Mysterious German progressive thrash merchants Mekong Delta, (led by founder member Ralph Hubert), have had something of a revolving door policy when it comes to personnel changes since their inception back in 1985. In fact, seventeen different members have come and gone during that time. In 2008 Hubert put a more permanent line up together that would be committed to touring as well as producing a new album, which became 2010's 'Wanderer On the Edge Of Time'. This line-up was not only up to the task of recreating the band's older output in the live arena, they actually exceeded it, pushing the boundaries of this complex band even further. Consequently, the current line-up have recorded this new album 'Intersections' - a compilation of some of Mekong Delta's finest older tracks, re-recorded and re-invented.

An impressive album it is too, marrying highly precise, technical musicianship with elements of progressive rock, intense thrash metal, and moody atmospherics to produce something quite unique. It starts with a bang, in the shape of 'The Cure', a belting slice of technical thrash with some killer riffing. 'Sphere Eclipse' is a real highlight, highly complex, very progressive, and bone crunchingly heavy. Elsewhere, 'Heroes Grief' is something altogether slower, more menacing and epic sounding, complete with some 'battle metal' narration that wouldn't be out of place on a Manowar album. 'The Healer' has a bit more of a melodic edge to it, whilst 'Transgressor' and the excellent 'Prophecy' are once again top class slices of technical and precise progressive thrash.

Current vocalist Martin LeMar does have a hint of Bruce Dickinson in his vocal style, which could be a help, or a hindrance depending on where you stand with Dickinson, and this album would appeal to fans of Iron Maiden's more progressive leaning recent output. If, like me, you're a fan of both progressive rock and thrash metal (and why can't you be?), then tracks like 'Prophecy' and 'Sphere Eclipse' are a marriage made in heaven. Fans of 'thinking man's thrash' bands such as Coroner, Megadeth or Annihilator, if not already familiar with Mekong Delta's stuff, will also lap this up.

'Intersections' is a perfect introduction to the music of Mekong Delta, being a kind of re-recorded 'best of', and also serves as a bold statement that Mekong Delta in 2012 are in a very good place indeed.

http://www.mekongdelta.eu/wis/