Album Review: Jewel Throne’s “Blood Vultures” – A Thrash Metal Masterpiece from Finland
Thrash metal fans, brace yourselves! Jewel Throne has unleashed their long-awaited debut album, Blood Vultures, an unfiltered burst of raw aggression and classic thrash energy. Released through Inverse Records on October 18, 2024, Blood Vultures is a testament to the enduring power of thrash metal. The Finnish four-piece delivers 12 brutal tracks that are as fierce and unapologetic as they are skillfully composed. Every song on this album pulses with anger, energy, and a disdain for overproduction. This is a record that lives, breathes, and shreds with an authentic, old-school thrash sound—a fearless salute to the genre’s roots.
The journey to Blood Vultures was no easy feat, with numerous setbacks and challenges since Jewel Throne formed in 2019. Yet, through every hurdle, they’ve managed to channel their struggles into music that’s fierce and unrelenting. Blood Vultures isn’t just a thrash album; it’s a gritty exploration of life’s frustrations, societal criticisms, and pure, unfiltered rage. The album opens with the title track, “Blood Vultures,” which wastes no time in setting a hard-hitting tone. Vocalist Jesse Huovinen’s intense screams deliver the message with brutal clarity, a style that is raw, fierce, and honest.
Guitarist Toni Koskinen shines throughout the album, bringing precision and fury with each riff. Tracks like “Cosmic Titan Engines” and “Psychotoxic Assault” showcase his relentless speed, while “Hate Overdrive” blends chaos with meticulously crafted leads. The rhythm section, consisting of bassist-vocalist Mika Sallanen and drummer Jouni Kurikka, adds a thunderous backbone to each track. Sallanen’s bass lines give each song a weighty foundation, especially evident in “Mental Self-Mutilation” and “Suffer the Fools.” Kurikka’s drumming is a standout, bringing energy and technical prowess to tracks like “Megaton Headshot” and “Instant Apocalypse.”
One of the album’s highlights is “The Extinction Level Express,” a track that merges classic thrash speed with intricate guitar solos and tight rhythm changes. It’s here where Jewel Throne’s influences are most evident; think the raw power of early Slayer and the depth of Sepultura, but with a unique Finnish twist. The band doesn’t hold back, delivering unapologetically aggressive themes without falling into predictability. Even in tracks like “Hammer Down the Last Nail” and “The Overlord,” Jewel Throne captures a freshness that honors the thrash genre while breaking away from its clichés.
Overall, Blood Vultures is more than worth the wait. It’s a relentless album that should satisfy any fan of the genre. Jewel Throne’s debut is proof that thrash metal is far from dead, delivering a powerful first entry that shows just how impactful unadulterated thrash can be. For fans of real, raw metal, Blood Vultures is essential listening.
