Posts Tagged ‘thrash metal’
Voodoocult – Jesus Killing Machine (1994)
So here’s an odd one from my collection. To be honest I never liked this album that much. The only reason I bought it 
was because of who played on it…Dave Lombardo and Chuck Schuldiner (RIP). The music is pretty pedestrian thrash/death metal and even the drums are pretty boring. Some of Chuck’s solos are pretty good, but in general the album was boring.
That being said I kept this CD because I had both Dave and Chuck sign it on separate occasions. Both guys gave the exact same reaction…”This actually came out?” Chuck asked me to burn a copy for him and send it, which I of course did.
I was pretty sad when Chuck died. When we met him at Jaxx (Springfield, VA) on the Death/Hammerfall Tour, he came outside to meet everyone, soaking wet in a robe and flippy floppies and it was freezing outside. He was very cool. I met Dave at the same place when he was drumming for Testament on The Gathering Tour. Talk about a cool dude. I got to talk to him for a bit with his son. I handed him a stack of CD covers including the River’s Edge soundtrack. “We were on this?” I said, “Dude, it’s half the reason I wanted to see the movie in the first place!” Good times.
Tracks:
- Killer Patrol – 3:57
- Metallized Kids – 4:26
- Jesus Killing Machine – 4:32
- Born Bad and Sliced! – 3:58
- Albert is a Headbanger – 3:50
- Hellatio – 3:15
- Death Don’t Dance With Me – 4:08
- Art Groupie – 4:53
- Blood Surfer City – 5:03
- Voodoocult – 4:09
- Bitchery Bay – 5:32
Band:
- Phillip Boa – Vocals
- Chuck Schuldiner – Guitar
- Gabby Abularach – Guitar
- Waldemar Sorychta – Guitar
- Mille Petrozza – Guitar
- Dave Ball – Bass
- Dave Lombardo – Drums
Solstice – Solstice (1992)
This is one that I picked up around the time it debuted mainly because of the label it was on. Century Media Records 
was putting out some cool stuff like Iced Earth at the time so I thought I’d give this a shot. Glad I did. It’s a good cross between death and thrash metal without getting too over the top. I guess they featured members of Cannibal Corpse, Demolition Hammer, Disincarnate, Divine Empire, Hateplow, Hellwitch, Malevolent Creation, Resurrection; none of which I have ever cared about in the least.
I really liked the drummer on this release. Some really good footwork.
Overall this isn’t the greatest band to come from that Florida death/thrash scene but this album is certainly worth a listen. It’s been out of print for quite some time.
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”
Damien Thorne – Sign of the Jackal – CD Review
Damien Thorne hit the scene in 1986 with their debut release Sign of the Jackal on Roadrunner Records. At that time 
Roadrunner had decent distribution and their tapes and records were in most stores. I am pretty sure a former friend from high school and I were out and about when this one got discovered. Sometimes it gets hard to remember. Doesn’t matter. This was a good discovery.
Damien Thorne fit the category for what I considered speed metal with a hint of NWOBHM in them. Justin Fates vocals were definitely the high point for me with these guys. He reminded me a lot of Glen May from Tyrant (LA)…good normal singing voice and great high notes heavily laden with reverb/delay/chorus. Good times!
Since I was listening to this on cassette for many years, side 2 would be considered my favorite side. Hell’s Reign, Escape or Die, Siren’s Call and Damien’s Procession (March of the Undead). Side 1 wasn’t shabby by any means, but the album got better as it went along.
DT had pretty decent riffs and good drumming with some good straightforward double bass stuff in it. Most of the songs are good mid-paced US metal.
While Damien Thorne weren’t any sort of groundbreaking act, the debut is certainly worth tracking down. The CD version was available for a few years but seems to be out of print now.
Tonight was the first time I have spun this in a few years and it really brought back good memories of my high school years (there weren’t many) of hanging out in Churchland with the old crew…
Man, looking back it’s a wonder that some of us are still alive. Well, sadly, some of us aren’t. It’s interesting to see who ended up where doing what.
Going back and listening to some of these old albums really sets off some stuff in the brain. It’s a good stroll down memory lane with some music that always takes me back. I definitely wore out a few cassette copies of Sign of the Jackal. Riding around in my 66 Nova II 4dr. While I generally don’t miss those days, there were enough good times intertwined with friends and music that will never be forgotten. Luckily I talk to friends that remind me of an album or I listen to an album that reminds me of some old friends.
Download it here. Buy it if you can find it.
The Metal Files 
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