Whether we could still add a nice thrash band to the line-up? It’s a question we received several times in the past weeks. With Sacred Reich and Toxik we actually have already two top thrash bands on the bill, but with our core audience in mind, which have been faithfully for years, we are happy to give them some extra. And the last band for this edition from AMF will THRASH for sure.
In the mid-eighties thrash bands were booming and also in the UK. Bands like Onslaught, Slammer, Re-Animator and Sabbat were the British answer to the Bay Area. A major band we didn’t mention is XENTRIX. ‘Shattered Existence’ appeared in 1989 and we liked it immediately. We catapulted the band to the number one in our list of favourite UK thrash bands. Roadrunner Records was the first to offer the band a contract when the demo was released prior to the first album, which was rewarded with 5 stars by Kerrang. In their own country it’s going hard for Xentrix (including support of Slayer at Wembley) but also the old continent noticed the band. Of course because of the quality of that first album but also by the EP ‘Ghostbusters’ including a thrash editing from the soundtrack of the highly successful eponymous movie and a controversial story about whether or not a legitimate use of the GB logo.
Their second album (‘For Whose Advantage’ – ’90), which was also excellent, and a tour with Annihilator which brought the band to our region, contributed to the success. With ‘Kin’ (1992) the band explores in a different musical direction. The fans are not following and also a final attempt with ‘Scourge’, which appeared in 1996, cannot turn the tide. Xentrix falls down, as most of the thrash bands during that period, and they are coming back together after 10 years to hit the stage again. However, the reunion is short-lived. Xentrix is trying again in 2013 and they are going for a short tour with Kreator and Evile. And actually this legendary band embarks on a third life with a spot at the British Bloodstock festival this coming summer. They even might be working on new material. Wondering if we will be able to hear something new on Saturday in Courtrai…