Posts Tagged ‘cd reviews’
Eyefear – Edge Of Existence (1996)
Wow. It’s not very often that I put a CD in to rip that iTunes doesn’t recognize, but this is one of them. I really am quite 
shocked.
This is another band that Kelz turned me on to through one of his many compilation tapes. Eyefear hail from Australia and surprisingly enough they are still together, not that I really care now. This is the definitive album by them.
It was the opening track, Of Blind Faith, that he had on there and it is just one of those almost perfect songs, albeit the intro is a bit lengthy. The album has some elements of prog and traditional metal. It’s not the tightest of albums but it all just seems to work. Sort of like the Vis Vires album I reviewed a while back. Not perfect, but done well enough to leave a lasting impression.
The vocals really do it for me. Too bad he only lasted for one album. Lots of good vocal harmonies throughout. There are some tasty guitar solos on here as well. I think one of the guitarists was a fan of Andy LaRocque as I hear a few ripped off hooks…not that there’s anything wrong with that. None of the songs really pick up speed that much besides the title track. No matter, it’s worth hearing.
I own 2 copies of this CD. One of them I got from Sentinel Steel Records and I think the other I janked off of eBay.
Agressor – Say Your Prayers (1996)
Here’s a good one from the vaults that most metalheads probably haven’t heard…but should. Agressor was a NY band 
that apparently had been around since the 1980s but really only got decent recognition when their debut full length album, Say Your Prayers, was released in 1996. Kelz turned me on to these guys on a compilation tape that he had made for me. After hearing it I immediately called Sentinel Steel Records and ordered it from Denis.
The best description is to call these guys a poor man’s Overkill because the singer could fill in for Blitz and I doubt anyone would notice the difference. Say Your Prayers certainly has a feel of Overkill’s Feel the Fire and Taking Over, but of course not quite as good…and a decade late. That being said I have always loved this CD.
These guys apparently changed their name to Magus Beast in 2002 and I don’t think they ever released anything else.
If you dig Overkill’s early sound, then certainly download this and you won’t be disappointed.
AT WAR – Infidel – CD Review
It was 1987 when I first met and saw these guys. I was with some former friends and I think we were at the keg party on 
Potter’s Rd seeing Ratchet. I saw them live shortly thereafter and was just blown away. Pure American thrash. They were good friends with another band from that area that I loved, O.T.T., so I got to see and hang out with these guys often. I believe I may have only seen them live twice, which was a pity since they were local homeboys.
It was pretty exciting for me when Paul sat in with my Motorhead tribute band and sang The Hammer. What an honor! It’s really only been in recent years that I really got to know those guys and again, it’s a pity that I don’t live near them these days. Paul and I have become great pals and I got to hang with him here in Austin quite a bit a few months ago when he came in for a visit. What a blast! He’s still a maniac. I love it.
But I guess I am here to talk about their latest album, Infidel. All of us have been asking those guys for years when they would get back together and do another album. We always heard the same thing, “It’s coming.” Sure, Paul. It had been coming for 20 years!
But then it happened. Boom. At War got on Myspace. Started posting news about recording an album with the world famous Alex Perialas. The buzz got going and I was excited that they were really doing it.
So when the record came out, I pulled the rock star card and emailed Paul with “Where’s my copy?” It was said facetiously as anyone who knows me knows I always buys CDs and even hate being on the guest list for a band. Those folks aren’t playing for free, ya know? But Paul sent me one anyway. It was nice to see my name in the special thanks, albeit undeservedly.
So I put the album on right when it came in. BOOM!
AT WAR! Infidel!
Fourteen seconds of noise and then it’s Paul Arnold in your face on the opener Assassins. Hot damn, this sounds like At War! I’ve listened to this about 15 times now and there’s not a stinker in the bunch. If you’ve ever liked At War, then you still will. This really picks up where they left off 22 years ago, except with better production.
It’s difficult for a band that gets back together to record 15+ plus years after the fact and to be able to retain the level of good metal that they once had. At War did it with this one. To be truthful I like this one even better than their previous albums. I really don’t think I am being biased at all. This album kills. It’s At Wars perfect blend of Venom, Motorhead and their own touch of thrash that really always set them a bit apart of other thrash bands of their time.
So…Nice work Paul, Shawn and Dave! Now bring the show to Austin, you fuckers!
Watchtower – Energetic Disassembly (1985)
I remember clearly the first time I saw this on cassette. It was at the Music Man at Military Circle Mall in Norfolk, VA. 
The cover was upside down as compared to how the majority of cassette j-cards were printed. It always struck me as odd but I always felt it was intentional, especially after listening to this album at least 100 times since I first heard it. It certainly turned my mind upside down several times.
My friends and I were pretty shocked by this one. Most of us were into thrash ala Overkill’s Feel the Fire, Anthrax, Testament etc…but this was something different. Something special even.
The album opens with a frenetic frantic pace with crazy guitar riffs, insane bass lines and hyperactive drumming. They don’t stop until the end of the album. Mix all of this with Jason McMaster’s incredible vocals that cut through all of this madness and you have a perfect technical thrash album…perhaps the first truly technical thrash album. Some may debate that one but for me, this is the first.
While I love every song on this album, my absolute favorites are Tyrants In Distress, Violent Change, Meltdown and Argonne Forest. The whole band really seems to just be together and well-rehearsed. Billy White (f. Don Dokken), Doug Keyser and Rick Colaluca just flat out lay it down on this album. Period.
I still don’t feel that this album gets enough respect although some of the major metal players loved them such as Chuck Schuldiner (RIP) and Dream Theater. Watchtower set the standard early for technical metal. Their popularity is Europe still seems to be pretty strong as I believe they’re playing one of the Euro-Metal fests in 2010. It seems that they are still pretty huge in Greece.
While Control and Resistance was a good follow-up and was partially written by Billy White, a lot changed in their sound. Ron Jarzombek (Spastic Ink) and Allan Tecchio (Hades, Non-Fiction) do a fine job, but the loss of Jason McMaster and Billy White took them down a slightly different progressive thrash metal path. Both albums are certainly worth owning, but I have always preferred the debut.
Watchtower is in the studio recording a new album with McMaster on vocals (!!!) and I can’t wait to hear the whole thing. Hopefully I’ll finally get to see them live.
Living here in Austin, TX now, it is great to see how much that band is loved and respected around here. It gives me a warm tingly feeling. It’s also pretty incredible for me to have McMaster in my Motorhead tribute band. He’s a talented musician all the way around and bring a lot of energy to the band on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Certainly one of my musical idols.
If you don’t own Energetic Disassembly and you like thrash, prog-metal, RUSH on steroids, you need to own this one.
Just do it.
“Breakdown, warning – Nuclear nightmare, reality”
Motorhead…MOTORHEAD!
To be truthful, I’m still only a relatively new fan of Motorhead. I never really checked them out in the 80s and never 
owned anything by them until the 1916 album, which I love. I first saw them live in 1993 and really only went to see Mikkey Dee and got to hang out with him quite a bit that day. It was seemingly a down time for them as the Peppermint Beach Club in Virginia Beach, VA may have been half full. I’m glad to see that their popularity has gone back up in the last decade or so.
It really wasn’t until the last 10 years that I started digging deep into their repertoire and became a fan, especially of the Fast Eddie/Philthy era. One of the first ones that I bought was the debut album, Motorhead.
I can see why a lot of the punk crowd digs this album because it really is a punk record IMHO. I love it and it’s easily in my top 5 Motorhead albums.
Train Kept A-Rollin’ notwithstanding, this album is almost perfect. I never cared for that song after hearing the Aerosmith version my whole life. Blech! But the title track, Lost Johnny, Vibrator, Keep Us On The Road, IRON HORSE/BORN TO LOSE!!! C’mon! Those songs are great!
Oddly enough, though, I don’t think this album gets enough credit. Granted the production isn’t the greatest and it’s not really a heavy album, it shows their roots quite a bit. When people ask me what I recommend to start them off on a band, generally I tell them to start at the beginning and work their way up and this is especially true with Motorhead. The transition from this album to Overkill is perfect. Getting the On Parole version is worthwhile as well.
Alright!
The Metal Files 
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