19th December 2024

Review: “Space Traumas Part l: The Alcoholic Menace” by Alcoholic Vortex

They may describe themselves as a Thrash Metal Band with several alcohol issues but Brazilian Thrash quartet Alcoholic Vortex have a story to tell. Their debut record “Space Traumas” is one the band have taken an axe to and split clean in half, allowing them to bask in the glory of their sonic abrasions not once, but twice and hopefully to a wider audience the second time around. A concept record, the album as a whole, tells the story of Warren Jackson, a headbanger who is abducted and introduced into an alien plot to exterminate a rival people, sparking a Cosmic War. The first of the two space adventures is subtitled “The Alcoholic Menace” as what was supposed to be just a run-of-the-mill trip to a Heavy Metal event becomes an unusual adventure through outer space…

A concept record is no small undertaking but while this maybe a debut for Alcoholic Vortex in truth the band unites three former members of Rev Raptor and two current members of Vyse meaning this band already have a rich history. What they have created, on paper at least, reads like a Municipal Waste record with protagonist Jackson depicted as David Bowie in Star Wars in the cover art. In reality, guitarist Felipe “Clone Warrior” Matheus aka Cyber Phil, bassist and vocalist Victor “Chuck” Ráscal Ferreira, drummer Lucas “Xenomorfo” Eduardo and second guitarist Marcus Alexandre Rodrigues e Sousa aka Marc Lizzy is something else entirely…

Instrumental opening cut “Drunken Beasts” sets the scene with rampaging riffs that are straight out of the 1980’s era of Bay Area Thrash Metal with a little more polish. Splitting the track into two halves with an expertly executed false ending is a masterstroke, giving the impression of two separate tracks where there is one as the chord progressions evolve with an evil grin. “Alcoholic Vortex” is of course a track named after the band and introduces higher pitched maniacal vocals from Chuck, who spits and snarls his way through the lyrics in storytelling style. Gang chants, galloping drums and bombastic bass place the rampage through space and time somewhere between Megadeth and Havok in style, the quality of the offering screaming out for a major label record deal. Maintaining perpetual forward motion “Space Surfing” has plenty of timeless licks in it, the classy early solo stopping short of being the all out flamboyant moment it could have been. A headbangers delight from start to finish it roars along at an electrifying pace, leaving no time to breathe for anyone in the circle pit when they take it live. “The Way To Nebulla” is equally restless and relentless, a juggernaut of old school Thrash with a blast beats underpinning the gang chanted chorus and tasteful leads. A face melting solo is the finest on the record, a masterclass in how to perform one in the genre with that nostalgic charm. A little of the Brazilian accent creeps in from Chuck as the barnstorming “Apocalypse Envoy” causes the eyeballs to pop out on stalks, this cut a jaw dropping example of just how good Thrash can be in this day and age. A record that leaves you crying out for more, it does exactly as was intended so it’s no wonder that it’s being touted as one of the finest of 2024 [8.5/10]

Track Listing