Metal Underground.com

Blame Pantera for the fact that I set a high bar for metal bands coming out of Texas. Credit By Any Means Necessary for meeting that standard with their self-titled EP, released in 2008. Granted, three songs, for a total of less than ten minutes, isn't the biggest body of work to draw a conclusion from, but this Austin quartet fills those minutes up with some fine thrash metal.

"The Discord Of War," the EP's opener, features several excellent riffs and solos from guitarist Kevy Rojas. I particularly enjoyed the short warp-speed solos that he throws in between the verses.

Adam Wright's vocals are delivered in something near death metal style, but possessing a bit more melodic quality. The lyrics are well-done, with "Charlatan" having the best opening I've heard in a long while: "If our lives are on trial, then the verdict is guilty and we've all been condemned to our own fucking poison."

Jake Jarmon's drumming on the last track, "Erase The Plague," is impressive, with some good subtle fills and excellent transitions between the fast and slow portions of the song.

If I had to nitpick something, it would be the fact that Stephen Fernandez's bass is almost completely buried in the mix. But then, that's kind of par for the course for death and thrash metal, so it almost goes without saying.

By Any Means Necessary has put out a great three-song sampler. Here's hoping we get a full album soon.