Weren’t it for NUNSLAUGHTER’s Jim Sadist I wouldn’t know about this band, I guess. Why? Well, he was wearing a SOULLESS shirt on the picture on one of their numerous split EP’s. So I ordered "Agony’s Lament" which is already the second album by these Thrashheads. The line-up consists of members from ALL THAT IS EVIL, DECREPIT and ASCENSION / DESCENSION (never heard of the latter, though) who have gathered under the flag of Thrash, hehe! Clad in a clear, well balanced modern but fortunately not sterile sounding production the listener is offered ten catchy and memorable Thrash Metal grenades that are faithful to the classic founding fathers of that genre while keeping a contemporary edge. In most reviews I found online this five-piece from Cleeveland is compared with THE HAUNTED but I have to disagree slightly. The melodies may remind on that Scandinavian act as well as Jim Lipucci aggressive shouting although he sounds a bit deeper and more powerful. If I can trust my ears there is much more classic Bay Area power riffing present… I’d say EXODUS, DARK ANGEL and RAZOR (I know they are from Canada) have been important influences besides the Scandinavian touch. The band plays absolutely tight with flawless virtuosity in every respect and should appeal to Thrashers old and young. Whether you like the old school or are hooked by DARKANE and late AT THE GATES: This is for you! The yellowish cover also rules as it looks similar to the original cover of AUTOPSY’s "Severed Survival". So now lets thank their Japanese label (also responsible for TERROR SQUAD, by the way) for releasing this jewel of a kind of Metal that has become rare. SOULLESS contact: PO Box 347417, Parma, Ohio 44134 USA, website: www.soullessdomain.com, email: soulless@soullessdomain.com. Label contact: WorldChaos Production 406 New Light Bld., 2-25-6 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan 113-0033, website: www.world-chaos.com, email: worldkdm@syd.odn.ne.jp