Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Perzonal War Captive Breeding Company: Metalville Release: 2012 Genre: Thrash Reviewer: EC

Firmly rooted in modern thrash

I've been a fan of Perzonal War since the late 90s. At the time their version of modern thrash was something rather uncommon. I think a handful of bands were doing it like Forte, Dearly Beheaded and Forbidden. The group has come a long way since their 1998 debut "The Inside". The band have gone through a few line-up changes and labels but are back and better than ever for record number seven.

"Captive Breeding" comes by way of Metalville, a new and compact label that has a dozen or more bands right now. I'm really impressed with the lineup of Metalville's acts, highlights being Perzonal War, Drone, Astral Doors and Sky Of Rage thus far. The recording stays in-house as usual and thus far most of the band's touring has been confined to their native Germany.

Longtime fans should really like the progression and development made over the group's career, all culminating in what could be their best release to date with "Captive Breeding". The group stays firmly rooted in modern thrash on scorchers like "Termination" and "Tongues Of Cleavage" (really?), rhythm strings from Metti Zimmerman consistently keeping the pace at breakneck speed. Still I can hear everything from Pantera to Machine Head in the guitar tone, those "Drag The Waters" pick-ups are all over the record. Still it is songs like "The Last Day" and "Candor Hurts" where Zimmerman shows off his melodic voice, both songs sounding as if Mustasch and Paradise Lost were entangled in some sort of commercially accessible number. The overall theme of the writing is social recourse from the slow division of the globe into two factions, perhaps one methodically eating the other.

This Perzonal War is a far different entity than those late 90s youngsters. At one time Perzonal War (known then as Personal War) was more Metallica than Metallica. Still the band has created that firm thrash base from which to grow and evolve. I think the influx of melody and maturity can be found circa 2003 with "Different But The Same" however I think the group are firmly on target with this new album. "Captive Breeding" scores a big win with the modern thrash elements yet musically and vocally evolving to become a different band for 2012. This is mandatory listening for what is right with the world in what has now become a survival of the fittest in metal's grand fifth decade.