| The
Review |
There is no doubt that these guys
helped set the standard for the German thrash metal scene
along with other Euro bands such as Grave Digger, Kreator,
and Rage back in the day. And even the cries of the 'essential'
standpoint of their classic LP 'Agent Orange still rings in
the metal nation as the band still reigns within their kingdom
of all things brash and heavy. ***
But not only was the standard for
thrash metal, but for melodic extreme metal, way before the
genre existed; however these guys know how to convey the aggressive
stance the right way; the same way Slayer and Death Angel
would as US counterparts. With their latest self-titled effort,
there is no diluting of the heaviness of the musical approach,
it's like it's the thrash heyday all over again, with the
riffage and pulsating rhythms blasting the eardrums at maximum
volume. ***
In hindsight, the brash approach
is in full force throughout, especially with cuts such as
the sub anthem "Buried in the Justice Ground," the speed riddled
Sabbath-esque "Axis of Evil," and the ultra heavy "Lay Down
the Law,"they don't let up at all on this one. The guitar
attack is thick with the virtuoso shredding wrenching throughout,
vocally, the pipes are somewhat harsh, more like a scream,
rather than a death metal growl, but its still on key and
you can make out what Tom Angelripper is saying. He obviously
wouldn't want it another way, due to the fact that these guys
always had a political agenda when it came to their lyrics.
When summing it up, it's like you can imagine the vinyl LP
spinning around when listening to this disc, bringing back
the glory days of thrash in a world where it tends to be all
about noise in the aura of extreme tinged music. ***
Tommy Hash
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