Doomsday Never Known Peace CD Review

After releasing their first EP back in 2018, it would be seven years before we would see the debut full-length album from Oakland, California’s Doomsday. Finally, the time has arrived and we get to see the full extent of what these crossover thrash maniacs are capable of. I feel I would be doing the band a disservice if I didn’t come out of the gate saying that this is one of my favorite debut albums that I’ve run across in a while. Incorporating hardcore elements into their sound, it’s difficult for me not to make comparisons to bands like Power Trip, Enforced and even Iron Reagan. The groove elements and vocal delivery align firmly with Power Trip and I even hear Riley (R.I.P.) in Carlos’ (killer) vocals.

I think part of what works so well for ‘Never Known Peace’ is the  band’s ability to bring the fucking thunder and move on. They don’t  meander around and overstay their welcome. This prevents the songs  from getting repetitive and you just zone in. It’s quality over  quantity. There are only a few songs around the four-minute mark and everything else falls under that. One main highlight of this album are the face-melting guitar solos. “Everyday War”, “Remnants of Spite” and “Pain Dweller” immediately come to mind and are worth investing your time for them alone; however, Doomsday know how to make an epic thrash  record as Eddie’s masterful drumming acts as the catalyst that fuels each song and is just as pivotal.

Closer “Remnants of Spite” is an absolute frenzy and ends the album on a supremely heavy note. I’d argue that it’s the heaviest and most aggressive track here. The vocals and guitar work at times tread death  metal territory and the band sounds just as much at home here as they do kicking you in the teeth with their straightforward thrash approach. I need to make this point abundantly clear - this album is something special and if you consider yourself a thrash enthusiast it is a mandatory listen!

~TJ