There is a lot to be said for youthful exuberance, knowing no fear and feeling no pressure. You only have to look back over some of Thrash Metal’s great albums to see only when bands began to take themselves too seriously and bow under the weight of expectations did their musical output begin to diminish. Hell, the average age of Exodus when they recorded “Bonded By Blood” or Metallica with “Kill ‘Em All” wasn’t any older than early twenties yet these are considered some of the genres best, and that is even now with these guys still producing albums twenty years on. So in the age stakes Bonded By Blood are in their prime but does their second album, “Exiled To Earth” deliver on the early promise showed on their debut release “Feed The Beast”?

Well you have to give Bonded By Blood 10 out of 10 for their ambition, it’s not to often any band would choose to write a concept album never mind write one so early in their career, but write one they have. Set 600 years in the future of a post-apocalyptic Earth, “Exiled To Earth” tells the tale of humans looking to reclaim their world from an alien race; an imaginative enough concept but what of the music? It should come as no surprise to anyone that “Exiled To Earth” sounds as if it was written in 1988 and should have been released alongside “Fabulous Disaster” or “So Far, So Good...So What!”. Drawing huge influences, particularly the riffing from Exodus and early Megadeth Alex Lee and Juan Juarez again demonstrate their wizardry in churning out Trash riffs of gargantuan proportions, aided by better production quality than their debut Lee’s solos benefit greatly.

Jose Barrales vocals have progressed not one iota from their debut, still sounding like Paul Baloff’s love child he roars through each song as though his life depended upon it, and if there is a criticism of Barrales it is that his style does become a little samey. His delivery and execution does lack differentiation from song to song, and over the long-haul you’d question whether he can make a whole career from just this one approach; but it never hurt the likes of Souza or Mustaine so only time will tell on that front.

“Exiled To Earth” like their debut has moments where you find yourself comparing particular riffs or melodies to various albums from back in the day but thankfully not because you feel the band are simply rehashing of old ideas, but more paying homage to those that have had such an undoubted influence upon them. As one of the bands at the forefront of the NWOATM Bonded By Blood have not disappointed and successful negotiated the often tricky second album with what appears relative ease. Progression, while not vast is there with more cross over moments filtering their way into the mix but over all “Exiled To Earth” is a Thrash album pure and simple; raw, blisteringly fast and totally in your face. What more would you want from any Thrash album?