Album Review: Species – To Find Deliverance (Awakening Records)

Hailing from Warsaw, Poland, thrash metal trio Species was formed in 2018. After a couple of months of rehearsals, the band recorded their debut EP, entitled “The Monument of Envy”, which was then self-released on May 31st, 2019. On the very same day, Species played their first-ever show in their hometown.

Now Species returns with their first full-length album, entitled “To Find Deliverance”, which will be released on August 26th, 2022 via Awakening Records.

An interesting combination of thrash intensity and progressive influences, Species is something a bit different in the metal universe. Just listen to the spacey and ambient intro of Rare Signals and you’ll get that right away.

That being said, these guys know how to thrash and thrash hard, it’s just a bit stranger. Parasite beginning with a progressive medley that sounds quite ‘jammy’ before the band kick down the door with their thrash-based ferociousness. A raw production gives it a ‘garage’ head-banger feel and Species certainly know how to infuse it with energy.

Falls the Tower might be a bit more straight-forward thrash on face value but dig a little deeper with this one and be amazed by the clever nuances that are layered throughout. Whereas The Monument of Envy wears its prog influences on its sleeve, the bass alone is killing it here but it also features one hell of a guitar solo too.

Whereas Malfunction is a glorious (mostly) instrumental head-banger with complex riffing and punchy percussion. Species following that up with chuggy groove, playful energy, thrash-infused rhythms and screeching vocals as Thy Name is Slaughter impresses.

A short melodic intermission called Deus adds some refreshment. Needed because Ex-Machina, the finale, is a bit of a beast. An eleven-minute-plus beast that sees Species throw everything but the kitchen sink into this track. From eye-watering complex passages to blistering bursts of heaviness to simplistic moments of pure head-banging joy, as a finale, it is impressively huge.

Species have done two things on To Find Deliverance in particular. The first, prove that they can hang in the world of thrash metal. The second, prove that they aren’t like every other thrash revival attempt. This is a genuine example of doing something different in a genre where change is often a dirty word.

Species – To Find Deliverance Full Track Listing:

1. Rare Signals
2. Parasite
3. Falls the Tower
4. The Monument of Envy
5. Malfunction
6. Thy Name Is Slaughter
7. Deus
8. Ex-Machina

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