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GODSLAVE “Godslave”
GODSLAVE “Godslave”
By Colonel Angus
I have never run into this German thrash outfit before and my goodness have I been missing out. Just a couple of years shy of their twentieth anniversary, these guys will give any of the other thrash bands out there a run for their money. I can’t really comment on their previous efforts as this is all new to me but rest assured, I will be checking out their older catalogue. What the band has given us here is ten tracks of brutal thrash along with some slightly slower (but still intense) tracks that conjure up a bit of epic-ness.
Starting off this self-titled record, we are hit with the brutal "Reset, Rebuild, Reclaim" which reminds me of prime OVERILL. This is a fantastic way to open a record and sets the mood for the rest of the disk. When they tour, this is prime material to start their show and is probably my favorite thrash moment in 2026. They really don’t take their foot off the gas as “A Future In Motion” is just as forceful as the previous tune. This one has a cool opening riff that ushers in more of the same, which, given the quality here, is a good thing.
Quite honestly, GODSLAVE keep the pace going throughout the disk. I could give a run-down of each track but they all have the same level of intensity but differ just slightly here and there. “Square One” is the first tune that I feel takes a detour from the relentless pummeling to throw in a stomping riff that showcases a super heavy element that is peppered in a number of songs. Elsewhere, “And Yet I Stand” captures the best of OVERKILL and ANTHRAX into one thrash concoction that will please even the old-school thrashers who gave up on the genre after 1987.
Another gem on “Godslave” is “Let the Fire Come”. There is so much going on in this tune that I would venture to say that it borders on a prog thrasher (how’s that for a new sub-genre) with all the changes going on within the tune. There are some great epic pieces that really add to the majesty of the track. The “Sum of All Wounds” follow suit with a slower beginning and end but a heavy thrash middle. Bernie and Manni offer some of the best guitar work on the album making this another highlight on the record.
To cap all of this off, the album closes with an epic, almost seven minute tune that brings in that epic element that was sprinkled throughout the ten tracks. Replacing the brutal thrash from the previous songs, “The Fire That Calls Me”, the band switch gears a little and take on a more power metal approach with some great galloping riffing throughout. This one does stand out a bit as being the odd-man out in a group of full-on thrash material but it somehow works at the end of the disk. It might have been more out of place in the middle so whoever decided on the sequencing did a great job.
This year is more than half over and there have been many releases that managed to capture not only my attention but also my playlist. “Godslave” is another album that looks to make 2026 another memorable year for metal. There is a confidence running through the album that makes it easy to tag along for the ride, but more importantly, the material holds up after repeated listens. “Godslave” (the record) is so good that it has encouraged me dig through GODSLAVE’s (the band) back catalogue and discover some more thrash gems.
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