Sledge has been a dragon force that has heavily thrashed almost all Indian metal festivals for last 7 yrs or so. ‘Vanquish’ the latest offering by 5- piece southerners, comes 4 yrs after their debut ‘Desert of Souls’  Right from the word go, replacement of Avinash with Nitin (ex Morticide) works a consistent sludgy growl avalanche that’s been missing on the last record. This is change point number 1 working in tandem with thrash metal requirements.Observant’s next catch is the track length, which has grown due to addition of more stipulated and solid riffs.Moreover,the lead playing  is clean, lean and textured well into the thrash tone.

Another refreshing change is music moving away from Sepultura shades. Riff individuality is well spread, groovier, and substantially progressive in nature. Track 4 ‘Valley in ruins’  is the first catch, it showcases a mature mix of heavy metal going thrash and back to heavy roots. It’s got this strange hiss of dark stratosphere best reflected by lyrics like ‘The land, once ours, and now yours’. Next track ‘Theatre of war’ has a traditional 80’s thrash touch, riding a twin pedal paving the bridge over single pedal pillar effect. The let down is the decibel output of lead guitar.’ Treachery Inc’ is punk galore supplied by lyrics like ‘Brutal, Human sacrifice, in comes pain divine, your life some one’s right, by night death in sight’, the pace picks and decelerates when throat enters creating a head rush and mosh in sight. I am particularly fond of the section after first 2 minutes where everything falls under the umbrella of soloing. This song is an absolute resentment towards the world!!

Track 7 ‘Despaired thoughts’ starts with very ordinary riffing, but 30 seconds in! Vocals again boil the blood by upping the tempo complimented by well directed bass work leading to a solo slip around.Inexplainably this one ends in an abrupt fashion, showcasing a typical direction loss. ‘Contolled’ (8th on the album) sounds ordinary as the guitaring didn’t interest me much. I felt as if I have heard such a song by Sledge before but with a different title. I guess if it would have been a little speedier, it could have been moderately more pleasurable. Final track on the album ‘Cherone’ is undoubtedly the best finish ‘Vanquish’ could have got. It wears an all metal amour of aggression and oppression delivered with full motion & vigor.

To conclude, it’s not a 666 on 666 kind of effort, but it definitely is- Sledge in a new mould & marrow, and lift it off the rack for this reason!