Toxik – Dis Morta (Massacre Records)

 

If there was one word to describe this record, it would be explosive!  This word applies to the songs, performance, and each individual player involved here.  Toxik delivers the goods unlike any other time before.  While their previous records very certainly original, Dis Morta is simply on another level altogether.

Toxik formed back in the 1980s, releasing two critically acclaimed records in that decade.  From the 1980’s line ups, only guitarist, John Christian, remains.  In fact, it’s Christian who carries the ship forward.  While the next statement might come across as controversial, it is clear this is the best Toxik of all line ups.

Dis Morta delivers ten blistering tracks, of pure technical heaviness, often played at a breakneck speed.  Each track has its own distinctive personality, but best served as a whole.  The album is a great to listen to all the way through.  As much as this writer liked the previous records, seeing a show with Dis Morta being performed as a whole would be just great.

Guitarist, Josh Christian, was always a great player, but his playing here is beyond good.  Not only does he play extremely technical guitar, but approaches it in a very creative way.  You can hear all the years of experience coming back at you.  There’s a level of enthusiasm here you get from a brand-new band, not a performer who’s been at it for four decades.

Vocalist, Ronald Iglesias, is certainly shining star here.  Iglesias brings to Toxik what Ronnie James Dio brought to Black Sabbath.  Not only is he a brilliant singer who complements the music perfectly, but a very intense frontman who gets physical on stage, and gets the crowd going  All of the previous Toxik singers were great, but they probably would not give this record what Iglesias did.  Singers like that are rare.

Dis Morta is like a labyrinth of sounds and rhythms.  It’s all coming at you at once, and at first, it’s not easy to concentrate on all of it.  Every listen is a new discovery here.  It keeps the record fresh and vital.  It simply sounds explosive!

Mark Kadzielawa