The Art of a Maniac is the third album from this Canadian band that goes by the name of Tymo. If the Repka-esque cover (courtesy of artist Andrei Bouzikov who has done a ton of album art from Municipal Waste to BAT to Pagan Altar) wasn’t enough of a clue, they play thrash ripped straight from the ‘80s. It’s a fast and aggressive but precise and melodic sound Tymo have crafted, combining elements from both the European and American schools. The vocals border on harsh screaming which, along with the music, evokes a combination of Sodom and Cowboys-era Pantera in my mind. That isn’t typically a sound I get into, but I do like this album despite the somewhat generic songwriting. It isn’t groundbreaking, but fans of late ‘80s thrash from either side of the pond should find something to like on The Art of a Maniac.
