I first met Belfast thrashers Acid Age at Bloodstock 2023 helping Shells interview them. After their set on the New Blood stage going down a storm, it was a joy to see them announced as the festival openers on the Sophie Lancaster stage last year where they killed it, setting the tone for the entire weekend. I also had the pleasure of getting to catch up with the lads at last year’s fest, as well as my favourite memory of wrecking my neck and blowing out my lungs watching Forbidden, not knowing frontman Jude was next to me the whole time until he spoke to me afterwards. I’ve been an avid follower since, enjoying their unique brand of “war-jazz” on last LP Semper Pessimus and eagerly awaiting the band’s next new music release. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and I’m surprised to find a Facebook message from Jude asking me if I’d like to review their new album and of course I’m honoured to be asked and naturally I oblige. So here it is, and I’ve been buzzing for it, the new Acid Age LP – Perilous Compulsion.
Opening track “Bikini Island” grabs you by the ears and repeatedly impales your brain with a series of stabbing chords before blasting into a barrage of technical deathrash riffing over the rumbling rhythm section. Despite earlier efforts featuring a more throat-shredding shouted vocal style, the deathly growled approach from the previous record continues here, and to great effect. I enjoy both styles but I feel like the low growl suits the busier progressive music. The song features the first of many virtuosic solos on Perilous Compulsion, showcasing some awesome bluesy legato shred flying down the fretboard. Follow-up and first video “State Your Business” gives the spotlight to bassist Jake as he introduces the song with a cool legato riff over the punky beat. His tone is one of many unique things about Acid Age’s sound, scuzzy and pingy bringing clarity yet maintaining enough low end boosted by the distortion to maintain the rumble. In the spirit of experimentation the band try something new – clean vocals. Following a furious verse, the chorus gives a hint of mainstream appeal as Jude sings a catchy melody over the chords. That being said, the music is intense but there’s still plenty of hooks to be found that slowly infect that initial headwound and stay moulded to your mind.
Another piercing hook from the sonic puzzle box in follow-up “Third Eye Locksmith” in the form of a straightforward stomper topped with another different vocal style, this a time a more classic punky shout before the next hooks come flying with the frantic thrashing riffs that follow. The halfway point is marked by cool solos from both Jake and Jude before taking a left turn intro full on progressive territory with chorus and delay-drenched jazz chords making for a short psychedelic trip. When it’s over it feels like you’ve just listened to a different song. It’s a curious musical journey – when it ends, you’re left wondering where you started and how you got there. Another awesome trend forming on Perilous Compulsion. “Revenge For Sale” swiftly pulls you back to reality with its frenetic intro. Mostly a raging deathrasher that’s sure to fire up the pits live, the solo dips back into jazz territory with syncopated rhythms backing some free jazz legato that could be a saxophone solo. No complaints if it was though. It boldly stands out yet flows seamlessly between the banging thrash riffs.
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Despite the moments of musical madness, Acid Age are showing that good old-skool thrash is still at the core of their mental metal melting pot throughout the album, with more high speed headbanging coming to the fore in “Every Cliché”. Each riff continues to be an earworm from the flurry of hammer-ons of the intro to the bangers that make up the bulk of the tune and the crushing crunch of the outro. The lyrics are thought-provoking when you really pay attention – events are really clichéd when you think about it to the point it’s almost funny. I’m confident the band have a sense of humour and there is some musical cheese to be found on the album depending how you think about it. The intro riff could be a guitar exercise, the chord progression beneath it is omnipresent across genres, the bluesy bridge into the wah-drenched solo is giving all the classic rock vibes and the outro borders on being gloriously gratuitous, topped off with the cowbell at the end.
Penultimate number and second video-spawner “Rotten Tooth” brings back more experiments beginning with hauntingly serene slide guitar segueing into some groovier thrash riffing. Watching the video really makes for appreciating the trio’s virtuosic talents, especially in the solos. Every technique in the book is on display to geek out over – tapping, harmonics, slap bass, violin-ing and more. What’s not here is elsewhere on the album. If Acid Age’s cheese sauce wasn’t tasty enough, they add some chilli with the song’s closing section, an extended harmonica solo. Another moment of wondrous what-the-fuckery that demands repeated listens just to take it in. From more melodic moments to the mental, the outro stretch is marked by an extended “Overkill” homage accompanied by an epic scream from Jude, who looks like he was fully living for that moment in the video, which makes me smile every time I see it. Perilous Compulsion ends in more epic fashion with longest song “Hamster Wheel”. Eerie arpeggios give way to introspective singing over the head-spinning 6/8 beat before bursting into neck-wrecking thrash through to the bouncy crossover chorus. The outro rondo of melodic octaves and awesome shred has the head nodding to the beat throughout almost in a trance until the ending chords complete the sonic journey.
Since last Bloodstock, Acid Age are fast becoming one of my new favourite bands. They’re giving vibes of the late ‘80s and early 90’s technical and progressive deathrash, which I love, but with their own unique style, seamlessly blending in flavours of various genres and experimenting with different instrumentation. Perilous Compulsion is a musician’s dream, with tons of technique exhibited by the trio that’s sure to have guitar, bass and drum nerds in awe. Watching their Bloodstock performance and recent music videos will solidify appreciation for the musicianship, especially seeing Jude and Jake playing pick-less. Definitely a fun and different factor that makes their sound stand out. There’s a lot of cool crazy moments throughout the album, but the chaos is controlled when balanced with plenty of catchy killer thrash riffing that gets the pits going and keeps the heads banging. It’s a lot to take in and might not be for those who like their metal more straightforward, however those that love it will be hitting the repeat button to experience Acid Age’s acid trip again and again.
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Perilous Compulsion is available now via Distortion Project Records
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