Seven years is more than enough time for things to take a turn for the worse for even the closest of bands. Things change, lives go in unexpected directions, personalities clash, families are made; there’s no end to the long list of reasons that can cause a band to be delayed in its pursuit for metal domination, and not everyone can survive such events. Those that do, however, oftentimes rise like the phoenix to return to us in such a form that feels rewarding for those who patiently waited for such a return while shocking others who were caught unawares. Much could have happened with the likes of Warfield in the seven years since their first album, but it’s with the arrival of their second that they demonstrate what it means to return with real menace, power, and prowess in a way that’s just satisfying to look upon.

It’s always fascinated to see how a band can evolve its sound over time with different nuances coming into play as the years pile on and the musicians in question incorporate different flavors of their influences while constantly striving to carve out a path for themselves. Warfield gave a solid performance of thrash metal with their debut album in 2018 with the prospect of more always something that thrash could bank on when many others didn’t quite measure up to what the style needed them to be. Given all of that, the sheer magnitude of “With the Old Breed” is something that I don’t think many, if not most, of us were prepared for. This is thrash metal unadulterated and cooked for just the right amount of time with just the right proportions of ingredients in virtually every given instance to not just make these ten tracks worthy of being called superior to the preceding album, but something that should propel the name of Warfield to the center stage for any who call themselves fans of modern thrash. Raw yet calculated, “With the Old Breed” is a performance that adores what thrash has been hailed as for decades but never once does Warfield allow that to hold back their power. It’s electrifying in all the right proportions with Warfield always making damn sure to put fire in your veins, make your blood run hot, and maintain speed on a level that’s simply addicting to become lost within.

To be gripped by any one of these tracks is to realize how well Warfield spent its seven years with each minute showcasing that “With the Old Breed” was given the proper treatment in every aspect to become the best that it could possibly be. Even if it takes another seven years to hear from Warfield again, I would argue it’s worth it if the band’s third effort is even better than what they’ve thrown down here. Devastated and the definition of unrelenting in speed, “With the Old Breed” has got the number for any and every thrash freak out there that just cannot get enough of that old fashioned ferocity.

LISTEN to singles from “With the Old Breed” on Bandcamp here.

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FOLLOW Warfield on Instagram here.