Opinions always vary, which is why it’s difficult to say if metal is a festering domain of ageism or not. We’ll cheer Lemmy’s ability to defeat the Grim Reaper in a game of ‘Chicken’, collect mile-long discographies and excitedly praise reunions of ’80s favourites and obscurities. However, cynicism and scepticism rule when a bunch of kids come along who weren’t even born when Metallica was putting out good records. Finland’s Lost Society are one such youthful collective, but they’ve obviously studied thrash and crossover’s nuances and have poured those lessons into two furiously energetic and scorching albums – ‘Terror Hungry’ being their latest. Should it matter if they were the proverbial gleams in the eyes of two strangers during a bathroom tryst during a stop on the 1986 ‘Reign In Blood’ tour instead of actually at the show?

“The songs came the same way as usual, just jamming around riffs and so on,” explains guitarist/vocalist Samy Elbanna, sobering our conversation by discussing ‘Terror Hungry’s writing process. “The difference was the riffs became a bit more technical because we’ve progressed on our instruments. But we didn’t have any plans to make this-or-that kind of song; we just wrote 13 killer tracks that made our heads bang!”

Young or old, you can’t go wrong when making heads bang is a priority. ‘Terror Hungry’s particular case of metal-neck combines thrash metal’s galloping riffs, crossover/hardcore’s quick-changing power chords and virtuoso solos with shuffling rhythms and a serious sense of playfulness.

“In many ways, ‘Terror Hungry’ is the updated version of [first album] ‘Fast Loud Death’; it has the elements of the debut, but has reinforced them and is powerful as hell! The live show is going to be just as energetic, if not even more, because we love playing these new songs!”
Pour a fifth of vodka on the whole thing and there you have it.
“Our drinking habits are promoted a bit more than what they really are,” he says sheepishly. “We do take breaks!”