### Warpath: Damnation

#### 27/12/10 || revenant

Warpath are an unsigned thrash band from the UK who, in 2008 and 2009, won the polls for “best unsigned band” with Terrorizer magazine. According to their MySpace (at the time of writing), Warpath still remains unsigned. Make you wonder, doesn’t it? What is it the fans see that the label doesn’t? I think it’s time for me to roleplay (not the dice and nerd kind) and pretend I’m a record label executive. Let me see, what would I say to Warpath…

“Ah lads, come in come in. You are Warpath, correct? Yes, great. Ok then take a seat. Oh, I only have three chairs, so one of you will have to stand, sorry. You don’t mind? Ah good.

“So lads, quite the debut CD here. I must say I am very impressed. There’s some really good thrash here, fast and catchy. Right from the opening track I was impressed, great speed metal riffing with timely switches to groovy breakdowns. The drum fills, too, are spot on the mark. Those kicks in “Infernal”… damn, I really like what you did there. Then there’s “Spitting Blood”, wow, now that is one catchy song. Everywhere I went I found that song playing in my head… walking the dog, playing with the kids, driving to work… everything I did I wanted to break out and start singing that song. I have to say, you boys really know how to craft a song.

“And the musicianship? Spot in the money. You boys play at Mach speed an never miss a note. The soloing is great to. The drums, totally rapid fire on those kicks. Which one of you is the drummer? You? Yes, I should have guessed from the vacant look on your face. What? Oh calm down, it can’t be the first time you’ve heard a dumb drummer joke, can it? You know I once asked a drummer if he could spell Mississippi for a joke, and you know what he asked me? He asked which one, the river or the state. True story.

“Now I can see by looks on your little faces there is a bit of excitement there right? Well unfortunately there is a downside to what you are doing. Well, a little more that a downside, it’s your biggest deficiency. The vocals. Put short, they suck donkey dick big time. I’m really sorry to say this but, seriously, imagine a donkey boner so big it would split the arse of an elephant open. Your vocals suck that dick. They are just too clean and weak. There’s no power to the delivery whatsoever. I realize that Wales may not be brimming with great metal vocalists, but I think it’s time to broaden the search. If you guys had a proper vocalist, I be out there promoting your shit as the best of the new wave of thrash. As it is… you’re a great thrash band with a major weakness.”

So would I give them the record contract? Yeah, I probably would, they are a lot better than a number of other new thrash acts I’ve heard (special hello to Zenithal and Merciless Death), but the vocals are a major downer. If you like fast, catchy thrash then this will certainly bring some enjoyment, it’s just a shame the vocals are so weak.

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Independant
- Website: Warpath MySpace
- Band
- Richard Goss: vocals, guitars
- Pete Hawthorne: guitars
- Gareth Allen: bass
- James Davenport: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Damnation
- 02. Infernal
- 03. Hostile Takeover
- 04. Face to Face
- 05. Spitting Blood
- 06. Life Unworthy of Life
- 07. W.M.D (Weapons of Mass Deception)
- 08. Expendable Forces