VENTHIAX – RITES OF RA

The trio consisting of Wendy Juneström on bass, Emil Borg on drums and vocals, and guitarist Viggo Heinonen, operate within a clearly defined framework of mid-’80s speed and thrash, sharpened by a pure edge. The production is lean and completely abrasive. Guitars slice, Borg’s tom heavy attack keeps everything in constant motion, and bass cuts through with a wiry insistence.

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“Warfare” establishes the tone straight up. An instrumental overture that pivots straight into the title track’s more deliberate stomp. Venthiax seems to nail the pacing aspect of it all, shifting from breakneck velocity to controlled, mid-tempo menace without losing any tension. “Infernal Demise” and “Speed Metal Mayhem” deliver the record’s most immediate, punch-worthy hooks. With “Dawn of Terror” closing with a punkish urgency that hints at broader instincts beneath the surface orthodoxy.

The band’s study of classic German and Scandinavian extremity is obvious, yet the songs feel rehearsed into muscle memory. The limitation lies in vocal variance and a relatively tight riff vocabulary. Even so, the focus is commendable. Venthiax have refined a weapon, not reinvented one, and the edge is getting sharper upon each release.

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SCORE 9/10

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Words by LearnTwoExist

In collaboration with Headbangers Australia