Irony
Jun 05Any coincidence that I published a throwback review of Sodom’s ‘Agent Orange’ album the day their fellow German ‘Big Three’ brothers, Kreator, release their new album? Actually yes, as I was supposed to finish the Sodom review a looong time ago, but it’s safe to say that the next review to pop up will be ‘Phantom Antichrist’ and this time I won’t take so damn long. I’ve already got one listen in so far, and trust me, you don’t need a positive review on this one, go get it....
Review: Sodom – Agent Orange
Jun 05Sodom – Agent OrangeReviewWhile the ‘Big Four’ were laying their groundwork for thrash in the US throughout the ‘80s, the ‘Big Three’ were doing likewise across the pond in Germany. Sodom, the brother component of the Three, alongside Destruction and Kreator, that most often sported future influences of death and black metal, released their cornerstone album, Agent Orange in 1989 a record that not only established them as important fixtures in the underground metal world, but also proved to be a commercial success for the band. While it provided only a temporary break into the mainstream of the metal genre, the record displayed an all-around thrash mastery and established a recognizable trademark sound for the band.The effort starts off the title track, a song with a grandiose Master of Puppets-esque intro, with slow, epic power chords before appropriately kicking into the high tempo thrash that characterizes the album as a whole. Tom Angelripper snarls his way through all the tracks with his signature not-quite-yelling, not-quite-growling vocals, while also laying down some great bass tracks. In a good segway, the album flows into Tired and Red which sports an elongated instrumental intro and some fiery lead word by guitarist Frank Blackfire. Guitars on all the tracks are what makes good thrash what it is: fast, loud, and unrelenting, and while they mostly follow the bass tracks laid down by songwriter Tom Angelripper, they are given enough room on every song to stretch their wings in the way of leads and solos. An interesting sidetrack of ‘Agent Orange’ can be found in Ausgebombt, an almost hardcore punk song that mirrors more Motorhead than it does Slayer. While different, the song is a welcome flavor to mix things up, and does a good job to portray a future era of the band, when they later focus on a more cross-over thrash sound. Immediately afterwards, the band jumps straight back into the thrash wagon with Baptism of Fire, another song that, with others like Exhibition Bout and Magic Dragon, make the album the great German thrash centerpiece that it is. Sodom closes the record with Don’t Walk Away, a Tank cover that the showcases the band’s British heavy metal influences, and one they do quite a good job putting their more aggressive sound into.While not a masterpiece album, nor even sporting much in the way of stand-out tracks, Agent Orange stands on its...
Review: Municipal Waste – The Fatal Feast
May 01Municipal Waste – The Fatal Feast Review After taking most of 2011 off to write and record their new album, crossover thrashers Municipal Waste set some high expectations for those looking to get a fix of punk-infused mosh music. It’s a good thing then, that the group’s newest release ‘The Fatal Feast’ delivers that very sucker punch to the neck that fans were waiting for, while at the same time adding a few welcome dimensions to their already established sound.On the whole, ‘The Fatal Feast’ retains everything that the group is known for: breakneck thrash riffs, frenetic tempos, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, over the top party fueled energy, and all of that forcefully injected into the ears in succinct, under-two-minute doses. In fact, only about four songs out of the seventeen or so on the record push past the three minute mark, but with the amount of energy in each bite, ala the groups hardcore punk songwriting style, every song comes across as filling, regardless of the length. And even if one was to take note of the truncated bits of aural assault, the impression is quickly beaten away as soon as the next track kicks you in the gut. However, one of the welcome new aspects of this album is Municipal Waste’s exploration of expanded songs. They seem to have discovered in songs like The Fatal Feast, that slowing the tempo a little (by Municipal Waste standards, that is), they can allow the thrash riffs some level of open space to create hard-edged grooves and hooks that come through the rhythm more, while still retaining the same punch found in the higher tempo songs. A lesson that can certainly be learned by many bands, and one that the ‘Waste have learned, is that speed can accentuate heaviness in a song, but does not create it on its own.Those most familiar with the band might first notice Ryan Waste’s slightly expanded guitar repertoire on The Fatal Feast. On this record he seems a tad more lead guitar minded than on previous records, providing more high-stringed thrash licks and even some very respectable solos on songs like Repossession and Authority Complex. In the case of the former, Ryan showcases his Slayer influence with a frenetic solo that Kerry King could be proud of. Although, these added flavors in the guitar work also create the only drawback of the album, which is that...
Review: Overkill – The Electric Age
Apr 16Overkill – The Electric Age ReviewOverkill is one of those 80’s era thrash bands that seemed to never consider stopping or even slowing down as a career option. Ever. And with modern releases like Electirc Age, that’s definitely not a bad thing by any stretch. For a band going on 32 years now, it’s good to see the boys from Jersey putting out yet another solid release, especially one that shows them no worse for wear after sixteen studio albums.While 2010’s Ironbound album saw the thrashers spread some musical wings, broadening songs with near progressive structures and chilled out wanderings, The Electric Age assumes the more straight-to-the-throat attack that Overkill has always had a knack for. The album opens up with two songs that do well to illustrate this, Come And Get It and Electric Rattlesnake. The former does a good job of being a trademark Overkill song and will probably be a new staple of live shows with its fast, driving tempo and classic crew shouted chorus. Electric Rattlesnake keeps up the pace, featuring some of the cool sounding left to right panned vocals that Bobby ‘Blitz’ has been known to throw into the mix in recent years, and even has a good change-up in the way of a mid-song breakdown lead by D. D. Verni on bass, like what we saw alot of on Ironbound. It is also worth noting that these two stand-outs of the album work well to demonstrate that being 52 years of age has done little to dampen Blitz’s trademark snarls and shrieks, and they sound just as good as ever with the added grizzled qualities of a thrasher who’s been around the block.Other songs on the album mix it up well enough to keep it flowing, such as down tempo songs like Black Daze giving the listener a near-breather with its marching, fist pumping chorus that is just begging to be chanted along with. Even the filler songs like 21st Century Man and Wish You Were Dead provide a good flow to the album in keeping up the energy that is the namesake of the album itself before closing the effort off with All Over But The Shouting and Good Night, two songs that feel as much like pure Overkill songs as anything, with their oh-so-evil and ominously built up bridges and catchy, sing along choruses.While on the whole, The Electric Age...
Welcome to Another Metal Review Blog
Apr 16Welcome to Another Metal Review Blog. This came about for two reasons really, a personal affinity for the metal music genre and all of its bastard step-children sub genres, and also as a means to keep me in the habit of regularly writing (for those interested in my self-published short fiction, head over to http://www.brettreistroffer.com/ for info). I’ll try to keep up this blog with at least two new album reviews a week, with a focus on new releases but I will also throw in the occasional obscure oldie for good measure.I’m starting off the reviews with a long time favorite group of mine, Overkill, who just so happen to have a new album out, the recently released ‘The Electric Age’. And I can’t think of a better way to start the new blog, so feel free to leave comments or your own thoughts on any of the albums I review, but keep in mind that only constructive posts will be allowed.Thanks for checking it out, and keep it heavy!Brett...
