Chain Reaction was founded in 2002 and attached much importance to playing live, which probably benefited their songs, because all seem to be capable for intensive headbanging. Also many of the songs are quite catchy. Songs like "Freedom" or "Everlasting Fear" could be potential modern metal anthems.

The rhythmic guitar riffs and drums sometimes stamp like elephant feet and sometimes run furiously through the songs. And inbetween there are fine melodies, which can mostly be found in guitar solo and lead parts. The album contains a nice mixture of fast guitar solo parts and melodic ones, which sometimes even remind of classical heavy metal like in "Slave." Heavy Metal or rock influences can also be found in the beginning of "Freedom."

Otherwise the band is influenced by rather modern groups: Chain Reaction can be assigned to the New or Modern Trash genre. They can be compared to bands like Machine Head or maybe Fear Factory. Singer Bartok prefers the metal- or hardcore vocal style: Growls with still listenable dirty voice. But there's enough variety with high grind cries, spoken vocals or a melodic vocal part in "Stark Reality," which is accompanied by a clean guitar line.

While listening to the album it becomes clear that one deals with a really up-and-coming newcomer. Chain Reaction has got a quite unique style and Vicious Circle is an album which can not only convince fans of the modern thrash genre, but metal fans in general. Hopefully they will also soon convince a label.

written by Aziza Schwenke

Playing time: 45:02