DIAMOND PLATE/OPPRESSION „Thrash clash volume.2”

Country: Diamond Plate (US), Oppression (Sweden)
Genre: Thrash metal
Bands Websites: www.myspace.com/diamonplate1, http://www.oppression.se/
Highlights: Diamond Plate: Criminal Justice, Oppression: Forced into fire
Album lenght: 50:55

My first and not last (!!) contact with DIAMOND PLATE thrash metal is or was simply enjoyable. Wicked, fluent and totally old school thrashing. Besides new wave of old school thrash, DIAMOND PLATE can be a really big band. Just to mention the average age of each of three members is not even a 16. These three youngsters are the best example of passion, love to thash and hilarious skills. For sure now or in the nearest future they should (and they do!!) sign a real big metal label. I wish it for them and myself. Why? Because when they will sign a contract (haha! for god's sake they cannot do this, cause they'are not an adults! so they parents will do that) there is a chance they can take a part in a tour with for example gods of new wave of thrash metal BONDED BY BLOOD and have a trip to my country!

My hunger of thrash is still not satisfied because these four songs (+ intro) are only a preview of their mighty and shreding songs. Well, these four tracks are an incredible example of old school metal in twenty first century. Believe it or not sixteen years old maniax can shred, can blast, can mosh and can play awesome catchy thrash. The HIGLIGHT of the whole DIAMOND PLATE band is a rising star in guitar world – Konrad Kupiec. Konrad is a young and quite shy boy with an extremely big talent and incredible technical skills (did I mentioned he's still under 16?). Frankly his guitar skills are still rising and growing to abnormal. I am curious how could he play when he will be for example a 25 years old guy (meanwhile I want to be a best fan of DIAMOND PLATE in the world :D). I wish him and his band career as well as TRIVIUM or maybe rising Earache Records stars EVILE.

By the way I wish them to sing a deal with a Metalblade or Century Media. Perhaps they do – but each among all big labels have signed with one or two bands of new wave of thrash. Maybe they could be lucky and sign with NUCLEAR BLAST. Guys have recorded special dvd featuring their thrash show in front of the cameras. Maybe now it's nothing special but in future… it could be a real rare gem.

All minuses are typical for young bands so I would not mention them. For these thrashers there is all to achieve in future. And they will… 🙂

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OPPRESSION is a Swedish thrash metal band formed to spread the thrashing disease all over the world. To compare them with their split album buddies Swedish thrasher's are way… older and propably they have much more stage experience. Swedish oldschool killing thrash machine was formed in 2002 so it's quite a long time ago. Through all these years they surely marked their capacity on metal scene. Unfortunately they are unsigned ( deal with Stormspell Records is only for this split) and that's weird for me.

Really good tunes, mainly influenced by EXODUS and FORBIDDEN with a technical vibe, good production and some fresh ideas these are features of OPPRESSION. So… why they are still unsigned? Maybe it's caused by fact that nowadays there is a lot of young oldschool thrash bands who want's to sign a deal. Their is something like a competition – who will sign with a better label, but frankly OPPRESSION pee on it and play music they love to. Throughout those years of their activity they are still unsigned so propably they can say fuck off to any record label – exacly in Sweden where is almost none thrash demand. Sad… but real.

These guys are really motivated to play fast and furious circle pit thrash! 🙂 For god's sake why guys like OPPRESSION cannot play in my country or even my city I would love to mosh on gigs of bands like OPPRESSION. Unfortunately in Poland new wave of thrash is still unknow but in future it should change 🙂

What makes me really proud of OPPRESSION is the solo play of both guitarist. I dont know who exacly plays the solo parts but they are really harmonic and cathy as might be?. But the strongest point of the whole band is the vocalist. Singing (yeah!) and not screaming or etc dude called Olof Wikstrand is brilliant. His clean and Forbidden like voice is quite unique.

I wish them to play in central/western Europe where thrash is strong affirmated and popular. Maybe a trip through the sea to your western neighbours from UK? GAMA BOMB, DEADFALL and EVILE are still waiting!

note: 9/10, 8/10

Tracklist

Diamond Plate
1. Descent (intro)
2. Maelstrom
3. The Alchemist
4. Criminal Justice
5. At the Mountains of Madness
Oppression (Swe)
6. State of War
7. Infected Youth
8. Forced Into Fire
9. Act of Faith
10. Visions
11. Prophecy of Darkness

Line-up

Oppression:
Tor Nyman – Guitars, Vocals (Autopsy Torment)
Fredrik Petersson – Bass (Autopsy Torment)
Joachim Törnqvist – Guitars
Jakob Strand – Drums
Olof Wikstrand – Vocals (Leprosy (Swe), Hazard, Corrupted (Swe), Caustic Strike, Enforcer (Swe))

Diamond Plate:
Konrad Kupiec-Guitar
Jon Macak-Vocals,Bass
Jim Nicademus-Drums