Asgard - Outworld

Apparently, there are 20 bands with the name Asgard, though I'm pretty sure this one is the best.  They deliver some killer 80's Power Metal with sweet riffs and hooks.  Straightforward stuff without any prog tendencies or shredding, in fact, the techinicality level is pretty average.  What really sets this band apart is the absurdly high vocal range of of the singer Federico.  He seems to effortlessly go from the standard alto to well into "chipmunk" territory.  It would be a treat to witness him accurately reproduce these notes live.

outlander!

Holy Moses - Terminal Terror

Holy Moses may be known as a Progressive Thrash band, but in their early days I would say they were more akin early Death Metal.  Some of that is from the lyrical subject matter, but most is from the sloppy, growly vocals that remind me much of Obituary.  Had this album come out two years earlier in '89, I think it definitely would be compared to revered releases of the early American school like Leprosy and Slowly We Rot.  Terminal Terror is simple, primal, and effective.

let my people go

Twisted into Form - Then Comes Affliction To Awaken The Dreamer

Like the name would imply this is basically a tech-head's wet dream.  Twisted into Form is not a Forbidden cover band but an Ultra-Prog, Post-Thrash project put together by David Husvik (ex-Extol).  The Extol influence is obviously very strong with some Believer and late-era Death in there as well.  I wish there would be some blazing fast parts instead of just being mid-paced all the time, but it still gives me that bi-weekly brain workout that I require.

flex jorg head

Lahar - Umění Strachu

Remember when Municipal Waste were a good band and not poster-boys for trendy suckitude?  Lahar take me back to those humbler times.  Umění Strachu is an excellent (though, expectedly short) album of "Post-Grindcore" Crossover.  You'll hear a lot of influence of 80's Proto-Grind Thrash like Cryptic Slaughter and SOD, yet it still sounds honestly modern.  There's a generous helping of blast beats and borderline Death Metal riffs which help this album keep pace in this era of outlandish tempos.

choose one making you better feeling

Hexen - Being and Nothingness

I always considered Hexen part of the Thrash revival bandwagon, which may have been true four years ago, but not so today.  How bands can start off so traditional and then tip the prog scales on their very next album is beyond me, but it almost always works in everyone's favor.  This album holds its own against the classics and sure as hell beats what the "old guard" of Thrash bands are putting out these days.  Time changes, abstract concepts, and ultra-bright production are all waiting for you on the other side of the link.

click on through

Risk - Dirty Surfaces

Remember when I posted Risk's second album?  That was almost a year ago now, which means it's been long enough to post their third (and best) album: Dirty Surfaces.  Everything that you liked (or hated) about Hell's Animals can again be found, only more refined this time.  Here we see Risk picking up the pace and showing that they're a real Thrash band and not middle of the road fence-sitters.  The technicality and lyrics have also been improved making this record better than it's predecessors in every way.

surf westphalia!

Hell Theater - Reincarnation of Evil

Hello again!  Sorry for the long pause, but I've been hella stressed with the process of moving.  I'm getting more settled in now so I should be approaching the sad attempt at regularity that I'm known for.

So here's an album that I downloaded a couple weeks ago.  Hell Theater remind me a lot of Portrait (whom I posted a while ago).  There's a strong Mercyful Fate influence and an overall early 80's vibe.  They don't bring that vintage feel as well as Portrait does, but this is still a valiant effort.  They do, however, succeed in combining their Black, Speed, and Classic Metal influences into one cohesive whole.  In reality, those sub-genres really were not that different from each other 30 years ago.  The inherent cheesiness, aggression, and epic sensibility that Metal represents is well displayed here.

dude, I'm on the rag

Slaughtered Priest - Confess Your Sins

It seems that these days there's an endless stream of Black/Thrash bands coming out of every corner of the globe.  Every one of them obeying the strict code of bullet belts, black & white album covers, and the most boring riffs outside of a Krabathor album.  At first glance you would judge Slaughtered Priest as just another one of those faceless formula bands, and you would be so fortunately wrong.  What Slaughtered Priest lack in originality and good taste, they more than compensate with amazing riffs and uncompromising consistency.  Each song is a killer built on top of an unrelenting D-beat.  These power-chord riffs are so fast and fluid, they would make Coroner, Rigor Mortis, and Destruction jealous.  With an audible bass and livelier production, this could have been a modern classic.  Even without those, it's still great.  Confess to the dead!

greco-roman wrasslin'

Whiplash - Insult to Injury

I really love how direct and honest metal album artwork is.  Every sub-sub-sub-genre has it's own unique cover art style that informs you (fairly accurately) what you'll be enjoying.  This is so obviously the case with Insult to Injury.  Why are there only two wheels for that wheelchair?  Why is that train the size of a cruise ship?  Why is that hard cast unraveling like toilet paper?  It's important not to over-analyze artwork or music like this.  It is what it is, a Thrashing good time.  Will it change your life?  Not at all.  Will it incite headbanging and lackluster vocal covers from your friends?  Yes.

poetry slam dance

 

Collision - A Healthy Dose of Death

Since that last review was so long, I'll keep this one super short.  Dutch Crossover/Proto-Grind similar to the old masters S.O.D. and Cryptic Slaughter but with a more modern (louder) production.  Either you like it or you don't.  It's a 26 minute circle pit.

  

ur crucifix sux dix

Depressive Age - First Depression

Not your typical Prog Thrash album (if such a thing exists).  These Germans got much more into melody and dynamics than their peers.  Quite good and unique.

my wage is depressive

Portrait - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae

Portrait occupy a strange space (especially for a new band) between NWOBHM, early Power Metal, and early Black Metal.  I know that sounds confusing, but all these Swedes want to do is sound like their idols in Mercyful Fate.  They do a pretty excellent job of satisfying the 'Fate craving without sounding like an overt rip-off.  They've taken the old template, modernized it, and bumped it up a notch in intensity.  The 'Fate comparison really gets made with the vocals, which have a King Diamond-esque melodic style, but are much more like a typical metal "scream" than a proper falsetto.  The tight, nimble guitar work is the other highlight here; showcasing different influences from Maiden-style gallops, to Black Metal tremolo picking.  My only complaint is that the drumming is far too linear and metronomic.  But otherwise this is a great, accessible record that'll appeal to many a metalhead.

enough with the latin album titles

Parasitic - Poison Minds

Parasitic (I'm intentionally spelling it wrong) are somewhat of a supergroup with members paying dues in slightly better-known bands: Cannabis Corpse, Behind Enemy Lines, and Morne.  Those bands were all fine for what they were, but always fell a little short of my standards.  Thankfully, Parasitic very much delivers.  Poison Minds is a concise blast of serious, stinky Thrashing.  Parasitic remind me of the English "Stench-Core" originators Hellbastard and Deviated Instinct, mixed with modern purveyors of the genre Hellshock and Age.  If you're not hip to all this Crust Punk jargon, imagine Discharge playing Slayer covers and you won't be far off.  The riffs are outstanding, the song quality is consistent, and the musicianship is above average for this sort of thing.  You can't lose!

egregious bladder

Headhunter - Parody of Life

How is it that I've never heard of this band, being such a big Destruction fan for years?  Turns out they've released four albums and are technically still active.  Anyway, Headhunter were like the "Megadeth" to Destruction's "Metallica".  File under: Disgruntled former band member forms new band for direct competition.  Even with the laughable song titles, this record is strong and consistent.  It reminds me of a mix between the more agressive thrash of Destruction (of course) and the mid-paced shreddery of King Diamond.  Like those comparisons would imply, the guitar work is excellent and probably the strongest selling point.  Schmier's vocals sort of fall short, but he's never been known for his vocal prowess.  Just like Destruction, Headhunter reminds you that in the end... Metal is all about guitar, and that's fine with me!

i need a shrink 

Tankard - Chemical Invasion

I never thought I would post an album by this band, but, fuck me if they didn't put out some good Thrash back in the day.  Hearing their rudimentary song "Zombie Attack" and knowing that 70% of their lyrics were about beer led me to believe Tankard were like the GWAR of Thrash.  Thankfully, they proved me wrong with underrated, almost epic second album.  There's pit-friendly speed, a mountain of catchy riffs, and piercing screams.  All that you would want, really, except for maybe thoughtful lyrics?  Nah.  Stylistically, Tankard are a lot like fellow countrymen Angel Dust and Risk, although, a bit more modern sounding.  You won't find the technical wizardry of Sadus, or the legendary songwriting of Megadeth, but a nice compromise of both.  And that's ok, because Tankard aren't looking to push the genre forward, they just want you to join them for a drunken, good time.

     

 

thrash talk

Merciless Death - Realm of Terror

I know I've made fun of these guys on here before, but they're actually quite good.  Like me, you're gonna have to look past the fact that they call their fans "hell-thrashers" and wear intentionally dated clothing, because they can still play Thrash like nobody's business.  Stylistically, they're heavily influenced by Slayer and Destruction and sound rather "proto-black/death metal" because of that.  If that makes sense, since it's now 25 years after the fact.  The riffing in particular, with the heavy "hammer-ons" and "pull-offs", lovingly remind me of Destruction's famed, early years.  These guys don't fuck around with the speed either, you'll find no Headbanger's Ball-ready slow tracks.  This is just a straight ripper all the way through.  The older I get, the more I demand originality from bands, but there's always a place in my heart for really well-done derivatives like Merciless Death.  If you liked that Nekromantheon post I did a while ago, you'll like this.

priest, priest, evil priest

Risk - Hell's Animals

A record like this is pretty much taylor-made for this blog.  And like so many of my recent posts, the cover art represents it perfectly; dated and nonsensical, but yet so good for what it is.  Just like their contemporaries in Angel Dust, Risk were a bit behind the times stylistically, but were so fucking good, who really cares?  I mean, Metal has progressed so much in the years since this release that any Thrash album sounds antiquated by today's standards.  Risk were comfortable in that middle ground between early Speed/Power Metal of the early 80's and the slightly more agressive Thrash Metal of the mid 80's.  Thing is, this was released in '89, when Thrash was on it's way out and fans were already graduating to the more brutal sounds of Death Metal and Grindcore.  This is where blogs like BlackHandInn come in and bring to light these lost treasures that the previous generation shelved, or the current generation (me) never knew in the first place.  Hell's Animals is very nice Speed/Thrash with a satisfying Progressive lean.  Serious music with not so serious lyrics.  The whole animal theme?  I don't get it.  And I'm pretty sure the cover was by the same guy who did the early Tankard stuff.

"what the finest asshole do"

Destruction - All Hell Breaks Loose

For years I've suspected there was another good album by Destruction besides the great Sentence of Death and legendary Infernal Overkill.  I think I've finally found it with All Hell Breaks Loose.  This album marked the return of original front man Schmier, but it's still Mike Sifringer's guitar work that makes this work shine.  Mike's riffery is catchy, plentiful and complemented by a properly obese tone.  His timing had also improved since their early "Steamhammer" days; turning otherwise rudimentary palm mutes into neck-breaking grooves.  Sven Vormann's drumming isn't wimpy either; further solidifying those grooves and providing a very "musical" feel.  Schmier has never been known as much of a bassist, but hey, at least you can actually hear the bass throughout the recording (and not just when the other guy's stop playing).  The overall production is good with a very "fat" compression going on, but the treble is way too prominent.  Pretty common in 90's albums I guess.  The cover art maybe revolting, but this is about as good as comeback records get.

really?

 schmier up on my belly like guava jelly

  

Toxik - World Circus

So I've finally gotten around to posting Toxik's debut album and you know, it turns out I actually like it better than Think This.  The vocals and lyrical content work much better with the consistent Thrash pace of World Circus.  On Think This, I felt that the falsetto singing was just too over-the-top and comical sounding to mesh with the dead serious lyrics and sophisticated musical vision.  World Circus showcases the band at a more comfortable level.  In one way, both albums are exactly the same; the riffs are in an unusually high key.  I'm not literate enough in music theory to tell you what keys exactly, but I can tell that most of the playing is done rather high on the fretboard.  There's a suspicious lack of deep chords here.  That, combined with the high voice can kind of be annoying if (like me) you prefer lower, warmer tones.  You're just gonna have to endure it though if you wanna hear the killer riffs and amazing technique Toxik can offer.

.rar to hell

Angel Dust - Into the Dark Past

Just by looking at this cover you'd probably think this is 3rd-rate Christian Metal, and you'd be wrong.  This happens to be one of those really obscure Thrash records that collectors shell out 300 bucks for.  Is it worth that much?  No.  It is damn good though.  Stylistically, Angel Dust were kind of "behind the times"; still carrying much NWOBHM influence with them on the release of this album.  In 1988, that just wasn't cutting-edge enough.  Metalheads were too infatuated with the evolving Death Metal sound that was raising so many figurative bars and literal eyebrows.  Few were interested in a band that sounded as much like Exciter as they did Slayer.  Today, people drool over "dated" relics of the 80's, so much so that Ed Repka probably gets commisioned more now than he did then.  But this  post isn't about shitty art, it's about an exhumed Thrash gem that I think you'll like.  

 

angel bust lust