Exploded is a band from the city of Rotterdam. Founded in January 2010, this 5-piece band plays Thrash metal. Influenced by Sepultura, Kreator, Annihilator and even Death this band makes raw and old skool thrash metal. Their EP Gather All Destructive Strength is their first release as a band.

During the rehearsal sessions of Exploded, they decided that they should record an EP. With their original line up (Erwin, Merijn, Rudi, Thierry and Alex (now replaced by Tom) they started to record their than unknown EP.

 

The EP begins with the song Intro, which is an instrumental song. It is raw and old skool but it has a modern twist to it which fits like a glove. . However, it a good musical start to get used to their sound.

 

Next song: Pay and Die. After the promising drumintro I was expecting a Max Cavalera kind of voice, but I wasn't expecting the raw high-pitched voice of Erwin. Still amazed by the voice of Erwin I listen to the song. Pay and Die has many fast parts and 'slow' parts but it doesn't has that feeling of: yeagh it annoying to listen to. It is like a puzzle and all the parts fit perfectly together. The slow parts has even an headbang moment, however the fast parts are also capable to headbang to but you'll have to be George Fisher to keep up with it.

 

Master is the title of the 3rd song of Gather All Destructive Strength.  Starts off with a riff that really is similar as Am I Evil by Diamond Head. None the less, this is a really fast song with very fast riffing that goes into a frenzy of a combination of almost death metal and thrash metal. It is not my favourite combination to hear on this album because I'm expecting full on thrash metal of this band. The voice of Erwin doesn't fit in very good with this song. Luckily they smash my complaints with a killer of a solo.  That is what I need in thrash metal and I'm so satisfied that they put one of those solos in their song.

 

Hey! Hey! Hey! Comes in my mind when the fourth song The Wolf begins. Thousands of people shout at Wacken Open Air along with The Wolf, that's the image I have in my mind which is not bad right? Full on thrash metal is the second name of this song. This is their fastest song on this EP and in my opinion the best song on the record.

 

Last but not least: Born To Thrash! This more melodic song keeps you satisfied for over 6 minutes which makes is the longest song of this EP. This song is in the start very Obituary like. Slow, groovy and heavy as hell. But in the middle of the song the old skool thrash metal returns and goes on until the end of the song.