L.A. thrashers, Anger As Art, unleashes its fierce, fifth full-length release, Ad Mortem Festinamus. The quartet presents 11 rage-induced tracks of the thrash/speed metal variety done the old-school way. Considering the band members’ resumés, Anger As Art is a well-oiled machine. Consisting of drummer Rob Alaniz (Bitch, Abattoir), bassist Eric Bryan (Necroscope), vocalist/guitarist Steve Gaines (Bitch, Abattoir, Bloodlust) and guitarist Dan Oliverio (Bitch, Abattoir), Anger As Art delivers the goods on Ad Mortem Festinamus. 

Opener and title track begins with an a cappella tribal chant, which leads to some raging thrashing. Galloping Megadethy rhythms meets Exodus on “Pissing On Your Grave,” which is also decorated with some tasty Testament moments. Gaines spits out venomous vocals in the vein of Exodus’s Steve “Zetro” Souza and Overkill’s Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth. “Aim For The Heart” rips like a modern version of Skeleton Witch or 3 Inches Of Blood, while the angry and aggressive “L.A. State Of Mind” consists of hardcore/punk tendencies. The atypical melodic, clean crooned vocals and acoustic guitar segment of “Praise Of The Firehead” is a great way to throw the listener for a loop and is a great change of pace to the rest of the album. But equally as intriguing is album closer, “Dim Carcosa,“ which is decorated with a harpsichord intro, a Mike Howe-era Metal Church vibe with glorious Manowar tones. Abattoir was a great underrated band with cult-like status who started out in the ’80s, and AAA is a continuation of what that band created back in the day with a more modern metal approach. Ad Mortem Festinamus is a decent yet predictable thrash affair and one thing is abundantly clear, anger is a good thing!