8th October 2024

Review: “Detonator” by Disarmageddon (3rd Anniversary)

Established in 2016 in Johannesburg South Africa, Disarmageddon are Thrash Metal operatives with roots deep into the genre they’re burning as they touch the Earths molten core. Having a DIY or DIE attitude, the band entrusted guitarist Lance von Buddenbrock to not only mix and master their sophomore EP “Detonator” but also create the artwork for it and it doesn’t take a moment to see that there is a Megadeth influence that runs deep. While the record was released in October 2021 it was actually recorded between 2018 and 2019, making it a lot closer to their 2017 debut “Contagation Demo” than you might think. Curiously enough there was a line up change between the pairing with six string riff overlord Nick Muller exiting stage left to be replaced by the aforementioned Lance von Buddenbrock. The group is rounded out by vocalist Jay Troskie, guitarist Matthew Jordaan, bassist Ashish Seetharam and drummer Desmond Cook…

A classic Thrash lyric in the first verse of opening cut “Homeland Insecurity” is one that remains as true now as it always has with Troskie’s American accented vocal “Threats of attacks fill our television shows It’s no wonder we hate our neighbours so…” hitting home. He reaches Power Metal levels of warbling at points with that crotch grabbing 80’s high cut against a snarled Dave Mustaine style, something which not only works but is a real point of difference. Aside from it’s Old School Thrash aesthetic, what really makes this one is the solos as Jordaan and von Buddenbrock go toe to toe in Trivium style playing off each other. Another classic Thrash lyrical theme surfaces in “Warpath” as the M60 machine gun roars into life, the presence of a solo before the first verse the kind of thing that really sets the tone for some guitar heroics. Gang chants add that ability for the crowd to chant along when these songs are played live, a nice touch as there will be relatively few fans who are going to be able to match Troskie’s phrase finishing high pitched moments. The sublime virtuoso solos show no sign of abating as “Guerrilla Tactics” continues the Flying V’s reign of fire, both guitarists inflicting maximum damage on our cerebral cortexes with each passing tune. This one has flavours of movies like Apocalypse Now, Platoon or even Rambo with the lyrical narrative which gives it a broader appeal, the focus being on the glory of what it takes to overcome your enemies rather than the gritty darker truth. Not that that is a bad thing, it helps keep the record fun which is essential to the replay-ability.

A near seven minute instrumental might be unexpected given the nature of this beast but “Kamikaze” has the feel of “Master Of Puppets” era Metallica with atmospherics that run deep. Another opportunity for the guitarists to shine is made good use of with fretboard smouldering solos created by calloused hands but what’s clever about it is that there is plenty of build up and rhythm attack so it’s not solos for solos sake. Finishing on the title track is an interesting move but one that works well as “Detonator” flies out of the gate in explosive fashion. An earworm hummable main riff is key as the band bring together all the elements that make up their sound and put them into one easy to swallow tune to help you breathe more easily. The bass from Seetharam feels higher in the mix on this one which gives it a little more bounce, while resident skin basher Cook delivers arguably his finest moments from behind the kit to ensure that the band have your full attention. Overall a solid EP with some really special moments and one that bodes well for further output and growth, “Detonator” stands the test of time simply because it sounds like it’s from the early 80’s era of the Thrash genre without sounding dated [7.5/10]

Track Listing