Review | Nefarious – Addicted To Power

Relentless Metal Records

From the legendary breeding grounds of San Francisco, Nefarious emerges as a force in the thrash metal world. This all-star line-up unites seasoned veterans from iconic bands like HIRAX, EXODUS, HEATHEN, BLIND ILLUSION, and DEATH ANGEL, bringing decades of experience and a deep connection to the Bay Area’s rich thrash heritage. Fronted by Katon W. De Pena, known for his raw intensity and commanding presence, his vocals set the tone for an unrelenting anger-laden assault.

Guitarists Rick Hunolt and Doug Piercy unleash a twin-axe attack blending the classic thrash riffs of metal’s golden era with fresh, boundary-pushing solos and harmonies. Secured by Tom Gears’ low roaring bass and Will Carroll’s ferocious drumming, Nefarious creates a classic but defining sound balancing aggression with technical mastery. It’s a ravishing mix of melody, harmony, and crushing riffs, designed to captivate thrash and metal fans alike. With their debut album, Nefarious not only pays homage to their roots, but also redefine modern thrash metal. Expect a powerful blend of past and present, aggression and refinement, delivered with the passion and skill that only true metal veterans can muster. This band is ready to make a lasting impact on the heavy metal landscape.

PROGRESSIVE MASTERY

Though ,,Mirror Death” encapsulates everything the genre is so known for, its opening, pummelling on a classic ominous guitar with drums hammering its backbone into action. Wailing harmonized guitars brought forward over the gloomy pace, it suddenly shifts shape. Hunholt and Piercy unload a swirling fretboard ballet with Carroll’s drumming relentlessly hammering and Gears switching licks and melodies in his growling bass playing. The song is thrashy on all engines yet also fires progressive mastery forward. It pushes Katon to his sonic edge, barely holding up in the relentless sonic onslaught. He works harder than ever to maintain his venomous delivery.

The title track truly pitches the ‘gigantism’ of Nefarious. Fierce pitches guitar licks opening over nesting progressive hooks with a sincere roar opening thrash of the past going gung-ho modern. In all the turmoil, it is Gears that impresses the most. His bass is ferocious and bridges the tiniest gaps in the sonic wizardry of Hunholt and Piercy. A concoction of melodies unleashed, with De Pena feeling more comfortable on this song. Midway the song blends hardcore Biohazard grooves underneath the rousing outcalls of “power” and “War”, pressing heavily on the song’s laden social criticism. It all just wells with tremendous anger.

STANDOUT TRACKS

Standout tracks like the more distorted driven ,,Master Plan” with its stop ‘n go buzz-saw discharged chords packed in the trident riffs pull forward energy-charged. Katon roars with neurotic extravagance, roaring, screaming and pouring his heart out to inject the lyrics with frustration while dropping melodic lines on the chorus.

The drum-onslaught and pumping low end bass atop immediately pump ,,Together We Rise” into action. Scorching riffs and intense hammering drums outline the boundaries for De Pena to lay down his feverish delivery. Oiling the gears, they pull forward into its the tempo-charged chorus, and Gears unorthodox way of countering on the swirling guitar duels with impressive progressive bass lines. Going grim, the environment shifts dark, with the technical instrumental section highlighting the band’s insane technical abilities as musicians and performers, adding rich texture.

DELIVERING MAXIMUM IMPACT

Switching to moronic, ,,Day After” packs enormous energy, with spirited drums, with raw visceral energy from the interplay of toms and ride cymbal. Carroll’s mastery of syncopation and rhythmic diversity is a staple of the band’s raw discharged energy. With sizzling and powerful guitar riffs and duels blend into the mix, the song pulls forward.

More classic metallic, ,,Snarler” unites classic US power metal riffs and power surges with Katon’s iconic forbidding harsh vocals. The technical blend is impressive, and the bass again takes a surging position in the mix. Pierce and Hunholt drop distorted flings before going ballistic with their piercing solos feeding off one another.

,,Avatar of Chaos” and ,,One Nation Enslaved” with its epic opening, link directly to the sonic patterns of the previous tracks showcasing the band’s ability to blend technical prowess with memorable songwriting, tackling themes of corruption, control, and societal unrest. The album’s pacing is relentless, with each song delivering maximum impact without sacrificing melody or groove. Packed with tremendous amounts of energy, the songs pull forward with orbiting anger and frustration in its core, ticking to detonate. It makes the album go out on an intense high, leaving you breathless, grasping for air.

NEFARIOUS – THE CONCLUSION

Clocking in close to 40 minutes, the album is an energy packed power surge for fans, perfectly dosed to soak in. Fans of classic Bay Area thrash will find plenty to love, but `Addicted to Power’ also feels vital and contemporary, proving that Nefarious is more than just a supergroup, they are a bold force poised to leave a lasting mark on modern metal. With this explosive debut, Nefarious honors their legendary pasts and sets a standard for what thrash metal of days to come, waving the flag bravely.

Release date: 18 July 2025