Hellevate Killicon Valley Review
Hellevate
Killicon Valley
Self-Released
2026
Kansas City, Missouri, has apparently been sitting on a weapon of mass destruction disguised as a Thrash band: Hellevate. According to the PR sheet, these guys have been kicking around for roughly 20 years and already have several releases under their belts, yet somehow, they completely slipped past my radar. That mistake has now been corrected, and violently so.
Hellevate are gearing up to self-release their latest album, “Killicon Valley”, and since I’d never heard a note from them before, I went in completely blind. Sometimes that works out. Sometimes you walk away with a pleasant surprise. Other times you get hit by a speeding freight train loaded with cinder blocks, rusty chains, and sharpened guitar strings. This is one of those times. I got my shit absolutely demolished.
On “Killicon Valley”, Hellevate wear their influences proudly without sounding like a cheap photocopy. There’s a mountain of Bay Area DNA coursing through this thing - Testament, Exodus, and Slayer are all lurking, but thankfully they avoid simply becoming “Thrash Band #547 trying to relive 1987.” There’s also a healthy dose of Power Metal muscle and Extreme Metal savagery jammed into the mix, with moments of Blackened Thrash kicking the doors off the hinges just to make sure things stay as mean as possible.
Riffs. Endless goddamn riffs. Riffs stacked on riffs stacked on more riffs. This hour-long assault feels less like an album and more like surviving an active crime scene where guitars have come to life and chosen violence. Neck-wrecking rhythm work collides with blistering leads that repeatedly demand your attention. At points the vocals almost feel secondary, but that’s also the guitar-loving maniac in me talking.
Vocally, I’m hearing traces of Tom Araya mixed with Gary Markovitch from Blood Feast, with occasional flashes that even remind me of Philly’s own Bitchslicer. What I’m saying is this guy isn’t standing in a vocal booth with perfect posture pretending he’s auditioning for Broadway. He sounds like he’s sprinting through a burning building with a machete, kicking doors open and trying to murder every living thing unfortunate enough to cross his path. I’m absolutely here for that level of glorious insanity.
The rhythm section deserves serious credit too because they avoid the trap a lot of modern Thrash bands fall into. They’re not content to simply reheat leftovers from the 80’s and call it authenticity. Don’t get me wrong, I worship that era, but this is 2026. Hellevate bring a modern backbone to the chaos. The drums and bass come loaded with thunder, rage, and enough firepower to flatten city blocks. They don’t just support the songs, they drag you into the pit and stomp your teeth in.
In a world where Thrash sometimes feels like it’s become a nostalgia act or an excuse for guys to scream about beer while flipping their hat bills skyward, Hellevate remind you there’s still blood pumping through the genre’s veins. This isn’t paint-by-numbers worship. This is aggression with purpose. Forward momentum. Pure hostility with a pulse.
According to the PR sheet, these guys have shared stages with some serious names, and I have no doubt they’ve held their own. Honestly, Hellevate feels like one of those bands built to thrive in a live environment where sweat is dripping from ceilings and hearing damage is guaranteed. But for those of us stranded out in the sticks, the studio records are mandatory listening. “Killicon Valley” isn’t just worth checking out, it’s a full-force beating that demands repeat offenses. Hit up the Bandcamp, grab some merch, and support these guys – music this good needs your support.
Standouts – “Killicon Valley”, “Invoke Apocalypse”, “Holy Man”, “Thou Shalt Kill” and “Curse God And Die”.