Review: “Witness The Power” by Denial Of Life

Engineered by Jason Brooks, mixed by Taylor Young (Nails, Kruelty, God’s Hate) at The Pit Recording Studio, mastered by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Internal Bleeding, Creeping Death) at Audiosiege and complemented by artwork from Stein Hansen, “Witness The Power” is a second burnt offering of Thrashing violence from Denial Of Life. Hailing from Tacoma Washington the four piece feature in their ranks former Logan Miller, a guitarist known for his work in Cystic and Inebriator as well as playing live with Worm. He’s joined by a rhythm section of bassist Brian Bernard and drummer Nick Cody who provide the covering fire for vocalist Brenna Gowin and while they may have only formed in 2019, their 2022 debut album “No Reason” gave them the opportunity to tour Europe.

While Denial Of Life have been referred to as a Crossover Thrash quartet, in truth that’s as loose fitting as an extra large t-shirt on a size four model. In truth their debut album has so much more about it with shades of Metallic Hardcore, Swedish Death Metal as well as Speed laced Thrash with obvious influences bleeding through the bandages. This time out the Pacific Northwest natives clearly have their sights set on World Domination, bringing together a powerful collection of co-conspirators notorious for their prior convictions to help them along the way. Summoning the sounds of Mortician and early Slayer opening cut “Witness The Power” buries the hatchet of Denial Of Life in the skull with old school sinister urges as Gowin introduces the instrumental and the band roll out the venom. Its not until “God’s Favorite (Slave to the Blade)” that Gowin gets the opportunity to demonstrate her prowess and as the band blend Thrash with Hardcore Punk she issues a battle cry of bark and bite with some rap scream stylings that take us back to the 80’s. The interplay between the musicians is fantastic and even the “Ride The Lightening” era Metallica style melody at the end works incredibly well. That clears the path for the punchy aggression of “Circle The Drain” which has got some well worked gang chant moments as Gowin talks about playing dice with the devil. A track that carries the weight of the darker side of 80’s nostalgia with the grit and attitude of more modern contemporaries, this feels like it was born in Hell’s Kitchen New York as the band have clearly put in the hard yards.

A title like “Sword Of Fire” will instantly take you to the fantasy realm of Power Metal but Denial Of Life have no interest in dabbling in that genre and instead go back to 1983 to dig up some Old School Thrash riffs of the menacing variety. Delivering her enemies to evil with a swing of the flaming sword Gowin warns that hell awaits with vim and vigor, spitting venom on those who would dare raise their voice against her. Twisting and contorting into rich melodies seemed the last thing on anyone’s mind but that’s exactly what happens for “Love Sting“, the band offering up something that borders on Traditional Heavy Metal in the riff department. Fortunately there are no clean vocals to withstand as Gowin instead sporadically barks the lyrical narrative and lets the rest of the band have more of the limelight. The opportunity for a virtuoso solo is passed up by Miller who instead chooses to maintain the atmosphere before the band return to their all out Thrash attack with “Not The One“. A standout cut, this one calls out someone who thinks they’re on the same page as you when you know that you’re not. Another fierce vocal performance, arguably the best on the record is found here and there are some tasteful riffs as well. Old school? New school? F*** school! If it sounds good, then Metal is Metal and this is exactly that [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Witness The Power
2. God’s Favorite (Slave to the Blade)
3. Circle The Drain
4. Sword Of Fire
5. Love Sting
6. Not The One

“Witness The Power” by Denial Of Life is out 7th November 2025 via Creator-Destructor Records and is available over at bandcamp.