Attomica "Limits of Insanity (Blue Vinyl)" 12"

Once again, Hammerheart Records comes through with an underrated and neglected Speed Metal gem, this time being the sophomore album from Brazil’s Attomica, which was originally released in 1989 on Cogumelo Records! Never repressed on vinyl until now.

One of the premier thrash outfits from the fertile Brazilian land, Attomica entered the metal realm with a deflagrating debut, like many of their fellow countrymen. Similarly to a number of them as well (Vulcano, Mutilator or, to an extent, Sarcófago), they were likely to have trouble delivering a second dose of comparable goods, and ultimately fell victim to a momentary state of deep confusion. Enter another forgotten oddity in the annals of our favourite genre.

Right from the opener, “Atomic Death”, you can feel the old-school vibe of this band’s style. Hints of Nuclear Assault, Megadeth, and others surface quickly, but the main influence I hear is Anthrax’s “Spreading the Disease”. Galloping riffs and soaring vocals complement each other before the track breaks into a mid-tempo groove that smothers you with its weight. The power of the riffs rises as the vocals stand tall like spikes of commanding authority.

The shift from blackened Thrash to Speed Metal à la Agent Steel shows a band that had gone beyond the limits of common sense, at the very least, and their almost immediate comeback to brutal thrash with 1991’s savage “Disturbing the Noise” reinforces the impression of regret.

Tracklist:

1. Atomic Death
2. Short Dreams
3. Evil Scars
4. Rabies
5. Limits of Insanity
6. Knight Riders
7. Highway 401
8. WxDx