Potential Threat SF "2.0" CD
[self-released]
Let's see... I'm still undecided about this trio, but they're making progress, so that's a good sign. Like their last EP this disc is a mix of modern thrash and a little bit of a chunky midpaced groove, but this time around the thrash is thrashier and the groove more tactful, which makes for stronger songs that feel a little more focused to me. "Day of Infamy" opens with some surprisingly thrashy runs and infuses dissonant melody on occasion, which is a pretty surprising way to kick this thing off. "Enemy Within" is the only track that still feels a little too groove-based for me (possibly due to its muddier sound), most notably with the vocal patterns during the verse parts. I'm not into the gang vocals either for whatever reason, but it's weird because there are some great riffs in the song, but something still rubs me the wrong way. I'm definitely torn on the vocal performance this time out, because I like it when the dude shoots for a midrange shout that's leaning towards classic thrash, but when he throws a little hint of singing in there it sounds forced and kind of out of place. "Walk Through Fire" is probably the most well written song on the EP, except for the fact that it's too repetitive and drags on a little long. The same can be said for the nearly six-minute "All for Nothing", which combines many of the band's influences, though its strengths rest with the chugging midpaced power chords and light dashes of melody that creep in during the chorus. Also improved is the recording, which is still on the rugged side, but possesses much more weight and balance this time out. There are some inconsistencies throughout, so certain tracks have a little more clarity and it needs work overall, but for a quick self-released effort you can't expect things to sound perfect, and it's obvious that they've made improvements over their last outing. The design's better as well, housing the disc in a black and white slipcase that looks pretty good for the most part. Simple yet effective. No lyrics are included, but from what I can make out it's just typical angry, pissed off stuff, so... nothing worth going into detail about there. In the end each song still has its strengths and weaknesses, but the band is definitely moving in the right direction, so if they keep upping the thrash I think they'll eventually get there. If their songwriting continues to naturally progress I assume I'll continue to enjoy their next release even more, so... time will tell. (5/10)
Running time - 15:56, Tracks: 4
[Notable tracks: Walk Through Fire]
Potential Threat SF - http://www.potentialthreatsf.com

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