Album review: The Kandidate – Until We Are Outnumbered

I think what sold me on thrash in the first place was the blunt defiance of its language, the stubbornness incarnate in its lyrics and titles; that same love of the clenched fist and raised middle finger dragged me into hardcore later on. And how’s about Until We Are Outnumbered for underdog braggadocio? Denmark post-thrashers The Kandidate meld that cornered-wolverine attitude with the better bits of both genres, and this album is half an hour of beefy and high-paced low-slung thrash with roaring fight-pit vocals seemingly borrowed from nineties hardcore (though actually provided by that shouty Jacob Bredahl chappie from Hatesphere) … there are even some hardcore-ish beatdowns from time to time (“Strength Through Diversity”, “In Hell”), some surprisingly hooky choruses (“Give Up All Hope”, “Live a Lie”) and quirky-catchy riffs (like the opening sixteen bars or so of “Distress & Decay”).

Until We Are Outnumbered is the ideal balance, then; classic but contemporary, respectful of its roots without descending to parody or irony. What’s most impressive here is the simplicity of the individual pieces – musically simple, rather than easy to play – and the fact that the brisk pace lets The Kandidate squeeze lots of different ideas into each song without them ever outstaying their welcome. By merit of its intrinsic intensity, thrash doesn’t lend itself well to long tunes (unless you include the genre’s once-traditional one-per-album “epic/slow tune”, which I’d suggest is another debate entirely) – it’s exhausting, an assault on the senses. A rapid succession of new tracks, however, gives your brain more chances to breathe, like the water-dousings between rounds at a boxing match. Going toe-to-toe with The Kandidate is very much an invitation to have your arse handed to you on a plate, but you’ll keep your focus and go the distance – and probably enjoy every punch they land on your face.