Great to see this long-running German band is still capable of slugging out the unrelenting punishment on their 2024 EP, Skullblast. Assassin packs a blitzkrieg of savage riffs, pounding drums and throat-rending howls into the four original tracks with the title track's chorus a "don't ask questions, just do it" command to wade into the pit. I question why they chose to cover Fleetwood Mac's "The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)" to close out the EP. This song requires a bit of subtlety in its delivery to be effective (something Judas Priest did to great effect). Assassin seems either incapable or unwilling to do anything other than blast through their version, bending and breaking everything in sight with no feeling. Maybe if you've never heard the original or the Priest version, you might get something out of it. Regardless, the four other songs make Skullblast a thrash party that is over way too soon and will leave you eagerly awaiting the band's next aural assault. Fans of Teutonic thrash should be queuing this one up as soon as possible.
