All Against is a groove-thrash band from Lisbon, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. After I Am Alive from 2021 and The Day Of Reckoning from 2023, their third full-length release Straight Down To Hell is set to be released in one week via Raging Planet Records. The first song, which happens to be the title track, is also the first (and final, haha) surprise off the album being a very melodic, slow, atmospheric 9-minute song with almost nothing in common with thrash. A nice, even if quite unexpected way to start this album.
Inner Mayhem comes next and reminds us we are listening to All Against after all, heaviness and bulldozing riffs returning at full scale. The epic, catchy chorus reminds me a bit of Grip Inc. but the style is closer to mid-era Sepultura. Then we have the Portuguese-sung Nação Valente e Imor(t)al which is even more brutal, this time evoking memories of Testament’s Demonic-era. The solo is once again really good, elaborated, musical and fitting to the overall picture. Narrow Streets Of Disgrace further accelerates the tempo, blending perfectly the band’s trademark melodic choruses with fast-thrash aesthetics. The rhythm section is merciless in Nepotism, the mid-song transition just before the blistering solo showcasing the talent of these guys in the best possible way.
The same high praise is valid for Out Of The Box, once again thrashing like there’s no tomorrow, very Slayer-ish in delivery, which is even more valid for the opening riff of Professional Hater. Perfect thrash. Upside-Down Humanity brings old The Haunted in mind, but All Against’s signature is obvious once the chorus starts – very, very catchy, masterful stuff. This is the second album with vocalist Henrique Martins and this man kill it. The basic cgi artwork is the album’s only weak spot, but that’s a minor complaint when you have such strong musicianship and forty minutes of total thrash to headbang to.
9/10
Straight Down To Hell is out on March 14th and can be ordered from HERE
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