For a retro Thrash band from California, the heart of it all, DISMANTLE are far and away, among the best of their kind. All of the problems that plague the other bands are at a minimum on “Satanic Force”, their debut on AreaDeath. Such cringe-worthy shortcomings like obvious pro tools production values, unimaginative songwriting clearly done to copy the talentless clones of talentless clones, and drums as weak as an anorexic wrestler; none are too bothersome. Of course, DISMANTLE have very obvious influences ranging from all the San Francisco Bay scene (FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, VIO-LENCE) and the gone, but not forgotten hybrid genre, Speed Metal. At times, some of LIVING DEATH and ASSASSIN shine through the maelstrom. DISMANTLE would surely have made a bigger splash if they had only used a good old fashioned four track instead of a computer. They may yet improve still more if they aren’t swept up in the soulessness pervading the American scene at present. These guys are talented. www.myspace.com/dismantlesatanicforce, adp.areadeath.net/en