Powerlord formed in 1984 by the two brothers Tony and Bob Gourley and had only one release ‘The Awakening’ which was originally unleashed in 1986. Bob had previously been on tour with Slayer and had also played with Dark Angel for a couple of years.

Powerlord released this self-financed EP in 1986 which was then re-released as a split cd with Maxx Warrior and Messiah Prophet on the German label Rusty Diamond in 2003. The band split up soon after the EP was released.”

The first track on the EP ‘Masters of Death’ chugs to a frenzied groove and the guitar riffs are fast and raucous. It does take you back to the 80’s when thrash dominated the scene. Although I was never a thrash merchant back then and I live to regret that, but put it down to taste not maturing quick enough.

‘Malice’ again chugs and ferociously attacks the sound barrier with evil shrieks of madness. Impressively fast and precise which is expelled forcibly to present a dominating and intense track.

This one opens with sinister bells and a roaming guitar. ‘Silent Terror’ plods slowly working up into a heavy twisting malevolent force. It does lose its speed related theme but without losing energy and is very complex.

‘The Invasion of the Lord’ Screams violently into motion. The vocals sounding harsher and flirting with a lustful appetite. Killer of a track, most definitely with drums and guitar pushing the boundaries of its fit to bursting structures.

‘Merciless Titans’ is another track that chugs fiercely igniting a pleasurable energy. Its repetition fuelling the fire and no doubt in its day caused a lot of hair to fly. It doesn’t just stop at being fast either as it shows even greater tenacity as the track flourishes.

Heavy dark and with military precision ‘(The Awakening) Powerlord’ is unrelenting, spawning a certain destructive content as it rampages furiously.

Although the E.P does carry with it that 80’s feel you can’t help but get caught up in its predaciousness. It brings back to life a scene when thrash dominated to the point of overload and gives people like myself a chance to wallow in what was!

This is the third time the EP has been released since 1986, making me think that these guys are not going to disappear altogether but keeping their ‘fingers in the pie’ so to speak, maybe they are planning a come back?

Their music is gripping and tumultuous and for the time of its first release no doubt sparked a healthy interest. Nowadays though, sadly ‘Thrash’ is being thrown to the back of the queue as more dominating genres such as death metal and grind core are taking the forefront, although I cannot complain – but it’s great to hear the speed/thrash genre once again even if it does smack of the 80’s.

8½/10

The 6 track EP from Powerlord ‘The Awakening’ will be reissued on 19th August 2014 via Shadow Kingdom Records.