SHADOWS DECAY
“Agent Of Chaos”
E.P. Review by Iron Mathew

8/10

Shadows Decay are a thrash metal band from Costa Rica forming in 2008 as Preoptic Distortion, changing their name to Shadows Decay in 2012, releasing two E.P.’s to date – ‘Peace In Hell’ (2013) and ‘Agent Of Chaos’ (2024).

Delivering a brutal brand of thrash metal similar in style to legends Anthrax, Slayer and Testament, the Costa Rican thrashers – vocalist and guitarist Nacho Escobar, guitarist Nestor Morales, bassist Daniel Solano and drummer Jeyson Hodgson – are a fierce proposition fuelled by menace and aggression. The bands second E.P. consists of six songs across twenty two thunderous minutes oozing a force so terrifying that some listeners may dive for the relative safety of behind the sofa, while the diehard among us stand tall and proud yelling at the band to “bring it on”.

And bring it on they do, ‘Agent Of Chaos’ E.P. surging outta the blocks with the rough and tough ‘Dry You Out’, the abrasive nature of thrash taking front and centre as the band mix a little death and black metal into their root thrashy sound. Shadows Decay hit harder with ‘Falling Of Mind’, a crossover feel rising high in the air as the band thunder and thump the ground with immense force, nearby buildings shaking to their foundations! Methinks the Costa Rican thrashers are assuming the role of a bulldozer, devastating everything and everyone in front of them – the E.P.’s title song ‘Agent Of Chaos’ maintaining the bruising barrage of savagery, albeit at a slighter faster pace! And head bang-able too, for ‘Agent Of Chaos’ (the song) is gonna set the mosh pits on fire, everyone vigorously rocking their heads back and forth to this one.

And with a more menacing vocal growl than heard previously, ‘Bringer Of Death’ takes the E.P.’s level of menace to new heights – or should that be depths? Either way, Shadows Decay are menacing here, sinister too, the bustling barrage of abrasive thrash knowing no boundaries as ‘Only Lies’ strides in with a “get the fuck outta the way” attitude. And I’d get outta the way if I were you, unless you wanna be viciously trampled over by the Costa Rican four-piece! The sixth and final song on offer ‘Psuedo Suicidal’, rockets off at high velocity, the band at their fastest across the songs first twenty seconds or so, Shadows Decay delivering a gear changing tempo changing torrent of scowling thrash to end ‘Agent Of Chaos’ E.P. on a high.

Overall, six songs of abrasive thrash with a little black and death metal thrown in to ensure the E.P. has a sharp menacing edge.

TRACKLIST

Dry You Out
Falling Of Mind
Agent Of Chaos
Bringer Of Death
Only Lies
Psuedo Suicidal

https://shadowsdecay.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ShadowsDecay

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