Doomsday – Never Known Peace
Release Date: 28th March 2025
Label: Creator-Destructor Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Thrash Metal, Crossover, Metallic Hardcore, Death Metal.
FFO: Exodus, Power Trip, Nuclear Assault, Enforced, High Command, Municipal Waste.
Review By: Rick Farley
Formed in 2018 by musicians from various parts of the Bay Area metal and hardcore scene, Doomsday unleash their surging debut full length album Never Known Peace of modern day crossover thrash bangers straight from 1986. For Oakland, California in 2025 to be pumping out one of the most exciting new crossover thrash bands is something pretty damn special. Especially one this rooted in pure Bay Area sound. This is a thrashy adrenaline shot of metallic nostalgia that rips, snorts and spits hardcore punk belligerence. Releasing March 28th, 2025, on Creator-Destructor Records, this is a rotten love letter full of piss and vinegar to anyone that wants their metal served up beatdown style. Do you want gang vocals, whammy dives, hardcore breakdowns, and full on thrash metal frenzy? Yeah, it’s all right fucking here.
Never Known Peace was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Zack Ohren at Sharkbite Studios (Suffocation, Machine Head, Darkness Everywhere), with the absolutely sick cover artwork by Spencer Davie. The record is full, bright, and crisp sounding. Capturing the biting attack of the guitars while maintaining plenty of foundational low end, easily enough to bulldoze down your fucking house. In short, the record sounds like a thrash metal album should, but not like it’s in a tin can. The brutality comes out swinging heavy and fucking hard. Doomsday takes this from tight down picked crunchiness, to thrashy galloping, and to mosh stomping breakdown grooves that are probably dangerous to your well-being if you’re not paying enough attention of your immediate surroundings.
Firstly, I need to acknowledge the vocal performance from Charlie D. He brings a level of deranged nostalgic presence to Never Known Peace that sets this apart from the newer bands in this genre. He sounds straight out of the old days, bringing a potent mix of Steve “Zetro” Souza (formerly of Exodus) and Freddy Cricien (Madball.) The cadence and shouty delivery are dead on to that time period. Give track two The Outlaw a spin and his snarling raspiness is on full display as well as the energetic guitars from Ryan Calaveras and Robert “Big Rob” DeLorenzi. Blistering riffs, screaming shred and crunchy breakdowns will make this a live setting favourite.
The unrelenting speed of Killing Fields shows the versatility of drummer Eddie Vigil and bassist Glendon “G” Diaz, who can also easily decelerate their rage, bringing a face smashing groove such as on the earth shaking track Holy Justice. It’s a mid-paced stomper that never quits wanting you to bang your head. Booming low end with plenty of metallic hardcore flavour brings this in heavy as a slow beater rather than a hit-and-run. Andrew Lee from Ripped to Shreds lends his scorching solo work to the song, adding an insane amount of melodic nastiness.
All in all, Never Known Peace is a percussive riff assault that knows its place in the metal world and is unafraid to fucking let its savagery loose. From relentless speed to d-beats and tough guy breakdowns, at a short but sweet thirty minute runtime, old school and new school alike will be kicking each other’s asses in the pit hailing the might of Doomsday. Easy recommend.
(4 / 5)
