As a band goes forward in its time creating more music over the years, I always find it appreciative when the band in question takes a moment to stop, look back, and not only appreciate the music that they made in the very beginning but come back to it with a more seasoned mindset and refined sense of musicianship. Plenty of bands across the underground have done so to pay homage to their roots, and some do it sooner than others. It has only been a little over three years since Reaper’s debut album, “Birth of Chaos”, but it’s clear from just looking at their Bandcamp page that they’ve been anything but still with the transformation of their debut into “Rebirth of Chaos” being not just welcome but vastly entertaining.

A progressive edge to thrash metal is a concept that I think we could definitely use more of since it really doesn’t take much to give thrash a progressive sound, but it needs capable hands to be able to deliver that sensation in a form that isn’t just entertaining but natural. Otherwise, the material is always at risk of sounding clunky and thus feels off. I investigated “Birth of Chaos” before checking out “Rebirth” and to say that there is a clear difference to my ears going from one version to the next is immense would be an understatement since the original is very much a fusion of thrash and heavy metal, but it’s incredibly evident that Reaper has taken the evolution of their sound to both apply it to old material as well as injecting all sorts of new life into its riffs and beats. There’s so much energy laced into every possible moment that is presented to us here it’s to the point that it’s downright fascinating to see the very evolution of Reaper work in a retroactive scenario that not only makes the original material better but feels an entirely different level of fresh, invigorating, and thrilling all in one fell swoop with no stone left unturned in the formation of “Rebirth of Chaos” as it becomes one of a select few creations that I’ve heard to do the concept of progressive thrash truly immense justice. That alone would be enough to get me lost in this wondrous work, but it’s every other possible facet that makes this work something to be heard.

While still far from the apex of both styles at play here in my book, there is something very interesting at play here to immediately make Reaper a name I need to keep an eye on in the future for if they have not only the capability to go back in time to make old material sound wildly different in the best way, I’m damn confident in their ability to craft new material that is just as if not more fascinating. There aren’t enough that are able to look back at their debuts and have another worthwhile go at it, but it’s with their attempt that Reaper shows themselves to be a certifiable cut apart from the rest.

LISTEN to “Rebirth of Chaos” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Reaper on Facebook here.