It’s been two years since Finland’s Dead Shape Figure first graced us with the indomitable thrash attack of The Grand Karoshi. The oddly-named debut dished out some of the most vicious post-thrash since The Haunted; indeed, this writer felt that Dead Shape Figure was nipping awfully close at the Swedish quintet’s heels from day one.

Enter The Disease of St. Vitus, and we have a fresh, vital, equally infuriated Dead Shape Figure: ready to take on all comers with their impenetrable array of riffs. It actually feels good to see a band so intent on simply killing it with regards to their violent brand of hyper-energetic songwriting. There’s little to no sign of softening or sell out on this album, but rather a clear and focused intention to murder their audience at every step.

If anything, The Disease of St. Vitus is a bit more mature in scope; an example of the band firmly in control of their own destiny. While Dead Shape Figure are clearly following a stylistic path similar to The Haunted—this streetwise brand of neo-thrash practically screams influence from the ex-At the Gates dudes—these Finnish counterparts seem perfectly happy replicating their heroes’ long-forgotten Made Me Do It and One Kill Wonder era with gleeful aggro and aplomb