Review Summary: Raw Power
Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Power Trip are a pretty good example of how a hybrid of metal and hardcore should sound: fast, heavy, pissed off, and very loud. They provide a sound reminiscent of 80’s thrash metal and hardcore punk with tight musicianship, lots of aggression and a general sense of misanthropy while still retaining a goal of letting everyone have a good, beer-fueled time.
When Manifest Decimation opens with its titular track, you can tell they mean business. As soon as the noisy fade in ends, the band comes out in all their reverb-laden glory to pummel you into submission with pounding drums and some crushingly chunky riffs until vocalist Riley Gale (who seriously sounds like the long lost son of Integrity frontman Dwid Hellion) comes in with his militant shouts and screams, ushering in a new era of power.
Soon, you are laid witness to blistering guitar solos that sound like they were ripped right out of the late 80’s – they’re certainly flashy and show that their lead guitarist Blake “Rossover” Ibanez has some serious chops, but also slightly melodic and refined, only coming barrelling in at the perfect moment in a songs progression before dive bombing its way out into a heavy, anthemic breakdown featuring all the members going as hard as they can – commanding shouts over a sea of distortion and chugged riffs (having two guitarists really helps for this) and tastefully technical drumming from Chris Ulsh of Hatred Surge fame. A complete aural onslaught.
And while that basically much sets up the archetype for Power Trip’s sound on this album, believe me: it is not something you’ll soon tire of in its this 30 minute affair of power and intensity. The riffs are infectious and addictive, coming from a seemingly endless palette, and each track will leave you wanting more and more. While it may not be the most versatile album in the world, the band sticks to what they do best, and do a damn good job of it.
