'Melancholy', devastating the airways with a level of thunder not heard previously - the band weaving a little thrash metal aggression into their heavy/speed metal roots! Since the album began the pace has been unforgiving, NACARBIDE a relentless metal machine with only one speed setting - extremely fast! And still with no break from the barnstorming barrage of heavy metal, 'The Identity Of Discord' marches on with the NWOBHM tinged 'Weigh On My Mind', firmly planting both feet on the monitor as it trots on by. The album is an hour in length, an hour in which the Thai-phoon has thrilled and excited listeners every single step of the way - and with only one song left to go, this is an album that'll surely be on constant repeat within everyone's playlists! And to the final song, the title song 'The Identity Of Discord' and a final, very unexpected twist! Male vocals! Where did they come from? In everything I've read about this album and the band, I haven't been able to find out who the male vocalist is - is it one of the males in the band, or a guest singer! Either way, the growled death metal vocal style by "unknown male" is fiercely vicious, the songs music a blend of thrash, death, black, and the bands traditional heavy metal roots. What a sensational ending to a stunning album - 'The Identity Of Discord' (the album) one of the best albums of the year.    
             
Overall, a high velocity rampage of fast and furious heavy metal with an immense infectious level and a head bang ability second to none.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Lots Of Eyes      
           
"a fast and furious romp of traditional sounding heavy metal with a huge NWOBHM influence" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             

           
           
Iron Lotus      
           
"a fiery battering of NWOBHM inspired heavy metal with thrash leanings and a smattering of the melodic, 'Iron Lotus' is a great album" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             

           
           
Code (single)      
           
"a mouth watering, fast paced and highly head bang-able appetiser for the bands new album" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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