Track By Tracks: Desolator - Spirit Of Speed (2025)

1. Maniac Attack:

This track opens the album as well as our live set, and we tried to replicate that in the studio. Lyrically, it's about our "mascot" that adorns the cover and also previous releases. We wrote about him in 2012, and this is almost like a sequel. It's about him waking from his slumber (from a beer cellar) and going on a killing spree... a silly concept but very fun to write and sing about!

2. Eye of the Night:

This is one of Felix's tracks, with a more speed n roll feel. This is a fast one and a lot of fun to play live. It's about living in the chaos of a wild night, like being in the eye of the storm. You're living a crazy night, with all the reckless abandon you can imagine. Immersed in the mayhem!

3. Call of the Void:

This song is based on "l'appel du vide", a psychological phenomenon of unwanted intrusive thoughts of doing something incredibly dangerous, but with no intention of actually doing it. Like swerving into oncoming traffic, or plunging that knife into yourself, or jumping off a bridge. It's a straight-up thrasher with a cool mosh riff in the middle that usually gets the crowd violent.

4. KIA:

This is one of those songs that was written in one session, from one riff brought into practice! It's a satirical song about drinking beer, meaning "Killed in Alcohol". Not much to say about this other than this is a fun one to play, and seems to be our most popular track at the moment.

5. Rapid Force:

The last song we wrote for the album. We had an older song planned to record, but it just didn't stand up to the rest of the material, so we canned it. Funnily enough, we've used the song title for 2 other songs which were later changed... the lyrics are about something we can all relate to, about how the power of metal (specifically thrash) takes you over and you just lose it, going mad! Thrashing around, throwing beer, screaming, slamming your body, all that good stuff! Some fun duelling vocals on here too.

6. Midnight Leather:

A proper rocker track, this one. A good one to play live, with Felix fronting the song. It breaks up the total thrash mayhem, albeit only slightly! There's still a lot for a speedhead to enjoy here. A lot of lead work and driving bass, like if Lemmy played in Megadeth. Check it out!

7. Brain Decay:

We've always tried to write a slower song in our releases for some contrast, and this one hits that mid-paced need. This one came out pretty quickly in practice, I think, and is the most moody of our songs. The lyrics are a commentary about the huge amount of vapid, brainless morons we have to share our planet with - those who don't contribute to our society with no meaningful existence.

8. Prison City:

A fairly old track of ours. This is another straight-up thrasher, and a live favourite, especially the speed metal riff over a cowbell beat, that always gets interesting reactions! It's about Snake Plissken (Escape From New York). You can't be a thrash band unless you write a song based on an 80s movie, right?

9. Spirit of Speed:

2 riffs are all it takes for this one. A simple song that goes by in a flash, a breakdown, and a metal solo to complete it. I think it's only about 2 minutes, which is even faster live! It sums us up pretty well - throttling ahead, cutting loose, and blowing yourself up in the process.

10. Back on the Road:

We always finish our set with this one, so it is a suitable closer. A speed n roll assault, with gritty vocals about life on the road. Lyrics inspired by the many years us 3 have thrashed together, and a celebration of our history. I think theres a lot to enjoy here - speed metal, rock swagger and plenty of solos!