Critical Defiance, hailing from Chile, plays an aggressive type of thrash metal. The music on “The Search Won’t Fall…” is characterized by a fast pace and aggressive riffs. It isn’t until the ninth track, the instrumental “Margarita,” that the tempo significantly slows down. Previously, Critical Defiance released two albums: “Misconception” in 2019 and “No Life Forms” in 2022. Although these releases are quite recent, the band has been active since 2010. It takes time for a band to gel properly, and it is clear that Critical Defiance has now settled into a steady rhythm of frequent album releases.
“The Search Won’t Fall…” is a decent album, but it’s too standard as thrash metal for me to find it notably engaging. There are some standout surprises, including some dog barking on the otherwise instrumental track “Bulldog.” I have some issues with the album’s sound quality, especially the drum sound, and more specifically the snare drum. It cuts through everything and is overly dominant. Unfortunately, “The Search Won’t Fall…” does not make a significant impact in my view.
Released March 22nd, 2024 on Unspeakable Axe Records.
Hell on Earth Metal Zine 