Review: “Act Of Malice” by Fracture Point

Armed for the apocalypse with lyrical themes of war, violence and mental health struggles along with influences from graphic novels, London based Fracture Point formed in 2018 using old school Thrash with Groove Metal and Hardcore. Announcing themselves to an unsuspecting world like a brick through a butchers shop window, their debut EP “Mind Affliction” dropped in 2022 and was followed by a pair of stand alone singles in 2023. Recorded at Ignite AMR Studios (Secreum, One Last Day, Worship The Sacrifice), the warriors return battle scarred with a sophomore record laced with mosh worthy hooks and catchy lyrics, the only question is, will you survive?

A spoken word by Morten Fausboll graces opening cut “Malicious Intent” like a classic low budget movie advert overdub before tearing into classic Crossover Thrash riffs in the vein of “State of the World Address” era Biohazard. The bass becomes almost like a second rhythm guitar at times as its more prominent in the mix while a classic whammy bar solo is absolutely disgusting and if you pardon the pun, the cut is a real statement of intent. Vocally cutting between singing and screaming on a line by line basis to emphasise a point and push it home works incredibly well and that style bleeds through the bandages into the fist in the air anthem “Call To Arms” with metallic thump. Those uncleans have a Death Metal level of intensity to them on this one, which also has a gang chant to accompany distinctive and sublime Pantera style Groove riffs. What’s great about it is the band aren’t trying to re-invent the wheel but take their influences and have fun with them with their own cryptic writings, which gives the record an air of familiarity that makes it easily accessible.

Gritty lyrics reminiscent of those from the early days of Thrash when Vietnam veterans suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome came home to roost “Fracture Point” is a dark and brooding tale that anyone who has suffered depression can relate to. Bordering on depicting the act of Trephination, the cut is a cathartic release of negative energy matched sonically with sinister riffs and swirling atmospherics in perfect balance. It’s nothing short of incredible with the darkness of a horror film captured perfectly in a moment of time. After that skull crushing moment the quartet return to the sound of the earlier cuts with the punchy “Cast The First Stone“, another groove laden cut fit for the mosh pit. A slightly off kilter solo in the final third is a real moment but the breakdown that follows it is a stone cold winner. Inspired by the storyline from Batman: “The Killing Joke” and a quote from The Joker himself: “All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy”, final cut “One Bad Day” is a skull battering bruiser of a tune and arguably the jewel in the crown. Brining together everything that came before it with a fierce vocal, this one absolutely crushes [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Malicious Intent (ft. Morten Fausboll of LEVEE)
2. Call To Arms
3. Fracture Point
4. Cast The First Stone
5. One Bad Day

“Act Of Malice” by Fracture Point is out 22nd March 2024