Review: Truth Decayed – Faded Visions II

Hailing from Durban, South Africa, and featuring Ryno Theron on vocals and guitar, Warren Jones on guitar, Renz Kruger on bass and Daniel Philogene on drums, the ferocious four-piece unleash unpretentious, honest and violent thrash metal that harkens back to the blistering sounds of vintage Slayer, Kreator, Destruction and Exodus.

Faded Visions II, the band’s follow-up to 2022’s Faded Visions I, EP is a masterful exercise in megalithic metal. Consisting of four barbarous tracks that are as instrumentally arresting as they are brutal, this EP will take you on a roller-coaster ride through a landscape of surging riffs, scalding leads, raw rhythms and searing vocals.

Faded Visions ll is far more personal lyrically, and having been built upon a bedrock of contributions from all band members, this release is coherent and crushing in execution and intent.

Produced by Kris Xenopoulos of Vulvodynia fame, this scintillating slab of sonic expression begins with the blistering intensity of ‘Separate Reality’, which barrels ahead with a confluence of crushing riffs, angst-fuelled vocals and sparkling solos.

‘Death By Design’ has become a fan favourite – and rightly so. This track embodies aggression as euphoria and catharsis. Here you will be laid siege by a heaving behemoth of rapid-fire riffs, frenzied fretboard theatrics and a shredding solo that brings to mind the seminal guitar stylings of Kerry King and the late Jeff Hanneman in equal measure.

‘Vicious Circles’ is an aggressive tapestry of syncopated rhythms and savage percussion. Featuring Ebony Rae Aberdein from Theatre Runs Red, this volcanic track chronicles the destructive patterns that hold one captive in their grasp. Only accountability and change shall set you free.

Track four, ‘Narcissist’, brings the punishing proceedings to a close in a bloodthirsty fashion. Truth Decayed are gazed upon as thrash titans in South Africa for a reason and Faded Visions II is a pummelling treat that cements their hard-earned reputation.

Listen to the full Faded Visions ll EP below:

Artist: Truth Decayed
Album: Faded Visions II
Label: Independent release
Year: 2023