Obstruktor - Wrong Hands

Review by Bonno Zwaan

 

Did you say you’ve never heard of Obstruktor? Makes sense because this is the very first release ever from these guys from Haarlem, Noord Holland. Dutch old style thrash metal has been dead for a while and these very young guys are bringing it back. I got very excited when I heard about a fresh new thrash band and I got véry excited when I heard they’re from my own town Haarlem. So let’s dive into ‘Wrong Hands’.

 

So basically, thrash is back. The album is just a phenomenal step forward in the Dutch thrash scene. It is refreshing to hear a new band bring back the old thrash metal we all know and adore. Straight from the beginning of ‘Wrong Hands’ you will notice that the influences of Exodus/Metallica are very present. During orbid you will hear a bass solo that could've been straight out of an old Metallica record. Especially the Master Of Puppets era. When the vocals kick in during the second title track ‘Wrong Hands’, you might think you are listening to a mid 30 year old thrash metal vocalist that has been doing vocals for over 15 years but you will be mistaken because the vocals are being done by a 21-year old. Even the lower growls/grunts are very good executed. 

 

The groove is just very professionally done. The transitions between chorus and the bridge are almost flawless and that’s what the album makes one amazing debut and milestone for Obstruktor. ‘Cry For Justice’ has probably one of the most memorable riffs and choruses on ‘Wrong Hands’. It has been a while since an ‘unknown’ band their song has been stuck in my head for days.  It isn’t their fastest song by far but it is one of their most riff loaded ones. The song isn’t their longest song because that honor goes to their last song ‘Placebo’. 

 

The song structures of these songs are impressive to say the least. You can hear the guys have a passion for thrash metal music and they are really proud about their release ‘Wrong Hands’. Without a single doubt, you can hear the joy and passion in their first ever release. They want to show off and they do that with a lot of pride and joy. The high screams, the double bass, the amazing solo’s and don’t forget the beautiful (if you can say that about thrash metal) harmonies of the 2 guitarists. They all fit in the thrashy stereotypical pictures like peanut butter and jelly.

 

Obstruktor has done an amazing job in balancing the musicianship with just writing lyrics for the songs (if that makes any sense). They do let the music speak for itself instead of the lyrics. The young guys do have a lot of metal talent and they show that on ‘Wrong Hands’. It is quite bold to release such ‘long’ songs for thrash metal standards which are around 3/4 minutes long. The guys dare to go to even 7 minute long songs which is really admirable and impressive. Most bands that are releasing their very first full length have glimpses of what they might become. Not with Obstruktor. They already got it. They just need to be picked up by the right label that will guide these you guys to fame. 

 

However it is out of their power that it’s the shittiest year to release anything. Why you might say? Corona is killing all of the gigs here in The Netherlands and so was the release party of ‘Wrong Hands’ killed by the virus. It was such a shame not to see these guys at their first show because when I heard the single ‘Wrong Hands’, I was finally excited to see any thrash metal band play live.