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Balance Of Power

    
       
       
       
     
             
Red To Grey are a thrash metal band from Germany formed in 1998 releasing their debut album 'Wrath Of The Weak' in 2000 and their sophomore album 'Admissions' in 2008. Replacing their vocalist in 2012 - from a male vocalist to a female one - the band released the live album 'T.h.r.a.s.h. you aLIVE' in 2013. The bands third (studio) album 'Balance Of Power' was released in 2021.    
             
Featuring nine songs over a highly energetic forty two minutes, the new album oozes pace, power and aggression. Think bands such as Testament, Flotsam and Jetsam, and Death Angel and you'll have some idea of where Red To Grey are coming from. The opening song, the title song 'Balance Of Power' is a two minute tension filled crescendo leading into the first song proper, the aggression fuelled 'Hellburner'. Pace and power rises high to the surface, as Red To Grey blaze a fiery trail through the stratosphere. Thundering on, 'Trigger Of Lies' picks up the baton of speed, scorching on with a heavier attitude than the opening salvo - but losing nothing of the melodic thrash intent that is streaking through the album.    
             
Adopting a mid tempo foot stomp, 'We March' ploughs on with a much more "heavy metal" feel than heard so far - Red To Grey not afraid to mix it up! And although the style stance may have shifted, the power and aggression of thrash still simmers in the background, coming to the fore as 'Vanity And Pride' explodes into life, setting a thunderous pace. A (fellow countrymen) Destruction and Tankard inspired sound, Red To Grey are proudly setting off incendiary devices left right and fucking centre! The electrifying energy oozing from the bands new album is terrific - showing absolutely no signs of abating either, as 'Fight' accelerates outta the blocks, setting a devastatingly savage pace. The barrage of raucous riffs headlining 'Fight' is phenomenal, with an incredible switch to a melodic gallop over the chorus break. What a song, and clearly a major highlight of the album.    
             
A slight groove metal feel touches the album for 'Object Of Observation', a mid tempo mid paced Megadeth style foot stomp. But unlike the mighty Megadeth, Red To Grey once again switch styles across the chorus break to bring a massive melodious intent to the surface, The choruses of this song and the previous one are infectious, catchy, and highly sing a long-able. That's not to say that the choruses of any other songs aren't - it's just these two stand out the most! Thundering into life with aggression and attitude, 'The Dead Walk' is a fierce storm of fire and brimstone. It's bustling nature a savage barrage of instantly likeable thrash. Likeable thrash you'll wanna listen to time and time again. The album is brought to a close in a fast and furious fashion, courtesy of the fiery 'Within Grey Rooms'. The pace and intensity is at an all time high - Red To Grey finishing with another melodic thrash metal assault.    
             
Overall, an aggressively charged barrage of full on and very powerful thrash, 'Balance Of Power' deserves a place in every thrash metallers collection.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal-Roos    
             
             
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