Hailing from Luxembourg and eastern France, the members of Praetor joined forces during 2019 after various experiences in cover bands. Since then, they've released a few singles and now offer a debut album bearing simply the band's name. The band's aim is to make old-school thrash in the spirit of the Bay Area and the American scene in general. In the spirit of '80s classics, Praetor's record is short, avoiding unnecessary overload.
On guitars, Noémie and Hugo are impressive, offering galloping riffs and soli with remarkable speed, the same Hugo screaming with uncommon rage and intensity on tracks cut from thrash worthy of Slayer or Death Angel. The rhythm sticks to the seat, with Alex sparing no effort on his drums, and you can just imagine them setting any stage on fire.
Praetor has the good idea of calming things down a little and adding a touch of melody. Their heavy thrash sounds like Megadeth or Metallica. Hugo's vocals are reminiscent of Testament's Chuck Billy in their clear, articulate delivery, and the choruses are highly effective.
This first album is a great success. Praetor offers a perfect patchwork of thrash, ideally combining raw power and melody. We'll be keeping a close eye on this promising band.