If you’ve been following the metal press this year, you’ve heard of Noisem, the Baltimore thrash five-piece whose members’ ages combined barely enter octogenarian territory. They’ve been buzzed about for the age thing, but also for the fact that they’re really good. Noisem’s debut, Agony Defined, showcases a brand of thrash that is no-fucks-given rage, punishingly fast but kept on the rails. The technical chops are there, but it’s the earnest enthusiasm that bleeds through the speakers. I caught Noisem at St. Vitus a few months ago to see what the hype was about and encountered five hair windmills thrashing around like maniacs. They were LOUD. They were pissed off (though they seemed like perfect gentleman offstage). And, most importantly, they were great. They held a group of (relatively) old-ass dudes (and a few ladies, per usual) enthralled for their 30-or-so-minute ripper of a set. Thinking about how good they are already, it’s scary to think how good they’re going to be in ten, even five years. –Wyatt [LISTEN]