July 3, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

You might not think that Venom could be reincarnated in Indiana of all places, but it seems that the altar for the evil Newcastle circus act has been overtaken by Maax. The Midwest has seemingly found a black thrash outfit with which to subjugate the metal masses accordingly.

The first thing I take notice of is the thin production on Six Pack Witchcraft, which adds a slight, blasé charm to the recording, much like Venom’s utterly horrid production values up to, well, pretty much everything they turned out. There is something to be said for a muddy mess as long as the music is even remotely enticing. I suppose for the most part the EP here is decent at galloping along the newly-drawn line of black thrash that’s emerged of late, but for my taste it can get me through one or two listens then fade from my radar as quickly. As much as it might be unpopular to say, this might stick in my psyche for about the same length of time that Motorhead’s debut has; the simplicity and underwhelming visages just don’t hold much for me for a long haul.  

The CD has moments, sure; “Go Fuck Yourself” spills over like a drunken Cronos over that familiar bulldozer sound all too famous for imitation these days. “Six Pack Witchcraft” has a certain Bathory “Sacrifice” feel to it, which is the most memorable moment for me until the end where it sounds like a bar being busted up with drunken patrons vying for any door. Not completely without merit, this EP is just okay. I rather like the thinly layered trudging along of the bass for the most part, but a mesh of Bulldozer and early Bathory is being done to absolute death these days.

As I said, there are moments here, but it’s more typical than magical. It’s building on what we now come to recognize as that “black thrash” sound that is attempting to cash in on the Venom sound since there’s a million Burzum and Marduk clones falling out of any given tree you shake. I can appreciate and be entertained by this medium, but only if there’s another “Sacrifice” or “Leave Me in Hell” still waiting to be discovered.  

Release Date: April 23, 2010
Label: Abyss Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Die By The Ax’
2.  Fire In The Hole
3.  Go Fuck Yourself
4.  Six Pack Witchcraft
5.  Bastards

Total playing time:  14:35

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Maax - Six-Pack Witchcraft