Formed in 1992 at the tail end of the first great thrash metal boom, it would take Belgium’s Poseydon another six years to release an EP before splitting up rather prematurely. After reforming in 2007 – by which time, the landscape of metal had shifted considerably – the band began to rebuild a following, and eventually released a debut full length album in 2011. That recording, ‘Cold World’ shared more of a death metal infused thrash, but showcased a band who were clearly capable of delivering the goods when it came to a genuine heaviness.

Poseydon never managed an especially prolific approach to recording and it would be another five years until a follow up appeared, and another seven before their third album ‘Through The Gate of Hatred and Aversion’ would be completed, but by that time, they were an arguably much better band. That album all but dispensed with the Poseydon’s death edge, and instead presented a record that sounded like peak Max-era Sepultura colliding with ‘Burn My Eyes’ era Machine Head, bringing old school riff after old school riff with great effect.

2026’s ‘Time Is A River and The Waters Are Red’ provides an obvious continuation, with its best numbers sounding almost exactly like the strongest tracks of its predecessor, but it’s great that Poseydon have finally settled upon a sound that works for them, and one that, shorn of the death metal overtones, could reach a broader audience.

‘Storm’ crashes in with even more of a late 80s inspired thrash riff than ever before, casting the band in a role that sounds like a tougher version of Testament, and as the first verse powers forward, the melodic edges are coupled with some huge sounding pneumatic rhythms adding an extra sense of energy. There’s still a melodic undercurrent, since a great lead guitar sound weaves in and out of the speed driven elements, but its when hitting a couple of slower and heavier breakdowns this track comes into its own. The first of these that really catches the ear offers slightly more of a hardcore tone, reinforcing the early Machine Head influences from before, but it’s the mid tempo riff and some decent lead work that makes the track. Here, the first bars present a deep tone with a great soaring sound, setting up a genuine feeling of something atmospheric, before taking a sharp turn into some perfectly pitched 80s metal where the lead guitar work evokes Judas Priest circa ‘Painkiller’. If this is your bag, you’re guaranteed to have a blast, and in terms of making a strong first impression, it shows this now veteran band to be a true force when it comes to classic sounding metal.

‘Poseidon’ kicks off with a brilliantly dark intro where the melodies of Slayer’s slower and doomier numbers provide a strong inspiration. The verse clings on to the slower, and somewhat moodier style to a degree, but shakes things up with a couple of cool time changes, before the chorus settles into a massive, swaggering riff where the sharp edges of thrash colour a riff that has a melodic hardcore root. This is perfect for a huge, gravel-edged vocal, pushing Poseydon into even heavier climes. With the thrash repeatedly intercut with complex time signatures, there’s a feeling that the band could launch into some fierce prog metal or even tech-death sounds at any moment, which really gives this arrangement a feeling of genuine urgency, before ‘Mind Intrusion’ takes a voyage into classic, straight up thrash. The bulk of the riffs here sound like a tribute to ‘Arise’ era Sepultura in bigger boots, and some slightly muddier production values lend the piece even more of an old school tone. In some ways, it feels like an unexpected step backwards after the first couple of tracks, but as a tribute to a tried and tested style, it more than holds its own.

The title cut more than makes up for that with a two-pronged workout that first takes the guts of Slayer’s ‘Dead Skin Mask’ and applies its haunting qualities to a riff that appears heavier, and then launches itself face first into some no-nonsense thrash that brings out the best in both Alain de Block and Leander Karageorgos’s guitar sounds. At the point where you think the track is about to pull to a close, it’s all change again, with not just the re-emergence of the slower riff, before the arrival of some interesting harmony vocals bring more of a gothic edge. In the hands of most bands, this would be an impressive metal workout; for Poseydon, it’s one of their best, since it shows off most of their styles and influences within a pleasingly taut five minutes. For a great mix of thrash and trad metal, ‘Instinctive Dissonance’ gives this album another highlight. The core of the number revisits a barrage of riffs that draw from early 90s Sepultura, occasionally coloured with a something a little more melodic, and this suits the growl emerging from frontman Tom Laenerts perfectly, but if anything really stands out it’s a huge intro where the guitars sound like they’ll drop into Iron Maiden’s ‘Flash of The Blade’ at any second, which again hints at a crossover appeal.

At the tail end of a great record, you’ll find ‘Ancestral Rites’, a huge sounding number where classic thrash riffs come with the force and confidence of a band performing at the genre’s peak. It seems more than fair than to compare this to a mid 80s classic since you’ll encounter riffs that sound like they’ve been lifted from early Metallica and Slayer albums throughout, but what Poseydon lack in imagination here, they more than make up for with speed, volume and sheer guts. The rhythm section play very strongly throughout this release, but in many ways, ‘Ancestral Rites’ truly belongs to drummer Jef Boons and bassist Jeroen Bonne as they lock into some really complex grooves throughout, moving between the time changes with a genuine ease. In terms of pure metal, dropping twin lead guitar sounds, elements of hardcore vocal, and moments of genuine swagger worthy of a more contemporary band like Lamb of God into some classic, classic thrash, this is a blast.

Looking at this album broadly, there’s always a certain degree of pleasure to experience a band exploring the musical waters of old school thrash, but if it’s originality you’re after, ‘Time Is A River…’ probably isn’t going to cut it for you. The album’s eight songs are very much a celebration of a classic metal sound, sometimes even for metal’s sake; a love letter to Testament, Kreator, and the formative years of Machine Head – forming a record that values a riff above all else. It’s certainly more about riffs and intensity than memorable songs. What this does, of course, is present the current Poseydon as excellent musicians, far removed from their death metal roots. On that score – despite being a long, long time coming – the band have finally delivered the album of the career.

April 2026