WHITE MANTIS

"Arrows at the Sun" (High Roller; 2025)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Put on a helmet and maybe some battle gear before listening to White Mantis' "Arrows at the Sun." This fast'n'furious thrash recording delivers an unforgivingly explosive listening experience that, in the words of the immortal Lemmy Kilmister, "If you to try do dance to it, you'll hurt yourself."

The album starts off with the thought-provoking "Nekrotornado," which gives the writers over at SyFy network something to think about it. It's a musical composition with the fury and destructive power of the tornado in its title and it starts the album with a roar. Just in case you thought that was a fluke, the title track kicks in next and delivers more of the same racing, raging speed. Track three, "Pass the Torch," changes things up a bit, delivering a later days Metallica sound with chunky riffs and fiery leads.

And so it goes, each track bulldozing its ways through the lobes of your brain, without any mercy. If you're looking for a radio-friendly ballad here, you're shit out of luck. The closest "Arrows at the Sun" comes to ballad territory is ... well, it doesn't. It's a recording designed to transfer energy from the band to the listener and it does that flawlessly.

Anyone who thinks there aren't any great thrash metal bands out there today needs to hear White Mantis' "Arrows at the Sun." It'll gouge that thought right out of their ever-loving heads.

For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/white.mantis/.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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