Band:	Suicidal Angels
Album:	Profane Prayer
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	March 2024

01. When The Lions Die
02. Crypts Of Madness
03. Purified By Fire
04. Deathstalker
05. Profane Prayer
06. The Return Of The Reaper
07. Guard Of The Insane
08. Virtues Of Destruction
09. The Fire Paths Of Fate

I know I left my glasses somewhere...

This surprise release by Kreator is perhaps one of the band's best albums since 2012's Phantom Antichrist, from the opening melodic aggression of "When Lions Die" to the title track "Profane Prayer"... ah! My glasses! Let me just put these on and... wait, why does it say Suicidal Angels on the cover and not Kreator?

Yes, yes, it may not be the most original-sounding material, but Suicidal Angels can be counted on to give you the thrash fix that mixes old school influences with modern inflections and youthful exuberance; Profane Prayer is yet another solid slab of metal from the consistent Greek thrashers. This Aegean aggression has seen the group's profile rise with each subsequent release, raising the bar of quality each time, to which Profane Prayer is no exception, being the band's most accomplished work to date.

Wasting no time, the band tear into the album like Hercules on an energy drink binge, or at least that would explain the whirlwind riffs of "Virtues Of Destruction" or the frantic "Purified By Fire". Suicidal Angels are fans of the genre, so know what to serve up to listeners eager for yet more thrash insanity. The band do mix things up more than usual on Profane Prayer with "Deathstalker", a song that is is perhaps the holiday brochure of the Greek metal scene, bringing together a who's who of talent onto one track that... is pretty boring, guitar break aside (well, we could always holiday elsewhere).

Melissourgos deftly balances fretboard madness with rapid vocals throughout Profane Prayer, helped in large part by the rest of the band that not only matching his power, but sprinkling in melody when called for. "Guard Of The Insane" is a powerful stomping track, thanks to Tzortzopoulos' drum work. The only thing the band could do better is have names that are easier for me to spell (good thing we don't do audio reviews here on Metal Storm).

If you weren't sold on Suicidal Angels before, then Profane Prayer is unlikely to be your lightning bolt moment, for it is largely in the same mold as their prior work, just more refined from experience. When the band do try and stretch their angel wings, it doesn't result in their best work ("The Fire Paths Of Fate"); Suicidal Angels are at their best when they stick to full throttle thrash attacks, though that isn't to say that these moments of deviation are bad by any means.

(Livin' on a) Profane Prayer is a strong slab of thrash that will entertain and fuel your love of fast, aggressive metal as 2024 really rolls into gear. Suicidal Angels continue to grow, and the sky is the limit for the group with releases like these.