Teutonic Slaughter's third album, 'Cheap Food', is a thrilling journey through the realm of Teutonic thrash metal. It's a bold statement that German metal isn't just about Rammstein, but about the raw, aggressive sound of thrash. This album is a testament to the band's commitment to the old-school thrash glory, but it's also a challenge to stay true to the past while sounding fresh and vital. The album cover itself is a bold statement, and the band's conviction to maintain the glory of Teutonic thrash is evident throughout.
The album opens with a relentless assault of riffs, drawing from the melodic yet aggressive style of Kreator and the volatile vocals of Sodom's Angelripper. The band tears through tracks with reckless abandon, delivering a good-time, Tankard-esque experience. The power chords are a staple, but Teutonic Slaughter knows how to mix it up with twisty leads and arpeggios, as heard in 'Cheap Food' and 'Redistribution'.
The album's songwriting is lean and efficient, delivering thrash metal with blistering energy and vicious vocals. Despite the songs often reaching the five-minute mark, Teutonic Slaughter keeps the energy high, ensuring nothing wears out. The album is a spry 36 minutes, flying by in a head-banging haze. The band's sound is one volt from exploding, with crossover levels of hardcore intensity reminiscent of Municipal Waste.
The vocals, particularly those of Phillip Krisch, are a standout feature. Krisch's animal-like mic job adds a meanest bite to the songs, with deathly howls, blackened roars, and hardcore gang shouts. The vocals are gnarly, topping off the relentlessly aggressive songs that are fatless and full of energy. The album is a fun, enjoyable listen, with no radical surprises, but rather expert performances of well-trodden thrash staples.
Thematically, the album deals with societal and political issues, as well as schlocky macabre and fist-pumping motivation. It's not meant to be complicated, but rather a straightforward, heavy, and fast thrash metal experience. Teutonic Slaughter aimed to pound your brain to spätzle, and they succeeded handily.
'Cheap Food' is an incredibly enjoyable album, worthy of the thrash legacy of their countrymates. It's a record for good times and making good times, with a bit of repetition towards the end. However, it's a surprisingly compelling listen that only gets better with each listen. If you're a thrash metal fan, this album is a must-listen. If not, well, you might want to give it a chance anyway!
