The Decayed is a crossover band from Chicago that unabashedly pays tribute to the late 1980s thrash era. Part of the “metal played by punks” unofficial movement of the past decade or two, their political lyrics are more in line with the punk community than their metal counterparts. The solid production well captures the 1987 feel they bring to the table. The drums are really low in the mix, with the layered guitars and vocals blasted much higher. There’s kind of a lot going on here, and I’m not against it. Crusty at times, with a tinge of d-beat thrown in for good measure, they’re pulling from a few strains of hardcore, with the emphasis varying from track to track. –Art Ettinger (Self-released, thedecayed.bandcamp.com)