SideShow's Metal Collection

This section is for reviews on albums I either own currently, or ones I owned at some point.  Please keep in mind that I'm an addict to all things thrash, so my opinions are biased.  If you don't agree, good for you.  This are MY opinions on the albums in question!

 Death Squad - Split You At The Seams (1991)
This release from Death Squad, to me, is much like a street fight.  There's no finesse or goofing off, no feeling the other person out; just pure fury and violence coming at you relentlessly.  The band doesn't use technical flashes and they don't draw things out.  Death Squad give you no-holds-barred thrash metal with a slight hardcore attitude.  Most of the songs on here barely get to the 3 minute mark; everything is short and to the point.  I know some may complain about a lack of variety as most songs are quite similar, but for me it's fun to put on something like this and let it unload on you.  The riffs are constantly fast, and often quite catchy.  With the songs being so short, the solos are kept to a quick bit of shred (though some songs have 2 or more quick leads tossed in throughout).  The drummer bangs away like a maniac, yet always manages to keep the band on time.  The bass is often lost in the mix, but when heard sounds like it follows the riffs.  The singer could be a drawback to some, as he utilizes a somewhat monotone bark and angrily spits out the lyrics.  I personally think he fits the bands stripped down, straightforward, yet furious approach.  I must point out, though, that the production is a bit uneven.  Some songs sound like they were recorded or mastered at different times.  Also, a BIT of variety in the tempo here and there might have made the album as a whole more memorable.  That aside, when you feel like getting a sonic punch to the ear, put this on, sit back, and let it explode on you.  Tracks like opener I'm Insane or Mad As Hell should get you moshing in no time.

 Archaic Torse - Sneak Attack (1994)
One and only album from these German thrashers.  Which is a shame, because this is an excellent album.  I've seen this listed as death metal, but I disagree with that.  While the vocals sometimes have a death metal edge to them, the music is pure thrash.  The guitars aren't downtuned to spaghetti levels in any way.  The vocals aren't even death growls all the time.  There are 2 styles present.  One is a death-ish growl, but you can understand what he is saying.  The other is a typical thrash snarl.  So, again, I reiterate, death metal this is NOT.  Punishing riffs fly everywhere on this one, and there some excellent solos.  The drum work is solid, though nothing special.  The bass is a only occasionally audible (you really have to listen for it to hear it) so I can't say much about it.  If you like your thrash with hints of death metal, then this is definitely for you!  Best songs are Beyond The Great Divide, The Value Of Your Soul and the title track.  There aren't any bad songs present though.

 Artillery - B.A.C.K. (1999)
This was my first exposure to these Danes. And what an exposure it is! I've heard all of their albums, and their others are all excellent, and this one is no exception! Heavy, ultra-aggressive thrash with that dash of technical flair that adds to the thrill! Album opener Cybermind comes in with a bang and the album never lets up. The aforementioned track, Out Of The Trash, Final Show, Violent Breed and Paparazzi are my favorites here. The band stick to a mostly mid-paced approach, with riffs shifting from crushing to technical.  Paparazzi is the one track on the album where Artillery really let loose and thrash like there's no tomorrow.  Flemming Ronsdorf has a very distinct voice, something of a mix between a snarl and a howl. He really sets this album apart! The guitar work on this album is absolutely top notch.  Truth to tell, the songwriting on this disc is nothing short of brilliant!  It's odd to note that although Artillery was around for 14 years, they only recorded 4 full-length albums. Still, 4 outstanding albums in a career are more than most bands EVER manage!  The band reformed fairly recently, and has released a new album.

 Asphyxia - Exit: Reality (1991)
Let me start by saying I am a sucker for obscure thrash metal.  The harder it is to find, or more unknown it is, the more I want to hear it.  I saw a review of this one, and seeing as it was obscure European thrash, I HAD to check it out.  The review on it was quite harsh, but I never let that deter me, as I go in with expectations already low.  Well, much to my surprise, this album is much better than the review stated.  Much, MUCH better.  This is raging thrash metal with gruff, shouted vocals.  Simple but effective riffs, smoking leads, excellent drumming and good lyrics about the environment, corruption, greed etc.  My only complaint is the mix is a bit weak and the bass gets lost in it a bit.  Other than that, this is a must for fans of early 90's European thrash!  My favorite tracks are Violence First, Health For Sale, The One Who Minds The Worm and One Big Family, which are all rampaging thrash monsters.  I also like Slice Of Death a great deal.  It's a mid-paced, kick you in the face type of track.  Good stuff!

 Betrayer - World Of Chaos (1993)
Norway strikes again with another quality gem from the underground!  Betrayer released this EP, their only release, in 1993.  It was very limited (only 500 CD's made) as the band financed the album themselves.  Unlike fellow Norweigans Equinox, who play technical European styled thrash, and Witchhammer, who play European styled speed / thrash, Betrayer opted for a style that leans more towards the Bay Area thrash sound.  One can hear slight resemblences to Anthrax and Megadeth here and there.  The album opens with the track Terrified, a tune that bounces back and forth from mid-paced stomp to full-on thrashing a few times, and closes with Edge Of Insanity, which opens up very fast before settling into a nice up-tempo pace, with a slower pace for the chorus.  These 2 tracks are bookends for 3 other tracks that display a nice variety.  Alcoholic Power sports almost a classic heavy metal approach, with some very funny lyrics about partying!  The Day After opens with a nice, heavy stomp before going towards an almost ballad-like sound during the verses (the aggression is brought back during the solos, and near the end of the track).  Title track World Of Chaos is insanely catchy, and has quite a "hectic" feel to it, with its move from mid-paced stomping to full speed thrash!  The riffs on this album are fairly simple, as the band doesn't go the way of technicality, but they are very effective and well-played.  The same can be said for the solos, with a bit of shredding, a bit of melodic lead play, etc and they all fit the songs quite well.  The bass plays along with the riffs and is completely audible in the mix.  The drumming is well done, on time, and keeps the band's sound driving forward.  The vocals here are typical for thrash, a nice mid-range shout with plenty of grit.  Because the band is from Norway, you can hear a slight accent in the vocals, which lends itself to giving the singer a bit more charisma.  The production displays everything perfectly, with my only knock against it being that it sounds a bit "neurtral" (doesn't lean either towards bottom- or top-heaviness).  Quite a nice little gem, all things considered, and one that is a treasured part of my thrash collection!

 Channel Zero - Channel Zero (1992)
The first time I heard this I was completely blown away!  What a ripping thrash machine this turned out to be!  On their second album, Stigmatized, the band went into a more groove/thrash direction.  Pretty much like Pantera on Cowboys From Hell.  All thrash influences were then dropped on subsequent albums.  A shame really.  If you are basing your opinion of this band off of the later albums, then you would be in for quite a shock on hearing this.  No groove, no modern influences at all.  This is just 100% blazing thrash metal!  Album opener No Light (At The End Of Their Tunnel) comes screaming out at you and commands your attention.  From then on the intensity never lets up.  The formula is somewhat basic, and the album can sound a bit samey in parts, but the band mix things up pretty well.  There is a nice mix of full-speed thrashers and mid-paced kickers.  The band's execution is almost flawless!  My favorite tracks are the album opener, Succeed Or Bleed, Inspiration To Violence, Tales Of Worship and The Pioneer.  However, there isn't a bad song on the album.  Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this album now!!

 Cold Steel - Freakboy (1992)
Quite an enjoyable little album here!  Mostly mid-paced thrash with some melodic overtones.  Album opener Truth Or Dare has a MONSTER thrash break in the middle during the solo and the chorus is catchy as all get out!  Hazardous (To Your Health) is a raging thrasher with plenty of tempo changes and some heavy riffage.  They mix it up in the middle of the album with some balad like tracks and even some funkish elements (ala Act III era Death Angel or Mordred's Fool's Game album).  The vocals are mid to high pitched.  They can get a bit whiney sounding at times, but not to the point of actually being annoying or anything.  The final track, Crackdown, sounds like it was recorded at a later time.  The guitar tone is heavier and the drum sound is a bit more full.  All in all, a pretty solid album for such a minor release.

 Crionic - Different (1993)
Crionic are an outstanding thrash band from the Czech Republic!  They are a bit different than most bands from that area at that time, in that their lyrics are all actually in English.  From all I can tell, the label they were on was also a bit more of a death metal label.  Anyway, the music here is ripping thrash, not unlike Equinox from Norway.  They show technical flashes and play with the tempo throughout each song, and over the course of the album.  Three of the tracks here are instrumental pieces with mostly accoustic guitars, showing a slightly more mellow side of the band.  The other 7 tracks are all rampaging thrash monsters, with machine-like drumming, roaring guitars, thumping bass and shredding solos.  The vocalist has a nice gruff voice, though I couldn't really say who he sounds like.  He fits the music presented here to perfection.  The production is nice and crisp, especially for such a small label.  The guitar tone is also pretty cool, in my opinion.  They have this almost "buzzsaw" like quality to them.  In a way, it's kinda like the guitar tone on Annihilator - Waking The Fury, only not QUITE as buzzy.  It sure is a shame that bands like this were not able to gain worldwide exposure.

 Decadence - Gangs And Victims (1989)
These guys stand out for two reasons, neither of which has to do with the music (though I'll get to that in a second).  The first is that they came from Belgium.  Quick, name 5 bands off the top of your head that are from Belgium.  No?  Thought not.  The second is that this album was released on Justice Records.  Said label put out a whopping TWO releases and both of them are extremely rare.  This is one of them obviously, the other is the impossible to find Cyclone - Inferior To None.  Enough of the "did you know" crap.  The music here is very solid thrash.  The riffs are good, the bass lines are powerful, the solos are well played and the drumming...oh the drumming!  The drummer does an outstanding job!  Excellent use of double bass kick, great fills, quick precise tempo changes, you name it and he hits it dead on!  The production is also quite good with every instrument coming through clearly.  The only thing that will put most people off would be the vocals.  They aren't bad, they are just...different.  They are fairly high-pitched, a tad whiney in places, but come across mostly as slightly forced.  Whatever, I think they are fine.  I AM a bit biased though, since I'm a thrash fanatic!  This album scratched my need for well-executed thrash!

 Demolition Hammer - Tortured Existence (1990)
This is without a doubt one of the most brutal, aggressive, and punishing thrash bands of all time.  Tortured Existence is a sonic wave that comes roaring forth from the first moments of .44 Caliber Brain Surgery.  Full-throttle is almost completely the name of the game here, with only a few mid-paced moments to be found on the album (most notably during the track Neanderthal, and the crushing Gelid Remains).  I was absolutely stunned when I first heard this album.  From the chainsaw guitars to the course shouted vocals right down to the pummeling drums, this band just produces nothing but aggression.  The lyrics are a bit "grotesque", dealing mostly with sickness, decay, and death.  In a big way, though, it fits the mood the music creates.  Demolition Hammer has slight death metal leanings (death metal was taking off at the time this came out), but to classify them as death metal would be completely wrong.  The guitars produce pure classic thrash riffing, and the drums stick to mosh beats with double kicks all over.  It is rather depressing that after 2 stellar brutal thrash offerings Demolition Hammer decided to go in a more "Pantera"-like direction.  If you like your metal presented with brutality, then this is definitely for you!

 Dover Trench - Exhibition Of Speed (1991)
Dover Trench were a thrash band from Arizona.  Though they probably can't claim worldwide fame, from all I can gather they held a cult following in their native state.  I didn't know of this bands initial existence until 2 years ago or so.  I didn't know what to really expect upon trading for this CD other than some form of thrash metal (doesn't really narrow it down, hey?).  I was very pleased, though, upon receiving this disc.  Dover Trench play a wild and intense form of thrash, not unlike the style Holy Terror used from time to time.  The biggest thing I enjoy about this band is the unrestrained feel of their music.  You can actually hear that they are giving it all they've got!  Vocalist Eli Freeman has a fairly gruff voice that's fits the music well, but the highlights in his performance are the shrieks he cuts loose with from time to time!  The band uses a fairly striaghtforward style, not employing technical wankery or stop-on-a-dime tempo changes.  For the most part the songs are short bursts of fury, with most songs being between 2 and one-half to 3 minutes in length.  The opener and closer, however, show a more ambitious side to the band.  These two tracks average about 7 minutes and use alternating tempos, multiple riffs, and insane vocals to really get your attention.  I think my favorite track here is Punishment (A.S.D.) with it's change between all-out thrash and mid-paced stomp.  It's too bad Dover Trench never recorded again, as they clearly were a band that had talent and put all they had into their music!

 Eldritch - Blood Breed Calls My Name (1993)
Can ANYONE explain to me why most Japanese thrash bands never made it to America?  United, LawShed, Shellshock, Outrage...all quality bands that tear it up as well as anyone.  All of them are virtually unknown here in the USA.  Add Eldritch to that bunch.  This is a monster dose of thrash here, straight from Japan.  Songs like Shadow Fire, Infection and Moon Hawk Project are all rampaging thrashers.  Others, like Lifemaker and Massacre Song, are mid-paced stompers that are just crushing in their approach.  The solos all scream and shred like no tomorrow, the bass pulses like a heartbeat and the drums are explosive!  The vocals are good as well.  Mid-range with an aggressive edge to them.  It's hard to compare them to anyone else because some of the lyrics are actually in Japanese and the English verses and choruses are HEAVILY accented.  But, they fit the music very well!  There are also hints of traditional metal in the bands execution that adds a nice flavor.  The mix of classic metal and thrash works quite well.  It's a crying shame that thrash this good is relegated to a virtually unknown status.

 Equinox - Auf Wiedersehen (1989)
I always wonder why some bands became huge, and why some bands just never got much attention.  Equinox is one of those bands that I will never understandy why they didn't become huge!  They are musically proficient, as they play a powerful brand of technical thrash metal, the music itself is aggressive and intense, and the vocalist is excellent, as he belts out the lyrics in a forceful, convincing fashion.  The band even released this, their first album, at the height of the thrash movement.  I can only attribute their lack of popularity to poor label support or bad distribution.  Their albums are VERY hard to come by.  Anyway, as I said, this is the first release from these thrashers that hail from Norway.  What we get is technical thrash metal.  Unlike a lot of technical acts, Equinox doesn't lose direction or hook.  The music is focused and has great riffs.  Track one, Stop!, opens up with an accoustic intro.  Don't let that fool you, because once the distortion kicks in, the intensity goes off the charts and doesn't let up!  The band play around with the tempo quite a bit, keeping things from getting boring.  This isn't just mindless 100 mph pounding, no sir, this is well thought-out and marvelously executed.  Equinox has unleashed a gem here, and it's a darn shame that more people don't know about it!  If you see an Equinox album, you better get it.  Not only is the music gonna be good, but it will probably be the last time you see one of their albums!

 Evildead - The Underworld (1991)
Now here's a band that no one really seems to mention when talking about the old Bay Area scene.  That's a shame too, as Evildead could rip it up as well as almost anyone!  Featuring the prodigious guitar talents of one Juan Garcia, formerly of Abattoir and still tooling around with the mightly Agent Steel, Evildead didn't lack in the riff and solo department!  The vocals were also capably handled by Phil Flores, who adds almost a hardcore edge to the band.  The bass, played by Karlos Medina, and the drums, done by Doug Clawson here, were also played in convincing fashion.  What you have here is a prime slab of thrash, no if's, and's, or but's about it!  After a rather weird intro, the album kicks off with the mid-paced Global Warming.  From then on, the band goes on to mix it up between mid-paced stompers and fast-paced thrashing goodness!  They even toss in a cover of He's A Woman / She's A Man, that might be a bit odd amongst the rest of the tunes, but is actually done quite well.  Most of the lyrics are about society, pollution, war (guess which track?), and unfair reviewers / music critics.  I'd say my favorites here would be The 'Hood, Process Elimination, Branded and Welcome To Kuwait.

 Faff-Bey - Birthday (1991)
I ran across the name of this band somewhere, and was always curious about them.  Faff-Bey are quite unknown to most people, so finding information or sound clips was problematic.  Anyway, I kept hearing these guys referred to as a "twisted" thrash band.  This is definitely thrash, but the only reason I can see for calling them a "twisted" thrash band would be the lyrics.  The tongue is pretty much firmly planted in the cheek here, though the odd serious lyric does crop up.  Faff-Bey utilizes a heavy mid-paced approach, though 4 of tracks here are pretty high-speed, intense affairs.  3 of the songs are slow-paced, crushing numbers.  There is enough variety here to keep anyone from getting bored!  The riff work is very solid, though they don't use 20 riffs a song.  No, they are more like Meliah Rage were back in their early days, where they used only a few riffs, but used them to great effect!  The drum work here is very good, and the bass is also very well done.  The bass is actually a bit more prominent in the mix than usual, but not too forward.  Vocalist Maike has the typical sound for a thrash frontman, but his accent (remember, these guys are from Finland) gives him a charisma that he otherwise probably wouldn't have had.  The only knock I have here is that there is precisely 1 solo among the 11 tracks (and it doesn't show up 'til track 10).  However, I'll admit that I didn't even notice until my second listen, so it's not THAT big of a problem.  You can chalk this one up as another quality thrash band from Finland that suffered from lack of worldwide exposure.

 Grinder - Nothing Is Sacred (1991)
It's funny when I hear an album that has taken an absolute beating in reviews for the first time.  Sometimes I am floored by it and wonder what exactly that those reviewing parties were smoking.  Other times, I can kinda agree with the review, but still enjoy the album a great deal.  This is a case where I am split between those 2 reactions.  Grinder play a brand of thrash that is slightly more "Bay Area" sounding than Germanic, where Grinder hails from.  The reason I wonder what the other reviewers were smoking at the time is that Grinder are very good at what they do.  They write quality thrash thrash, the riffs are good, the vocals are sufficiently powerful (he actually reminds me of Phil Rind from Sacred Reich a bit), and the drum work is top notch!  The reason I can somewhat agree with others using the term generic is because the album comes off as a bit "dry".  The production was a bit flat, and makes the music sound watered down.  Better production would have helped!  Still, this is a good album that thrash nuts (like myself) should enjoy.  There are plenty of full-throttle thrashers like Hymn For The Isolated and The Spirit Of Violence.  Tracks like Superior Being and Nothing Is Sacred are more stomping, mid-paced romps.  Two tracks, Pavement Tango and The Nothing Song are very odd.  I think they were meant to be funny, but come off as very out of place.  In my opinion, it's a solid album that I enjoy from time to time.

 Hämmer - Terror (1992)
Sometimes I just don't understand why people don't like certain bands and albums.  The most common terms I've heard about these guys are "not too interesting" and "strained delivery that's not too appealing".  I mean, I know I'm a thrash diehard.  I've said it a million times.  Seriously, though, this album isn't THAT bad.  Yah, it's a bit generic in parts, but come on!  Not every single band can be 100% original.  Even those few that are sometimes fall flat on their faces trying to BE original.  This album is quite solid.  Good riffs and leads.  Solid bass playing and wild drumming.  The vocals might not be everyone's cup of tea.  Rob Keller has a noticeable accent, and I know some people don't like that.  I, however, think it adds character.  His voice is gruff and is fairly distinct.  I can't think of anyone he sounds like.  He does tend to shout a bit much, but it isn't hardcore sounding or anything.  Oh, and the song Inside Looking Out is an Animal's cover.  Decent enough, though it does stand out quite a bit (not like ANYTHING else on the album).  Maybe this one is only for thrash diehards.  I don't care; you go complain, I'll be bangin' my head!

 Intruder - Psycho Savant (1992)
Intruder hails from the home of country music, Nashville Tennessee (or Thrashville, as they like to refer to it).  Can't say that I actually know of ANY other thrash bands from there.  Intruder are definitely worthy of attention, though!  They started out playing a fairly straightforward brand of thrash metal, and got more ambitious and technical with each release.  Psycho Savant is the culmination of their career (at least up to this point; the band HAS reformed but no new material has been released).  The songs here are longer than before, and slightly more complex than anything done prior.  The band have a very tight sound here, with great riffs, bass lines, and precise drumming.  Vocalist Jimmy Hamilton has an excellent voice for this type of thrash, as he is aggressive but can let out some piercing screams!  The band uses a lot of different tempos from song to song, and even within each song the tempo varies nicely.  My favorite track here has to be the amazing Traitor To The Living, a song that I would personally rank among the best thrash songs from ANY band.  Though most tracks range from 6 to 7 minutes, they never get boring, or drag along.  If you haven't heard Intruder, go correct that error right now!

 Laaz Rockit - Annihilation Principle (1989)
Laaz Rockit started out playing an American form of power metal on their first 2 albums.  On their third album, Know Your Enemy, the band moved towards thrash metal, but still had a classic / power metal vibe.  Here on Annihilation Principle, the band now have their sound firmly rooted in thrash.  This album is both darker, and a bit faster in tempo than anything previous.  The guitars are heavy and aggressive, as is the bass, and the drums now utilize mosh beats and double bass kicks.  Micheal Coons, the vocalist, sounds more angry and venemous than ever before as well.  This is my second favorite album from them (the aforementioned Know Your Enemy is my favorite, partly because it was the first thing I heard from them).  The track Holiday In Cambodia is a Dead Kennedy's cover.  There is a nice mix of tempo used here, as some tracks, like Fire In The Hole, are all-out thrashers, while others, like Mob Justice, are mid-paced stompers.  This album really is an unsung classic of the Bay Area thrash movement.

 Mortal Sin - Face Of Despair (1989)
This album is a nice slice of Bay Area styled thrash from Down Under!  Austalia wasn't exactly the home of a great many thrash bands.  Along side Addictive, which featured members from Mortal Sin, these guys are probably the most widely known.  Their first album garnered A LOT of attention and had people labeling them the "next big thing".  This never happened, but I digress.  Truth to tell, I actually like this album a WHOLE lot more than Mayhemic Destruction, their first release.  The production is much better, the band sound tighter and the material is more consistent if you ask me.  Tracks like I Am Immortal, Voyage Of The Disturbed and Martyrs Of Eternity are mostly mid-paced, though I Am Immortal does rip into a massive thrash break, and the riffs are LOADED with hooks!  You can hear the influence Metallica had on these guys.  However, that is NOT to say they are clones because they aren't by ANY stretch!  Oh, and the track Robbie Soles is quite funny.  The verses say R. Soles for president, R. Soles for mayor etc etc.  Say R. Soles with an Aussie accent and you should get the joke.  A criminally underrated album if you ask me, this one is SURE to please thrash fans the world over!

 Nemesis - Nemesis (1997)
So what do you get when you mix former members of German thrash outfits Tankard and Grinder?  Well, in short you get this!  Nemesis consists of 2 guys from Grinder, vocalist/bassist Adrian Hahn and guitarist Andy Ergun, and 2 guys from Tankard, guitarist Axel Katzmann and drummer Arnulf Tunn.  In addition, production duties were handled by Oliver Werner who used to play drums for Tankard, if I'm not mistaken.  Going from the background of it's members, one doesn't have to think to hard as to what style Nemesis play.  This is straight-up classic thrash metal!  Even though Nemesis released this, their one and only album, in 1997 there are absolutely NO modern influences.  The only modern element one can point to is the clear and balanced production.  You won't get any surprises here, as the band doesn't reinvent the wheel.  Full-throttle classic thrash metal, maybe leaning more towards the Bay Area style, is the rule.  The album opens with speed demon All About Art, and from that point on the band hardly slows down at all!  There are only a few occasional mid-paced moments, as Nemesis is content to put the pedal to the metal and leave it there.  As already stated, the listener isn't getting anything "original" but the riffs are solid and quick with sound bass playing and excellent drum work.  There are no technical touches, just straightforward aggressive riffs and solos, basslines and drumming.  Adrian Hahn sounds only slightly different here than he did in Grinder.  His voice isn't as smooth as it was then, with a bit more grit and snarl used here.  If you're a fan of Grinder or Tankard, then this album is a must.  Nemesis should put a smile on the face of most any thrash fan.

 Phalanx - The Judas Touch (1993)
Though they were one of the multitude of obscure German thrashers out there in the early 90's, Phalanx created a surprisingly good album.  The band employ tempo changes and show technical flashes throughout each song.  Instead of mindless pounding, these guys go for a more complex approach.  Full-on thrashing is combined with mid-paced passages, usually within each song, and this mix really keeps things from getting boring.  The track Towards The Pearly Gates is probably the closest the band comes to all-out thrashing.  There are even moments where the speed metal elements take the upper-hand entirely.  The band works to combine elements of the Bay Area scene, with a sound not unlike Exodus, with some refined European speed/thrash.  Vocalist Dennis even sounds a bit like Zetro from Exodus, though he doesn't spit venom and anger like Zetro does.  Dennis sings more than snarling and shouting.  His voice can sound a tiny bit whiney in places.  I enjoy his vocals though and they certainly fit the complex, yet refined nature of the music Phalanx presents here.  The production here is quite good and every instrument can be heard easily.  I would say this is a must have for fans of speed/thrash done in a mature fashion.

 Prestige - Attack Against Gnomes (1989)
I highly doubt most people list Finland as a place they expect a great deal of thrash metal to come from.  Well, that's exactly where Prestige hail from.  What they deliver here is a basic example of European thrash at the time.  It's not an exceptional album, but it's not an album to be casually ignored either.  True fans of thrash metal should eat this speed machine up!  The guitar work is solid with some good, fairly original riffs popping up here and there.  The lead guitar work is excellent.  The bass is pretty audible and is capably handled and the drum work is fantastic!  The drummer even utilizes blast beats here and there, like in the frantic verse sections of Force Of My Hate.  One complain I have here is that 2 of the tracks are basically throw aways.  Rotten Angel in only about a minute long and the vocals are VERY annoying, and Rabb-It is only about 9 seconds.  The band just bang on their instruments and shout something that I can only presume is the song title.  Other than that, this is a fine album to sit back and bang your head to.

 Razor - Open Hostility (1991)
Most Razor albums, and this one is no exception, are pure fury incarnate. This disc is chock full of blazing riffs, screaming leads, pounding bass lines and speedy drumming. Vocalist Bob Reid fits this music to perfection with his raspy, gravelly shouts. The lyrics range from rants against societal or political ills, violence and anger, to downright funny shouts about partying. The production is actually pretty good, as well.  The only knock I can give on this album would be the drum machine. The story is that drummer Rob Mills was injured in a car accident, so rather than replace him Dave Carlo used a drum machine to do the album. It's not like it ruins the album, far from it as it does sound good, it just holds the album down a bit. Other than that one complaint, this is one fine album!  The riffs and solos are typical for a Razor album, as Dave Carlo has a fairly distinct style.  Quick-paced and aggressive, the music doesn't really slow down.  That's probably why I enjoy Razor so much; the assault the listener with full-throttle thrash and really don't give time for one to catch their breath!

 Risk - The Daily Horror News (1988)
This is one of those albums where I read the review of it and immediately had to hear it.  The review (found at www.nolifetilmetal.com) was done by a friend and his tastes are very similar to my own.  What you find here is blazing speed metal, that occasionally borders on thrash.  The guitarist, Romme Keymer, actually came from Angel Dust and played on that bands first, and thrashiest album.  That style is basically carried over here to Risk.  The album kicks off with Living In Chaos, a full speed ahead number that sets the tone for most of the album.  The speed doesn't really ever let up!  Vocalist Heinz Mikus has a distinct voice, as he doesn't utitlize the high-octave antics most speed metal singers did, and he doesn't quite have that bit of "nasty" in his voice to fall into the thrash catagory.  He vocals are almost, but not quite, a shout.  Still, he fits the style Risk employ here, and does quite a good job giving the music character.  My favorite track on here is probably the speedy and aggressive Roadwar.  All in all, this is a very good speed metal album!

 Sacrificial - Forever Entangled (1993)
Just a few short months before I heard this, I could honestly say I had never even heard of this band from Denmark.  I was online browsing through some people's want lists to see if I either had, or could find something to trade them, and that's when I saw this listed.  I did a bit more research and saw that this was pure thrash metal.  Am I ever glad that I did all that because it is just vicious!  Imagine if you will a cross between Invocator's first two albums (Invocator is also from Denmark, so it isn't very surprising that the two bands sound alike).  You get the violent and pummeling sound of Weave The Apocalyse mixed with the manic riffing and blazing speed of Excursion Demise.  Forever Entangled thrashes from the word go, and doesn't let it's foot off the gas until the end!  The vocals are somewhat similar to Invocator's as well, but the singer here has a slightly deeper sound.  My only complaints about this album would be the length, as at 7 songs it does some rather short, and the production is somewhat muted.  You really have to crank it up to hear it really good.  I'm sure in some circles, though, this isn't a bad thing!

 Slammer - The Work Of Idle Hands... (1989)
Boy, does album ever come out swinging!  Tenement Zone just roars out of the gates.  It really sets the tone for the album.  Very aggressive thrash, somewhat akin to early Metallica.  Paul Tunnicliffe sounds SLIGHTLY like James Hetfield.  However, I think he has a much bigger meanstreak in his voice.  His lyrics just drip with venom.  The band are quite proficient at what they do.  Excellent riffs and blazing solos abound here.  Good bass lines, though the bass is a bit back in the mix sometimes.  The drum work is also very good.  Though they are British, Slammer have a very "Bay Area" type sound.  My favorite tracks would have to be Tenement Zone, If Thine Eye, Johnny's Home and Hunt You Down.  I seriously recommend this one to all thrash fans.  Fans of Ride The Lightning era Metallica would like this one methinks.

 Terminator - Probability Of Doom (1991)
Probability Of Doom is quite an ambitious album.  Instaed of using full-bore pounding, and all-speed-all-the-time, Terminator utilizes a slightly more progressive form of songwriting.  They use a lot of tempo changes within each song, and even add accoustic riffs in a few places.  I believe much of this is done in order to create a specific atmosphere.  From what I can tell of the lyrics (a friend translated a few songs for me), it's about pain, suffering, and a coming apocalypse to the world.  The lyrics are all in the bands native tongue, that being Czech.  Now, don't let the progressive tag I mentioned scare you away, as the band can thrash it up with the best of them.  They also use some very heavy mid-paced riffage, and double-bass kick!  If you like something that is a bit "away from the norm" then this is a must try!  The band is very talented.  While they aren't easily accessable, they are interesting!  As with everything released on the Monitor label, this album is very, very rare.

 Toxin - Misanthrophy (1991)
Unlike their more well-known counterparts from Germany like Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction, Toxin went for a complex and original sound with their thrash metal.  This 4-piece band combine forceful and frentic riffs with technical and unique ones.  The bass hammers along with them, which is quite a feat in and of itself!  The drum work is especially good, keeping time with the tempo shifts easily.  One thing that is a bit different from the norm is that the band uses two vocalists.  Each singer basically takes turns from song to song, and they both have a noticeably different sound.  For instance, the singer on album opener Two Sided Existence (Michael Kramer) has a cleaner style with some grit coming through on occasion.  What's crazy, though, is the fact that he's also the drummer!  Imagine trying to belt out lyrics while keeping up with this bands style.  The singer on Misanthrophy (Frank Ungewickel, who also handles guitars), has an almost hardcore approach with his gruff shouts and barks.  For some reason, though, this works in the bands favor!  Each singer fits the songs he handles duties on, and the album actually flows nicely from track to track.  As I've already pointed out, Toxin have a style all their own.  They can thrash without mercy, yet they can also break out technical, even slightly progressive, passages with ease.  Two Sided Existence opens things with a bang, being a fast and merciless thrasher, but with highly original yet catchy riffs.  It's only a hint of things to come, as the band play with the tempo quite often and the riffs and bass are NEVER boring.  The one big surprise here is the mellow (for the most part) Disintegration.  It's almost a full-fledged progressive piece, though the aggression gets ramped up quite a bit in a few places during the course of the 8+ minute song.  A very original album, and a MAJOR gem from the German underground!  If you're looking for something that commands your attention, or desire to hear a band with a distinct and original sound, then this one will tickle your pickle for sure!!

 Vulture - Easier To Lie (1993)
This album is a fine example of thrash done to near perfection!  It has a lot of variety over the course of the album.  Some are full throttle thrashers, such as Hatred At First Sight and the title track.  Others are slower, crushing pieces like Near Death or Alter Ego.  While the riffs on this album are all fairly simple, they are loaded with hook and are very effective.  The leads are well played and simply shred!  You can hear the bass thumping along clearly and it never gots lost in the mix, and the drum work here explodes out of the speakers. It is absolutely phenominal!  The major highlight of this album, though, would be the vocals.  Rick Ritman has one of those higher pitched voices that go so well with thrash.  He effortlessly switches from lower to higher registers.  His lyrics are also a plus, as most of them are well thought out lines of social and political commentary, with some about polution as well.  This album, in my opinion, is a true unknown gem!

 Witchhammer - 1487 (1990)
Witchhammer were one of the few acts from Norway to play speed / thrash metal.  Though the country didn't produce a large number of such acts, the ones that did come from that region were all pretty unique and all were quite good.  Witchhammer is no exception to this!  Their style is European speed / thrash metal maybe somewhat similar to very early Helloween, but with more grit and aggression.  Listening to the intro, you'd be forgiven for thinking you're about to get some flowery ball-less power metal.  The beginning of Transylvania should begin to alleviate those fears a bit as you get a heavy, marching chug with spoken word vocals.  It's from that point that the band let loose on you!  The song turns into a rampaging speed/thrasher that takes no prisoners.  It joins Enola Gay, a quick-paced speed metal tune with quite a catchy chorus, and Curiosity About Death, another full-throttle speed/thrash number, as the fastest songs here.  Curiosity About Death has a strange choral opening, but it quickly opens the aggression and ratchets up the tempo.  The other songs present are mid-paced stompers, with Kill All In Sight and By This Axe I Rule having a nice dose of thrash attitude.  The Whore Of Babylon is the lone exception, being a ballad-like track, but one that introduces heavy riffs in parts and is quite enjoyable.  Everything about this album is done well; the guitars that go from quick and speedy to stomping and heavy riffs, the screaming lead guitar work throughout the album, the obvious bass that pounds along with the riffs, the steady and pummeling drumming, and last but CERTAINLY not least the outstanding vocals!  Per Stale Pettersen has an amazing voice and can switch to a mid-range aggression from soaring vocals and high screams easily and smoothly.

This album was originally released on vinyl ONLY back in 1990.  It finally saw a CD release in 2005 by Dazed & Confused Records to celebrate the 15th anniversary of it's release.  My copy was a gift from a friend of mine in Norway (thanks Kurt!!) and has been a very nice addition to my collection ever since.