Not every heavy band is trying to be serious. Some are just trying to be loud, fast, and a little unhinged.
Louisville thrash outfit Belushi Speed Ball have built their reputation somewhere in that space, and their newly announced album Toxic Waste Was Everywhere In The ’80s, arriving June 5, feels like a continuation of that chaos rather than a shift away from it.
The band’s fourth full-length release leans fully into what they do best. Fast, abrasive crossover thrash delivered with just enough self-awareness to keep it from collapsing into parody. It is aggressive, but it also knows exactly what it is.
That tone is clear from the first single, “I Ought Not Know,” a track that manages to take one of the most random questions in pop culture and turn it into a full-speed thrash song. Instead of chasing meaning, the band runs straight through it, building something that feels chaotic but controlled in its own way.
Across the album’s 12 tracks, the titles alone give you a sense of where things are headed. It is not subtle. It is not trying to be. But underneath the humor and references is a band that understands how to write songs that actually move: tight riffs, quick pacing, and a structure that keeps everything from drifting too far off course.
There is also a noticeable shift in the lineup, with bassist Justin McClure and drummer Ben Cotton joining for their recording debut. It adds a different layer of energy without changing the band’s identity, keeping everything grounded while still pushing forward.
What has always separated Belushi Speed Ball from similar bands is how far they take the concept. Live shows that feel more like events than sets. Releases that break format entirely. A willingness to lean into the absurd without losing the actual musicianship behind it.
This album feels like another step in that direction. Not trying to clean things up or make them more accessible, but tightening the execution while keeping the same unpredictable edge that has defined the band from the start.
For fans of crossover thrash that does not take itself too seriously but still delivers where it counts, Toxic Waste Was Everywhere In The ’80s looks set to land exactly where it should. Loud, fast, and just a little out of control.
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