ILLYRIAN – Round 2: Fight!
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 27-11-2016
Employing three members for the clean and harsh vocals, Calgary’s Illyrian are a potent thrash quartet with progressive, death, and musically-inclined aspects to their style on the oddly named debut full-length "Round 2: Fight!". Hopping about in the Bay Area meets new school mold, "Walking in Sunshine", "Chaotic Neutral", and "Technodrone" are standouts if you love Megadeth-oriented precision against Havok/Warbringer thunder – along with guitarist Scott Onofrychuk’s main John Kevill-esque fierce roar on the vocal front.
The death growls from second guitarist Brandon McNeil and bassist Jeff Perry color the material in more underground oriented textures, while the rhythm section often sets the tone early in a circular fashion for "Opulent & Imperial". Expect well thought out lead breaks that contain as many neo-classical runs as they do bluesy scale action, "Zeta Reticulan" weaving in a number of tapping and divebomb maneuvers, as well as a mini-bass solo.
Proof that the best thrash has versatility amidst the chops, "Round 2: Fight!" puts Illyrian on the short list of bands to look out for from the new breed.
illyrian.bandcamp.com/album/round-2-fight