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Italy, a county well known for Power Metal, can also produce some fine Thrash and I offer Tetrarchate's Symposium of the Tetrarchs as evidence. Thrash is the foundation but Tetrarchate explore many variations, despite Symposium... only containing four songs, all with some damn catchy songwriting. "Scar" starts things off with an obvious nod to Crossover Thrash featuring tight, droning riffs and vocal lines that sound like the singer is shouting words that weren't quite meant to go along with the music. Think D.R.I. and Suicidal Tendencies. The short (1:32) "Massachertorte" is in the same vein, then Tetrarchate change gears into some Death/Thrash on "Genocide." The already gruff vocals drop into cookie monster range and the obviously triggered, but still cool sounding, bass drum rolls along at 100 mph before giving way to some evil groove riffing. Last up is "Chant of the Forsaken" with a straight up Thrash riff worthy of Overkill underpinning Max Cavalera-style vocals.

Obviously, there is nothing original on Symposium of the Tetrarchs but the songwriting is at a level not often heard on a debut EP. I'm not saying Tetrarchate is the next big thing in Thrash but damn if I'm not already anticipating their next effort.