Ripper: Sensory Stagnation (2019)

Last October I covered the 2016 album from Chilean thrashers Ripper, Experiment of Existence.  I was blown away by that album and so when the opportunity to pick up their 2019 EP arose, I jumped on it. 

On my first listen to this album, I recall being somewhat disappointed with it.  It did not have quite the same raw savagery that the previous album I heard had.  But repeated listens led to me discovering more and more about the EP and falling for it.  It is different than the prior release I heard, but that is not such a bad thing.

The primary thing I noticed is that there is a bit more technicality to this album.  That is especially obvious in the rather impressive bass parts which bear a strong resemblance to such tech thrash luminaries like Heathen and Atheist.  But the guitar riffs seem pulled straight from the Kreator catalog, fast and intense.  The vocals too have that Mille Petrozza snarl to them.  The result is a release that blends aspects of German thrash, South American death and American technical thrash.  That is quite the mix.

As I said, this release did not jump out at me on the first listen, but repeated listens have my attention.  I still do not think I like it quite as much as the previous album, but it is damn good in its own right.

Ripper: Experiment of Existence (2016)

I have explained my affinity for extreme metal from South America several times here.  I think it bears repeating.  For some reason, there is just some terrific thrash, black and death metal coming from South America.  Whether that be due to the political climate down there, I am not sure.  I am sure there is someone out there more qualified than me to figure that out.  There is though more of a savage intensity in the music. 

Chile is not a country that has produced a lot of metal bands to my knowledge.  Thornafire and Apostacy have gotten my attention in the past.  And now, a third band has entered the mix.  This is Ripper, a thrash/death metal band from Talagante.

This album is terrific.  Ripper take influence in some of the biggest names in German thrash, Bay Area thrash, early U.S. death metal and Swedish death metal, throw them all into a blender and have unleashed the results in the studio.  There are some damn great riffs in this and the vocals call to mind the early material by Possessed.  Solos shine through, giving some impressive melody.  And the bass is fucking awesome.  The songs are all fast-paced and powerful, with a barrage of riffs. 

Ripper is a band that more people should know about.  This is absolutely killer death/thrash that holds up well to the classics in the genres.  Check it out.