Review: “Dissociate” by Trendkill

A growing concern since 2014, having had initial success that took them to Bloodstock once upon a time, Teesside based North East Groove Thrash act TrendKill endured the turbulence of line up changes that threatened to derail their train in before finding a new vocalist in Alistair Lisle (Artura, Live Undead, ex-Ball of Mayhem). Since then the band have been steadily carving out the singles, each one building upon the success of the last with “A Broken View” surpassing 50k of Spotify and YouTube streams combined. Rather than compile those five tracks into an album alongside these four and unleash a physical beast the band have chosen a different route to remain and instead offer a new EP in “Dissociate” to showcase their talents…

The Pantera influence looms large on the horizon of the title track and opener “Dissociate” as the band bring home to roost a riff that Dimebag Darrell himself would be proud of as guitarist Jonny Stern shows off his talents. The power of the rhythm section that adjoins drummer Corey Bennett with new bassist Jordan James Tipple inflicts plenty of damage on the ears and give more than enough to get the head banging, cracking a smile on the face of even the hardest of Metal heads. What Trendkill have brought is a modern, contemporary edge alongside that deep rooted nostalgic feeling; the sound that Pantera would no doubt have had post “Reinventing the Steel“. A far more wordy affair, “Covenant” is an absolute powerhouse of track, bringing the walls down with rumbling bass as Humanity is pitted against Extra-terrestrial life in a fight to the death. Again the riffs are slick with Stern able to do the work of two guitarists as he slings rhythms and squeals in every direction, the sheer verve and swagger of this one ensuring it makes its presence felt. Hitting like punches from a prize fighter, “Erasure” keeps the flow of the record tight with hints of M. Shadows “Unholy Confessions” era Avenged Sevenfold in the vocal approach. Momentary clean parts are kept purposefully short while the down tempo swirling mid second is a rhythmic gem worthy of a Deathcore show. The eclectic solo and bass bleed out accompaniment gives it the Chef’s Kiss and leaves us in no doubt that Trendkill are a band who could be HUGE in the United States. They have it all and the kitchen sink when it comes to Groove Metal and that’s before final cut “Berserkr” hits. A flamboyant solo lights the blue touch paper at the end of this one, another call to arms of a mosh pit filler that really needs to be heard on bigger stages as you can hear these songs with an extra five or ten percent more energy in the live arena just listening to them. Trendkill have given us all the evidence we need to convict them [9/10]

Track Listing

1. Dissociate
2. Covenant
3. Erasure
4. Berserkr

“Dissociate” by Trendkill is out now and available everywhere you’d expect it to be (as well as a few places you wouldn’t)