Do you remember what made you fall in love with heavy metal? I had a slow climb from starting with lighter bands (I’ll fuck up anyone who shits on Cinderella’s “Night Songs”) and then had two peaks. One was buying Iron Maiden’s “Somewhere in Time” on a recommendation and sitting at my grandmother’s house astonished. The other was seeing the video for Testament’s “Trial by Fire” on Headbangers Ball.

I don’t know the personal journeys experienced by the members of thrash crushers Colony Drop, but it sure sounds like they also has several high points themselves. That’s apparent when taking on their thrilling debut album “Brace for Impact,” an 11-track, 35-minute display that keeps thrash as a spine but also visits many other areas of the metallic spectrum. The band—vocalist/effects Joseph Schafer, guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Moon, guitarist/vocalist Benjamin Burton, bassist/vocalist Ari Rosenschein, drummer Eric Harris—entrenches you in a futuristic nightmare that doubles as a fiery rebellion, pushing you to your limits and punching back with the power and glory of heavy metal.

“Colony Drop (Brace for Impact)” opens with the synth playing tricks and the guitars going off, mixing speedy thrash with punk, sizzling and glowing. Schafer, a charismatic and showy vocalist in the best possible way, snarls they’re “remaking the world in our image” as the playing chugs, soloing goes nuclear, and the playing bleeding away. “Remade” charges in with gritty vocals and glorious power, the guitar work coming in so bright you have to shield your eyes. “Here in the punishment factory, you suffer under the blade,” Schafer howls as the bass slinks, and the guitars heat up and melt everything in front of it. “Stand Against the World” smashes and thrashes, the twin guitar attack bringing heat, trudging and making its presence felt. Maniacal calls and laughs send chills down your spine, the guitars work flexes, and everything disappears in the night. “Supplicant” brings gurgly howls, splattering play, and guitars that wield weaponry, packing a tasty classic rock feel. The song is rousing and fun, the leads exciting as the howls corrode, everything smashing to a vicious end. “The Clockwork Grip” wields some hardcore threads, and it also packs in cool riffs, grimy speak howls, and the power igniting. The guitars work brings flesh-wilting heat, the vocals turn more growly, and the thick steam leaves you sweaty and gasping.

“Heartfelt” is a quick instrumental built with echoing drums, acoustics, and dual guitar action, getting your brain ready for “Heartwrench” that immediately explodes with speed and thrash madness. The playing is pounding and exciting, absolutely slaying with fire, strange spoken chants getting into your bloodstream. The guitars then head to the races, exploding with charred pathways, coming to a crushing finish. “Patient Xero” begins with the drums leading the way and crashing through boundaries, mangling howls grabbing you by the throat, and the gas pedal jammed into the floor and permanently stuck in throttling mode. It just gets more bruising from there, great riffs making your heart race, the drumming gutting you, and fiery explosions increasing the levels of danger. “The Guillotine” taunts from the start, Schafer warning, “We’ve cut off heads for less,” the guitar work finding new ways to be exciting and dangerous. The playing basks in filth as the tempo punishes, everything ending as abruptly as it entered. “Fantasize the Beast” chugs as the riffs scorch, feeling like a close cousin to the main guitar line from “Barracuda.” Big woah-oh calls add even more adrenaline, the cowbell should put smirks on faces, and the immersion into sleaze is a really nice touch. The guitars sizzle before the pace hits a slow drive, mangling before bleeding out. Closer “(MS-07) The Gouf” opens with Schafer declaring, “War is in session!” as the chugging thrash begins to tighten its grip around your throat. “Close quarters! Ground combat!” is howled as the playing is bludgeoning, the leads searing flesh. The band chants, “MS-07!” as everything smokes with oppressive strength, burying you in the throes of battle.

Colony Drop feel like a band removed from 30 years ago and dropped into today’s metallic kingdom, its forces informed of the advances that have taken place in that time so they easily can adapt. “Brace for Impact” certainly shows its influences in its recipe, but it never comes off as a product of any of those influences and instead stands as something newer and deadlier. This is an album from which it’s impossible to divert your attention, a reminder metal can be dangerous and fun at the same time without sacrificing a single ounce of heart.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/colonydropthrash

To buy the album or for more on the label, go here: https://www.namelessgraverecords.com/

Album also available here: https://wisebloodrecords.bandcamp.com/album/brace-for-impact