Lich King – Do-Over [EP]

Part homage, part parody, and all in-your-face, Massachusetts thrash-mongers Lich King‘s seven-song EP, titled Do-Over, is a jungle of fist-pumping, headbanging riffage. Released by Evil Eye Records on Christmas Day 2014 (as a present to the band’s fans old and new), this EP is an advance warning shot, serving to whet fans’ appetites for the band’s fifth full length album, scheduled for a mid-2015 release.

The band managed to work just about every industry ‘joke’ in to their campaign: from the battle-it-out lyrics in aptly titled “Mascot Wars”, to their sarcastically lead-in “band bio”, to leaking their own EP on to YouTube, they’ve simultaneously embraced the future and the past. Speaking of the past, Do-Over is comprised of five re-recorded tracks from Lich King’s first two albums, Necromantic Maelstrom and Toxic Zombie Onslaught, with a demo track and a cover of Van Halen‘s “Hot For Teacher” thrown in for good measure.

Very crisp and crystal clear, the nicely mixed and mastered disc scales well for high-volume listening, which you’ll want to try. Fueled by a nuclear riff factory, it sears along like a fine-tuned sawblade, with plenty of tempo and time changes to hold your attention. Don’t worry: it’s not what you’d call progressive – it’s a go-to, fun, straight-ahead “Saturday night party” type thrash.

Strongly influenced by genre staples like Slayer, D.R.I, and Exodus, Do-Over is peppered with lyrical themes the ‘metal fan’ has grown to expect and love: death, zombies, hateful insults, and war. “Mascot War” is really enjoyable and engaging. Not overly complex, it’s a crusher. The Richard Cheese style lounge outro in “Black Metal Sucks” will perk up your ears (and leave you doubled-over with laughter). “Black Metal Sucks” pulls obvious influence from Billy Milano‘s style of roasting or insulting a “cultural institution” that he so successfully spearheaded in S.O.D. Speaking of influences, the band have cleverly worked some quotations in to their songs: a nod to the aforementioned S.O.D in “Mascot War”, and a little nod to Metallica‘s “Trapped Under Ice” in “Thrashssacre”.

Not too grave (serious), this one’s a keeper for fans of thrash metal, especially those who remember back when the genre was still maturing, making lots of noise. Pick Do-Over up, if nothing more then for the between-band controversy the album cover (a parody of D.R.I) sparked. Then, be ready to circle-pit with a band who who seem to be the USA’s answer to Canadian thrashers Fatality: Lich King.

Track Listing:
Mascot War
Thrashssacre
Predator
Toxic Zombie Onslaught
Hot For Teacher
Black Metal Sucks
Crossover Songs Are Too Damn Short

Band Lineup:
Tom Martin – Vocals
Nick Timney – Guitars
Rob Pellegri – Guitars
Joe Nickerson – Bass Guitar
Brian Westbrook – Drums

Links:
Official Band Facebook Page
Official Band Website