Speed Metal’s lineage and history traces back, unbroken, for decades. The resurgence of new bands sporting the genre’s standards is no accident. Speed Metal is one strain of music that never took a step back since its inception. Where other genres splinter and add or subtract core narrative elements or freely mix with other genres, Speed Metal is so straightforward that there is nothing to hide behind. You live or die by the riff, the rhythm and the execution. This is something understood by early foundational bands such as MOTÖRHEAD, EXCITER, TANK and RAVEN and, by 1983, further understood and wielded as a weapon of mass destruction courtesy of METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX. SPEEDSLUT hail from Denmark, striking with a red-hot take on vintage Speed Metal and executing it with terminal impact. “Cimbrian Rites” stands as the debut full-length for this quartet, released through Listenable Records, an exhibition of nine songs spread across 35 minutes of raw power. Following up on 2025’s “Ferocity Of Steel” EP, SPEEDSLUT take a slightly more refined approach and a more compact and cleaner sound on this newest release. There is a slight tinge of Black Metal throughout “Cimbrian Rites”, nothing overpowering or overdemanding, it was more prevalent on “Ferocity Of Steel”, but the presence is still here to some capacity. But, through and through, this is pure Speed Metal; no leaning into Thrash, no leaning into or mixing with other genres, and no waning in intensity. To live or die by the riff; SPEEDSLUT has this philosophy figured out. Each song is a crush of vintage riffs engined through meaty tone that sounds like Marshall full-stacks on fire. Those riffs are backed up by downbeat-intensive, complimentary and methodical percussion patterns and a broadsword-style bass presence that is colored with enough sonic weight to crush a man’s skull. This is beer-drinking, fist-throwing, leather and spikes power in sonic form. And coming from 2026, while sounding authentic and organic, is an accomplishment. The opening track, ‘Pestridden Stallions’, sets the tone perfectly. It starts the album off with an intense tempo and a primary riff that screams with palm-muted thunder and trumpeting sustained chords. As it moves into the chorus segments, guitar whip and gnash with trills and rapid-fire flourishes, showing the prospect of technical excellence, which comes to blossom later in the track. Scummy vocals croon forth with malice and venom, propelling the song forward on filth and rancor, a bright screaming lead forms like a comet flashing across the darkness of space. Everything is here. The riff, the rhythm, the leads and the power. The first track is not a fluke, ‘Asbestos Born Wrath’ follows closely behind, not allowing a drop in power or aggression, pushing the album and listener forward without hesitation. The double guitar attack is especially potent on these shorter tracks, with a clear understanding of the relationship between rhythm guitar and lead guitar. SPEEDSLUT masterfully grasp the concept of tension and release, attacking listeners during verses with an oppressive assault of rapid-fire notes forming into inferno riffs coupled with a more expansive chorus sections that hinge and move on the power of screaming sustained chords. Despite being only two and a half minutes in length, the band still manages to pull off a bridge sequence leading into an explosion of sound courtesy of the extensive soloing that sets up the final portion of the song. The guitar combo of Tomas Dikinis on lead and Frederik Klitte on rhythm (and vocals) is a perfect pairing. With this being a debut album, the duo produces an entire record of strong riffs, pairings, and interactions, showing off power that eclipses so many other bands. It has been a very, very long time since a power-duo of this caliber has appeared on the radar and it’s such a refreshing change of color. This combo embodies the early-to-mid 1980s sound and riff structure in a big way, one which makes “Cimbrian Rites” feel over 40 years old. Moving into the middle of the record, ‘Into The Grave’ screams into reality through the chunk and flare of a distorted bass line opening that evolves into an animated rhythm-centric collection of ripping riff crafting, moving from section to section with breakneck speed, feeding in and out of a triumphant chorus section that will have every neck in the room screaming from whiplash. The simple technique of throwing in a higher-pitched chord for contrast during the chorus is a simple mechanism that changes the character of the guitar track enough to keep things captivating. A filthy ripper of a song that should absolutely have a crowd ready to tear each other to shreds in the live setting. ‘No One Escapes Death’ and ‘Stench of Evil’ carry the scars of early DESTRUCTION, ONSLAUGHT and BATHORY; that rabid strain of thrashing Hell those bands gave to the world so many decades ago. Deep in the bowels of “Cimbrian Rites” and there has been no slowing down, no drastic change of pace and no relief from the crushing torrent of riffs. Moving into the closing reaches of the record, the final trio of songs fits with the others, completing an unbroken sequence of riffs that shames many of their contemporaries. The power of tracks such as ‘Armageddon’ reaches deep into the swamps of time, laden with bursting riffs and fretboard-burning solos and brings back the echoes of the long-forgotten bands that made Speed Metal great. An anthem of sorts, but driven less by a vocal narrative and more by a rhythmic and aural display of violence and force. The title track closes the record and the brief intro sequence is, quite literally, the first change of sonic scenery heard since the opening note of the album. It seems logical, almost easy, to write a record where the songs feel seamlessly similar, yet each track possesses enough character to stand in differentiation from one another, but the reality of that situation is that it’s incredibly difficult. SPEEDSLUT swing the axe from the first song to the last song and never once take a break to wipe the blood from their eyes or clear the brains and meat off the blade. It really is a testament to the power of strong songwriting, consistent playing and creative embellishment. The production on “Cimbrian Rites” is fitting and adequate. The guitar tone isn’t nuclear hot, but it possesses a body that is rare for modern extreme Metal, it radiates a heat and depth of character that really allows the mid-range bite to take center stage. Solos, primary riffs and rhythm sections always possess the same characteristics, dynamics and range, with solos burning like wildfire and rhythm sections anchoring the sound like massive boulders. The bass is plentiful and the position is filled well, fusing the rhythm of the drums to the suicidal charge of the guitars, ringing with booming clarity that is accentuated with a light touch of distortion. Scowled vocals take the center of the sound and drive the monstrosity into battle. If you’re a fan of true 1980s Speed Metal, you’re screwing up if you pass on “Cimbrian Rites”. There are a lot of impersonators for this sound, style and image and people have a right to be skeptical, but SPEEDSLUT are, in fact, the real deal. If we shoved this four-piece into a time machine and sent them back to 1983, they’d flourish in a manner that most never could or would. This is a total package and “Cimbrian Rites” is a record that is meant to be taken deathly seriously. Anybody who worships the old school should be taking this one out for a spin as soon as possible. For more information on SPEEDSLUT, check out www.facebook.com/speedslut and for information on Listenable Records, see www.facebook.com/listenablerecs.