Orillia, Ontario’s Adrenechrome creates spastic chaos on its debut full-length release, Tales From Adrenechrome. Adrenechrome’s splendid hybrid of genre-melding influences with a sense of humor are immediately obvious on its seven thrashy, sludgy, groove-based tracks. Opener “A Familiar Face” is a melodic and catchy instrumental piece invoking a Devin Townsend Project vibe. “Lockstep” swerves and sways into many different musical lanes; the menacing Axl Rose-esque vocal harmonies on the chorus, the boogie-woogie ZZ Top-ish guitar leads and the down-stroked chugging Metallica breakdowns. “Black Brubeck” is an innovative tune consisting of duel harmonized guitar leads accompanied by some funkified, bluegrass-inspired banjo licks. 

The sludgy, Soundgarden-esque intro of “God Sized Shadow” impresses all the way through, while the triumphant “The Heart And The Feather” possesses soaring vocal harmonies and memorable melodies. Timmay Kehoe and Chris Friesen’s fretwork is outstanding throughout the record, not to mention the relentless barrage of drummer Matt Copeland and the pulsating baselines of Mike Van Dyk. CD closer, the Mastodon-infused “The Lead Elephant” is galvanized in glorious harmonized guitar leads, putting the finishing touch on a thrilling and flavorful release. Although Adrenechrome might be only a tiny blip on most metal fans’ radar, Tales From Adrenechrome is a monster of an album that deserves your attention.