SteelSwarm

The Ultimate Offering is the debut EP by Steelswarm. Steelswarm is made up of the Simms brothers Jamie and Dane. The two of them have created an excellent album of thrash songs, a sound not that far out of place from the great mid 80's thrash albums. They really have made themselves a very good small offering of the sort of music they are capable of and the standard thrash we can expect from a later full release. This is classic, riff driven thrash. Despite it being a classic thrash sound it is ultra modern in production and delivery with everything crisply delivered. The two brothers have excellent musicianship.

On the EP we are given four songs to devour and bang along to with each being different enough to make for an interesting listen. They are all certainly that thrash style, but not the blitzing ultra fast kind, rather more methodical and patient in their sound with some nice, more complex parts.

The whole EP is a very good standard and I was really enjoying it and then I got to the fourth and track was blown away. The Underworld Awaits. What a song! One of the best metal songs you will hear. Brilliant opening riff with drive and a great hook that really is some of the best thrash you will hear. The chorus is excellent, clear vocals and easily to sing along lyrics make for a wonderful moment between listener and musician. The two brothers are very clever as it appears they have performed everything on the album so when played with a full live band it will really be quite something.

I am very pleased on this debut EP that they are all original songs and no covers or fillers, showing they have plenty of musical creativity with plenty more on the way. There are no bad songs on this and I found myself very happy to let the disc start all over again at track 1 and play all the way through. The sign of a good album.

Steelswarm it would seem really are a band to keep an eye on if this appetizer of an offering is an indication of impending releases. I absolutely enjoyed every part of this recording and I am sure you will aswell. A highly profressional production and an excellent thrash EP. - Chris Rankin (WA)

Picture Accept meets Testament, then pepper in a little of Anthrax, and you may have something close to what makes up SteelSwarm. This trio from Sydney have steadily been making the runs since 2012 (albeit, the concept for the band was first conceived by brothers and fellow band mates, Dane and Jamie Simms in 2007), and are now ready to unleash on the unassuming masses their debut EP, The Ultimate Offering; a fine, little collection of four tracks which require little effort to feel comfortable listening to.

The Ultimate Offering is a neat EP in the sense that while with some EPs that you listen to that can at times feel a little contrived and forced, SteelSwarm’s entry by comparison feels remarkably inviting and fresh. Not to mention, there is a great batch of thrash metal tracks on offer here with clear hints at traditional heavy metal (something that’s always welcomed in my book).

Opening with “Inheritor”, Dane, the band’s frontman and guitarist, wastes no time shredding out the thrash riffs as his vocals burn in at full force. Interestingly, “Inheritor” is a rather easy song to listen to, and I mean that in sense that this isn’t the frantic, 200bpm thrash that composes much of the thrash metal world today. Instead, it clearly hearkens back to its early 80s influences, channelling the aforementioned bands, and at other times the likes of Megadeth and Metallica. Speaking of Megadeth, Dane’s vocals has a very Mustaine-Chuck Billy tinge to them, something that seems entirely fitting for SteelSwarm’s particular brand of heavy-metal-meets-thrash.

Continuing in its stead is the EP’s title track, a song pulsating with blistering riffs and galloping drum beats. It’s a fairly straight forward track, but in no way is this hindrance to the band. Luke Jackson’s drumming is well complemented by Jamie’s bass work and Dave’s excellent guitar solo.

This is followed by one of the standout tracks on The Ultimate Offering, “Ever Rest”. Gleaning a more mature side of the band, it opens with an excellent instrumental that extends for just over a minute, and shows the real potential of SteelSwarm. Working in perfect harmony together, the drum beats weave their way around the engaging riff work and illuminate a raw talent held by this band that should further help excel them beyond the status of ‘just another thrash/trad metal band’.

“The Underworld Awaits” brings SteelSwarm back into familiar thrash metal territory, but it’s a welcome return, serving to show their band at what is clearly their field of expertise. The production quality on this EP is quite high, displaying the three band members in all their thrashy, traditional metal soaked glory. The riffs are sharp, Dave’s singing is top-notch, and both Luke and Jamie give it their all.

While The Ultimate Offering isn’t without its flaws (of which there are few anyway), it is a damn fine effort, and will no doubt see this band reach interesting heights in the future as they further refine their sound and cement their name in the ever-blossoming world of thrash and heavy metal. - Jonathon Besanko