High Command – Eclipse of the Dual Moons
Release Date: 25th November 2022
Label: Southern Lord
Bandcamp
Genre: Thrash Metal, Crossover Thrash, Classic Heavy Metal, early Black Metal.
FFO: Power Trip, Skeletonwitch, Bathory, Cro-Mags.
Review By: Rick Farley
The legendary Bay Area has produced some of the world’s biggest names in metal. If you grew up in the eighties, you were fortunate enough to witness and partake in the craziness of this era of amazing music. Straggly long hair, high top basketball shoes, patched up jean jackets and driving a dragon decaled van were a clear sign of thrash metal degenerates. Well, in recent years, much like death metal, the genre has seen a resurgence in influence from the old school. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, right? Thrash metal itself never actually went anywhere, but it took a long hiatus from actually being really good. One band that’s wielding that olden sword and hopefully still rocking the bullet belts is Worcester, Massachusetts’s own HighCommand. A dose of classic heavy metal, mixed with some hardcore groove, punkish energy, and a serious love for thrashing metallic riffs makes them one of metals most exciting up-and-coming bands.
Born on the backs of guitarist Ryan McArdle and vocalist Kevin Fitzgerald, the band quickly spiralled into a bludgeoning revival of thrashing metal maniacs. The line-up fleshed out by adding some like-minded friends, drummer Ryan Pitz, guitarist Mike Bonetti and bassist Chris Berg, the band became a full-blown axe bearing, barbaric savage. With a love of fantasy storytelling, they’ve created a growing lore filled world within their music that tells tales of sorcery, legendary battles, and an evil warlord plotting world domination. Releasing their debut in 2019, they’re now ready to unleash album number two Eclipse of the Dual Moons on Southern Lord Recordings. Let the bloodshed continue.
Right from the get-go, title track and album opener, Eclipse of the Dual Moons, is a destroyer of surging ferocity. Blasting immediately from the speakers is a full-on rage of speed metal, ripping solos and clobbering thrash beats, only relenting for a groovy middle section of chugging riffs. The harsh vocals are more on the brutal side than most typical thrash, it’s leaning towards mid-range raspy shrills. A potent cross between Chuck Schuldiner and Mille Petrozza for those of you who need a better guide. Immortal Savagery sonically is a 1983 inspired beast of headbanging grooves and thick bass runs that will have you fist pumping the air straight to hell. Crispy riffs with melodic accents, galloping and chugging its way through different tempos. Little bits of epic heavy metal vibe permeate this devilish track. Horns up as they say. Imposing Hammers of Cold Sorcery has a looming clean guitar beginning, emerging menacingly into vicious riffs with serious crunchiness. A bit of old school Florida death metal mastery rears its ugly head every now and again, making this track a fucking rager. Crazy whammy diving solos and classic key change riffing keep the dominating pace pushing forward.
Every song has elements of nostalgic riffs, varying tempos set for neck breaking or just pillaging the nearest village. Beautiful acoustic passages, harshly spoken words telling a fantastical story and the occasional use of synths accent the epic feel of these storied songs. From front to back, Eclipse of the Dual Moons is full of brutal old school heavy metal influenced thrash that sounds like a bunch of battle tested vets. Ripping solos, screaming maniacal vocals, high energy and constant headbangable groove that will get a lot of people buzzing. A fantastic retro production from the boys and Seth Manchester has the record sounding incredibly old school using modern technology. High Command belongs among the ranks of thrash metals absolute best. Don’t fucking miss this one. 
(5 / 5)
