Record Reviews: New Releases from July 2012
Ya know, it’s kind of funny that I named this site Johnny Ringo’s Reviews, and started it just so I could review albums I listen to alot and really enjoy, yet it seems I am only able to do one new release post a month due to release schedules not being consistently good as well as the other posts I’ve been putting up on the site. With July now being over, I chose my favorite albums I heard that were released and I hope you’ll check them out. Thanks so much for reading and check out my Facebook page to keep up to date with my posts.
Nile – At The Gate Of Sethu
Even if you’ve never heard Nile before, you could probably tell from the name and their artwork that founding guitarist Karl Sanders is a huge nerd for Egyptian folklore. They are one of the more unique death metal bands you’ll ever hear due to their incredibly complex/unique Egyptian theme.
Though I haven’t enjoyed an album of theirs front-to-back since 2005′s “Annihilation Of The Wicked”, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It seems that their last two albums, particularly “Those Whom The Gods Detest” got kind of boring after awhile, but “Sethu” manages to keep me intrigued throughout the entire affair. Though the album is incredibly heavy and technical, it does feature a few strange tracks that aren’t really metal, particularly the song “Slaves of Xul” which sounds like something from an Indiana Jones movie. The songs on the album that stood out in particular to me are the album closer “The Chaining of the Iniquitous” and “The Inevitable Degradation of Flesh” because both of them feature some incredibly catchy guitar work with a very unique tone. I also love the song “Tribunal of the Dead”which features headbangable riff upon headbangable riff.
Though this album still sounds a lot like the majority of Nile’s discography, I enjoy it quite a bit because the riffs are heavy and incredibly catchy, plus the album gets better and better with repeated listens. The album is especially worth listening to if you’re a fan of the band or their drummer George Kollias.
Bonded By Blood – The Aftermath
Bonded By Blood are a thrash revivalist band from Pomona, Ca and “The Aftermath” is their third album put out by Earache Records. Though I’m not normally a fan of newer thrash bands -especially ones who directly rip off their name from a classic thrash album- I actually love this band.
Before hearing 2010′s “Exiled To Earth”, their last with founding vocalist Jose Barrales, I wrote them off as another boring thrash band, but after reading about that album’s amazing sci-fi concept, I gave them a chance and fell in love. One interesting note about “The Aftermath” is that the album features vocalist Mauro Gonzalez who joined the band right after “Exiled” was released, but this is his first album with them. Musically speaking, if you know what thrash metal sounds like, you can fairly predict how the album sounds genre-wise but I feel they do have a strong amount of musicianship and considering they only feature one guitarist now, I have to say I’m still pretty impressed with how this record turned out. As far as standout tracks go, check out the songs “Shepherds Of Rot” and “Show No Fear” as they are perfect for beer-drinkin and hellraisin.
When you compare Bonded By Blood to some of the other standout thrash revival bands nowadays like Vektor, Municipal Waste, and Havok, they definitely hold their own, and they definitely make you want to bang your head as if up from the dead, particularly because intense metal is all that you need.
Primate – Draw Back A Stump
Primate is a band from Atlanta, Ga formed by Kevin Sharp of Brutal Truth and Bill Kelliher of Mastodon. According to Kevin Sharp, the band was formed simply because he wanted to be a part of a band with all members located in Atlanta, but if you didn’t know that you would assume they were formed out of necessity one night after drinking a few too many beers and listening to too much Discharge and breaking things together.
The album actually came out a year or two ago, but it was released in a limited run by the band themselves and it’s just now getting a proper release by Relapse Records this year. Musically speaking, the album is full of scathing punk rock/d-beat fury, and it features the trademark vocal style of Kevin Sharp which is now legendary in my opinion; I’m also incredibly impressed at Bill Kelliher’s riffs and solos which are much more extreme than anything he’d do on a Mastodon album nowadays. As far as the attitude of the album goes, when you listen to songs like “Draw Back A Stump”, “Drinking And Driving”, “Wasted Youth” and “Get The Fuck Off My Lawn”, you can tell that this band’s only goal really is having fun and unleashing a pure, unadulterated, furious punk rock energy, and if you like angry, fast music that’s played well, this is the record for you.
Baroness – Yellow & Green
One thing I’d like to mention is that this review is not going to be very long because when it was released I did an extensive review of it for my friends at Sojourners Indecisive, which you can view HERE.
If you’re reading this and you’re a fan of heavy music, you’ve probably already, if not heard this record, you’ve at least read a ton of reviews of it. Just in case you haven’t heard it, all you need to know is that it’s the best album to be released this year without question. The thing that makes it so good to me is the fact that they are able to seamlessly mix their signature style of huge, epic guitar riffs with an incredibly unique, previously unexplored style that’s incredibly hard to label as anything other than beautiful rock music.
In my review for Sojourners Indecisive, I said the album is like a rollercoaster and I firmly believe that’s the best way to describe it honestly thanks to sounds like “Take My Bones Away” and “Sea Lungs” which both feature amazing upbeat rock n’ roll riffs only to have the vibe change completely with songs like “Little Things” and “Eula” which have more of an indie/psychedelic vibe to them. This album features two discs and like the songs on each that vary in style and delivery, both discs also have a different sound with Yellow being more upbeat and Green more indie influenced. The bottom line on this album is that it’s a HUGE step in a new direction for the band and I feel it’s one that’s going to change their career path from underground heroes to rock n’ roll legends, a transformation not unlike their friends and fellow Georgia natives Mastodon and Kylesa have undergone and they definitely deserve every accolade they are going to receive.
Black Cowgirl – Black Cowgirl
One cool thing about this blog is that I’m occasionally sent music to review that completely blows my mind and leaves me no choice but to write about it. This album from Black Cowgirl is definitely one of those albums. Black Cowgirl are a rock n’ roll band from Lancaster, Pa who feature a sound very similar to Clutch and as well as their instrumental side project The Company Band. This debut full length of theirs is actually two old E.P.s combined to create one full album of incredibly solid, groovy, monstrous riff after monstrous riff.
When the albums opener “Talk Of Wolves” begins, one thing becomes incredibly evident, guitarist/vocalist Ben Mcguire’s voice sounds eerily similar to Chris Cornell-not the whiny douche Cornell has morphed into today, mind you, it’s more like the Cornell of the debut Audioslave album and Soundgarden’s heyday. Once I got past the grungy vocals on the album, the other thing that struck me is the super bluesy, southern-fried, almost funky guitar riffs courtesy of Mcguire and fellow guitarist Nate Rosenzweig. In fact, if you were listening to this album without knowing anything about the band, you might assume they are from Arkansas, Alabama, or Georgia, not Pennsylvania. Another fact worth noting is that their drummer is Mark Hanna, previously of the awesome band Backwoods Payback.
The first song I heard from these guys, and undoubtedly the one that got me hooked, is “Weigh Of Oblivion” which features an awesome, guitar heroey intro that reminds me alot of bands I heavily adore like Kyuss and Fu Manchu, but you can tell that their main influence is Clutch as far as guitar tone and tone and whatnot is concerned. Aside from the obvious influences, another band they remind me of with their grungy vocals laid over a furious rock n’ roll sound, is a band called Kings Destroy who, like Clutch and Black Cowgirl, are from the north yet they proudly sport a decidedly southern sound. If you are looking for bad ass rock music with a bluesy swing, these guys are definitely worth a listen. You can check them out on Facebook HERE and you can purchase their music on itunes or listen to it HERE.
Gaza – No Absolutes In Human Suffering
I still remember the exact moment I became a fan of this band. It was at a show in Monroe, La with a band called Thumbscrew. I specifically remember being blown away by how technically proficient they were, but the thing I really remember was when their vocalist Casey Hansen said “hello Louisiana, we are Gaza from Salt Lake City, Utah and I hope you guys aren’t pissed we stole your basketball team”, the best part of that story is that I was literally the only person in the crowd who even had an idea what he was talking about.
As far as the music on the album goes, these guys started out as a chaotic “mathcore” band and have progressed mightily since their infantile stages, in fact I’d say they have added quite a bit of doom to their repertoiree because there are some riffs on this album that are absolutely preposterously heavy. If I had to pigeon-hole Gaza into a particular genre I would call them doomy mathcore sludge grind…confusing right? That’s the thing, though the album is incredibly heavy, the speed and style with which each song and riff is delivered varies quite a bit on the album, always managing to keep you on your toes wondering what they’re going to do next.
One thing about Gaza that I’ve never understood is how underrated they are, these guys are like the John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek of the metal community and hopefully with the release of their third super solid album in a row these guys will finally get some well-earned recognition.
Nachtmystium – The Silencing Machine
Man, I’ve been waiting quite a while to hear this album and I must say, it was totally worth the wait. This is Nachtmystium’s sixth full length studio album and their third for Century Media. Their last two albums for Century Media were part of a series called “Black Meddle” in which the band, who are traditionally black metal, added a heavy psychedelic Pink Floyd vibe to their music that created a deliciously unique sound. For the new record, however, the band went back to their straightforward black metal ways, however, there are certainly some awesome twists and turns.
One thing I’ve noticed about the sound of Nachtmystium aside from a heavy black metal influence, is the fact that they have many different influences and a few of them, particularly their love for post-rock and classic rock came out on this album. Though they didn’t use “Black Meddle” in the title of the album, when you listen to songs like “Decimation, Annihilation” and “Silencing Machine” you can definitely hear some weird noises courtesy of keyboardist/producer extraordinaire Sanford Parker that give you the sensation of tripping on ecstasy in a dungeon trying to avoid being tortured at all cost.
Overall, I feel like Blake Judd and company came out and produced an incredibly solid record that mixes awesome, furious black metal with some very cool sounds and styles to create one of the more unique black metal albums you’ll hear all year, and honestly, I think that just because it doesn’t have Meddle int he name, doesn’t mean it’s not super creative.
Testament – Dark Roots Of Earth
So far 2012 seems to be the year of thrash, man. So far we’ve gotten killer releases from Overkill, Kreator and Municipal Waste, as well as Bonded By Blood so with the release of Testament’s tenth album “Dark Roots Of Earth”, it appears the winning streak will continue.
Testament are one of my favorite thrash bands of all time and definitely deserve to be recognized alongside the other huge names of the genre as one of the greatest. Their newest album “Dark Roots Of Earth” is the follow up to 2008′s masterpiece “The Formation Of Damnation”. The album features all of the band’s signature elements like Chuck Billy’s legendary voice as well as the guitar work of Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson- a duo that I consider to be one of the greatest of all time-the album also features Mean Gene Hoglan on drums for the first time in 15 years. As far as the actual songs on the album go, I wasn’t big on the song “Native Blood” when I first heard it, but after listening in the context of the album it’s an absolute monster. I also really like the song “Dark Roots Of Earth” for it’s old school “New Order” vibe, in fact, it’s not the only song on the album with an old school vibe, the song “A Day In The Death” starts out with a great bassline from original bassist Greg Christian and then proceeds to unleash an epic old school thrash attack. Aside from awesome old school thrash songs, the album features an incredible cover of Iron Maiden’s “Powerslave” where Chuck Billy puts his own touch on the vocals and creates absolute magic.
Honestly, if I had never heard of Testament and were walking through a record store and saw this album cover, I would buy it immediately based on the cover and title alone. I really shouldn’t have to convince you to buy a Testament album because it features their original lineup of Skolnick, Billy, Christian, and Peterson playing super awesome thrash with Gene Hoglan on drums and there’s not much else to say.
Guest Post: Best Albums of 2012 by Erin Malone
This evening I continue my mid-year look at some of the best albums of 2012 with a guest submission from Erin Malone, guitarist of Fall Of Seraphs, Mercurial, and Cancer Whore. Erin is currently putting the finishing touches on the new Fall of Seraphs album and it should be ready by the fall, so be on the look out for it, you can check them out on facebook HERE. You can check out all of Erin’s bands’ music by clicking the links above. If you or your band would be interested in submitting a guest post, please contact me at my Facebook page.
1. VAN HALEN – “A Different Kind of Truth”- Say what you want about 8 of 13 songs being old demo’s re-worked for this album… isn’t that what every recorded song is anyway? A song the band has played for some time letting it grow and then recorded in a studio for a full length album? The deal is now a days with technology you can access these old bootleg demos and hear them. I’ve listened to each of these songs demo’s from the Gene Simmons financed “ZERO Demo” and they sound way better now. Anyways, this album is awesome and EVERY song is great…even Tattoo! Eddie is shredding solo’s (China Town!!!) and DRL is still the best front man of all time. Though his vocals aren’t what they used to be, he makes up for that in a “story telling” type of mannerism with a few of his signature “ panther screams” still injected just at the right moment.. Only thing is its missing Michael Anthony… but that wouldn’t have changed the song writing/ structure, just missing his signature background vocals and bass lines. This is my #1 pick of 2012 and has been along wait since I first heard Van Halen with DLR in 1984!
2. ADRENALINE MOB – “OMERTA’ ” – Russell Allen…enough said. The greatest progressive/ power metal singer alive today. His main band Symphony X is probably my favorite band. Combine Russell Allen with Mike Portnoy and you have some amazing talent just ready to highlight some decent songs written by unknown guitar hero Mike Orlando. Some of the lyrics can be “cheesy“ at times…but I love this CD and it sounds really great in a good car stereo! The rhythm section is awesome but the true highlight is Russell Allen. His talent and power can not be denied! Also try Symphony X “Iconoclast”… you won’t be disappointed!
3. HUNTRESS – “Spell Eater” – this band has been on the cover or main article of almost every metal mag lately. The reason is the singer/ main songwriter Jill Janus is really hot. But she is really talented as well. Every review I have read has bashed this album, but I really like it. The guitars have a Mercyful Fate kind of ring to it and Jill’s vocals are a cross between Chuck Schuldiner’s vocal tones meets King Diamond’s vocals patterns. Its all about witch craft and paganism. The solo’s rip, the drums are constant and pummeling. It’s just a really great album with a sound all its own. Give it a shot… this band will go far if they can hold it together.
4. BORKNAGAR – “Urd” – the return of I.C.S Vortex! Plus keeping Vintersorg on vocals!!! This is like having David Lee Roth return to Van Halen and keeping Sammy Hagar! Definitely Borknagar’s best album since ICS vortex led album “the Archaic Course”. My favorite track is “Frostrite”. Vortex’s vocals are unmatched by anyone in all genre’s of Metal. He has his own sound that no one can imitate. David Kincaid’s drumming is also a major highlight. Best CD out of Norway in years.
5. ABIGAIL WILLIAMS – “Becoming” – Just read this band is calling it quits after their current US tour. Sucks because they are my favorite new black metal band. This album is very organic. No triggers, sound effects, super production. Just real drums and guitars making some really haunting black metal the way it is supposed to be! I prefer the album prior “In the Absence of Light”, but “Becoming” is definitely an album worth purchasing ASAP! Go check out Abigail Williams before they call it a day. They will be in Baton Rouge on August 19th I believe… hopefully I can make it!
6. VESPERIAN SORROW – “Storm Wind of Ages” – You have probably never heard of this band. They are an excellent black metal band out of Austin TX. I first heard of them when I saw them on a flyer for other Austin TX black metal favorite of mine “Bat Castle”…so I checked them out. They definitely don’t sound like they’re from Texas. Imagine Cradle of Filth/Dimmu but extremely focused, fast and not annoying. I have all of their albums and I hope someone checks them out after reading this. Awesome band that is very underrated and unknown.
7. SIX FEET UNDER – “Undead”- Chris Barnes really made a come back here. If there was a contest between this CD “Undead”and the new Cannibal Corpse “Torture”… Six Feet Under wins by a log shot! The new drummer (Kevin Talley/Daath) and bassist (Jeff Huggel/ Brain Drill) run circles around former members Greg Gauhl and Terry Butler. And new main song writer/guitarist Rob Arnold (Chimera) really brings new life in to this band that was basically on its death bed. Best death metal cd of the year if not last few years.
8. IHSAHN – “Eremita”- I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first 3 solo albums by Ihsahn. To me “the Adversary” is the best then followed by “Angl”. Actually they seem to be less interesting as they go. I have only had this CD for 2 weeks now so I have not been able to listen to it enough for it to really sink in. It’s not bad, but not as good as “the Adversary”.
9. MEGADETH – “13”- This just made me want to listen to old Megadeth. Sounds to “radio friendly”. It’s not bad, just a little less interesting then the previous album “End Game”. Still better than anything Metallica has done in 20 years. Dave should never feel underneath them, he will always be truer to metal and a guitarist than Metallica will ever be.
10. CANNIBAL CORSPSE – “Torture” – Cannibal Corpse is always trying to write the perfect album. Problem is they get further away from making the mark each try. Corpse grinder needs to try some new vocal patterns… if he would write his own lyrics and patterns he might have a shot, but when the guitarists and drummer write the lyrics and patterns… its always going to sound the same and follow the music. There are a few good songs on here, none suck, just nothing new. Last really great CD by them was “Bloodthrist”. The cover art work is awesome and a return to old. That’s a plus.
11. TESTAMENT – “Dark Roots of the Earth”- This one hasn’t been released yet but is the most anticipated cd on my list. The one track I have heard “True American Hate “is awesome! The fact that Gene Hogland is drumming makes this a 1st day release purchase for me. Can’t wait for this one. Cover art is awesome too!
12. GOATWHORE – “Blood for the Master”- A few good tunes on here, but over all too many songs that sound the same and too many songs period. I love the guys in Goatwhore, but they need something new to bring to the table. I don’t know what it is but hopefully they can figure it out. Great live band though.
13. OBSCURA – “Illegimitation”- Fucking awesome tech metal from the guys that used to be in Necrophagist .This sucker has some killer cover songs on this one. Death- “Flesh and the Power it Holds”, Cynic- “I’m But a Wave To”…, and an Atheist track. Those 3 are worth buying this one alone!
14. TERRORIZOR – “Horde of Zombies”- This was recorded BEFORE Pete Sandoval had his back surgery. It’s actually really good, grooving brutal death metal. Definitely worth checking out and jamming while driving fast!
15. SPAWN OF POSSESION – “Incurso”- Whoooo! These guys mean business! Insanely technical. Can’t handle this one for more than a few songs at a time. But extreme chops on this one!
16. NILE – “At the Gates of Sethu”- Same ole shit. I haven’t enjoyed this band since “In Their Darkened Shrine”. Nothing new here except some ridiculous attempts at clean vocals. Worth 1 listen to hear George kill the drums and that’s it. Their well has run dry. Time to try something new or quit.
17. RUSH – “Clockwork Angels”- I haven’t listened to this one enough yet, but Rush is Rush. I believe it hit #2 on the billboard charts, no easy feat for a band that is 40 years old and still kicking ass! If you like Rush you will enjoy this. I also recommend the documentary “Beyond the lighted stage” it’s awesome!
18. JEFF LOOMIS – “Plains of Oblivion”- I thoroughly enjoyed Jeff’s playing in Nevermore…sucks he left the band. His 2 solo albums are ok, reminds me of Jason Becker and Marty Freidman style solo albums. Good stuff but doesn’t have the strength to resonate long. Killer solo’s though and guest vocals by Ihsahn and Devin Townsend. And several guest guitarists. If you play guitar definitely worth a listen or two.
19. KILL DEVIL HILL – “Kill Devil Hill”- Decent album if you like Alice in Chains. Perfect cd to listen to with your girlfriend that’s not too heavy or technical but not that ole grunge era shit you cant stand
20. AMON – “Liar in Wait”- The Hoffman brothers come back CD, Deicide definitely doesn’t miss these 2 bums. Horrible attempt at a comeback. If they are trying to compete with Glen and Steve, Amon, vs. Deicide, why even use the old name Amon? Why? Because it’s the only way to get any attention for these guys. You can’t even buy a hard copy of this cd; it’s only available online. It sucks, been done a thousand times, horrible production. I was intrigued to hear what they had to offer, but it doesn’t have a leg to stand on against any new death metal act, much less recent Deicide albums “the Stench of Redemption, or “To Hell with God”. Save your money and ears.
March Thrash Madness: Second Round Night Two
Okay, so i’ve been getting a little lazy with these brackets, however, with the start of the actual Final Four, I figured I should start mine some time, right? As always, feel free to leave comments with your predictions.
Round Two: Match 11
Megadeth – Rust In Peace
VS
Voivod – Killing Technology
This matchup between top-seeded Megadeth and Canadian thrash warlords Voivod is definitely one of the most violent of the second round. Megadeth upended Nuclear Assault in the first round and Voivod sped past Dark Angel, setting up an absolutely incredible showdown. Voivod would be considered a number two seed in the bottom portion of the bracket, and it’s for a very good reason, as they are one of the most unique metal bands of all time. It’s incredibly hard to choose a winner between these two bands because both of them, along with Slayer, Testament, and Metallica are in my personal top 5 favorite thrash bands of all time. When it came down to deciding a winner, this matchup went into three overtimes thanks to relentless play from Dave Mustaine and Piggy, but when it’s all said and done, Mustaine hit a three with 2 seconds left on the clock and won the match to send them into the final four.
Final Score: Megadeth: 138 – Voivod: 135 (3ot)
Round Two: Match 12
Metallica – Kill Em All
VS
Testament – The New Order
In this final battle to enter the final four, it features two legendary bay area thrash bands who took opposite routes to the second round. Thanks to alot of teamwork, solid effort, and a clever Jason Newsted joke, Metallica pummeled Flotsam and Jetsam in the first round, whereas Testament barely survived Suicidal Tendencies until Mike Muir headbutted a ref and ended the contest in a forfeit. As much as I wanna play this match up and make it sound like Testament has a shot, all you have to do is compare songs like “Phantom Lord” and “Metal Militia” to songs like “A Day Of Reckoning” and “Trial By Fire” and it’s clear that, though Testament are the better musicians, they just can’t match up with the ferocity brought forth by early Metallica. The final score in this matchup is alot higher than you’d expect because Metallica would occasionally bring Dave Mustaine off the bench and let him shoot three pointers and Chuck Billy spent most of the game on the bench eating nachos.
Final Score: Metallica: 145 – Testament: 89
March Thrash Madness: Night Three
With the NCAA tournament’s 1st round finished and full of exciting upsets, the March Thrash Madness tournament also seems to be heating up. There is only one day left of first round matchups and then the real fun begins. With the tournament one day away from the Elite Eight, please leave a comment stating who your Final Four picks are from the remaining candidates.
Round 1, Match 5
Megadeth – Rust In Peace
VS
Nuclear Assault – Game Over
In this matchup between Megadeth and Nuclear Assault, both of these bands are pretty evenly matched on paper. Megadeth plays a pretty straightforward thrash attack with occasional progressive flourishes and an absurd amount of soloing, and Nuclear Assault play very straightforward thrash with occasional flashes of punk and hardcore, with a break for ice cream in the middle. Both bands feature incredibly talented bassists and guitarist/vocalists with Megadeth featuring Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson, and Nuclear Assault having John Connelly and Danny Lilker. When you get past the matchups on paper between these two, however, the comparisons get a little thin. Nuclear Assault’s first album “Game Over” wasn’t as commercially successful as “Survive” and “Handle With Care” which were both on the billboard charts, but with songs like “Brain Death”, “Betrayal”, and “Stranded In Hell”, this album is definitely their best in my opinion. Megadeth’s entry into this tournament could have also been albums like “Peace Sells”, or “Countdown To Extinction”, but honestly, “Rust In Peace” is my favorite Megadeth album and it’s an absolute landmark for the genre, not to mention, it has my favorite album cover of all time. When trying to decide the winner of this matchup, all it took was hearing songs from “Rust In Peace” like “5 Magics”, “Take No Prisoners”, and “Tornado Of Souls” to determine which one would immerge victorious. Even though Nuclear Assault scored plenty of points with a fantastic effort, Megadeth are just on another level altogether and, unlike the Duke Blue Devils,they pulled this one off quite easily.
Final Score: Megadeth: 140 – Nuclear Assault: 99
Round 1, Match 6
Testament – The New Order
VS
Suicidal Tendencies – Lights…Camera…Revolution!
This is by far, one of the best matchups of the first round in my opinion, as it features two of the first thrash albums I ever fell in love with that weren’t by a band that rhymes with shmushmallica. Both of these albums are absolute bruisers, but the best part about this pairing is that, like yesterdays matchups, both of these bands have two distinctly different and awesome styles. L,C,R! is Suicidal Tendencies’ fourth album and, unlike their previous albums, it’s predominantly a thrash album through and through, and not as hardcore punk influenced. L,C,R! also features the classic Suicidal lineup featuring Rob Trujillo(currently in Metallica though you can’t tell), Mike Muir, and Rocky George. Suicidal aren’t the only one in this with a lineup full of thrash legends however, Testament has their fair share of legends on “The New Order” with Chuck Billy and legendary guitarists Alex Skolnick, and Eric Peterson. “The New Order” saw Testament quickly rise towards the top of the bay area thrash bands, and it features some of their greatest songs, notably “Disciples Of The Watch”, “Trial By Fire”, and “Into the Pit”. Suicidal’s best songs on L,C,R! include the legendary “You Can’t Bring Me Down”, as well as “Send Me Your Money”, and “Get Whacked”(giggity). If you were to compare the two albums to actual baskeball teams, Suicidal would be the fast, flashy team that thrives on scoring in transition, while Testament are more methodic, and focus more on scoring in the paint and gobbling up rebounds and blocking shots. When trying to decide a winner between these two, it was pretty much impossible, however, the decision was pretty much made for me, due to Mike Muir headbutting a ref in the third overtime with a tied score, and the game being handed to Testament by forfeit.
Final Score: Testament: 115 – Suicidal Tendencies: 115(forfeited)
March Thrash Madness: An Introduction To Madness
March Madness begins tomorrow, and though i’ve never been a big fan of college basketball, I LOVE filling out brackets! While filling out my NCAA tourney brackets and listening to Voivod the other day, I decided that i should create a bracket of my own. This bracket represents 16 of my favorite thrash metal albums of all time, pitted against each other in a bloody war of attrition, to be named my favorite thrash album of all time. There are plenty of classic albums and bands not represented on this list, but when you only have sixteen teams, it’s impossible not to snub somebody, however, if you think I left off a classic album, or if you think one of my picks was wrong, please feel free to leave a comment. I’ve never done anything like this before, so I hope you enjoy it. Also, the bracket below was assembled completely in MS Paint, so if it looks kind of wonky, that’d be why.
Each of the next 4 nights i’ll post two different matchups from the first round of the tournament. Tomorrow it begins with Slayer’s magnum opus Reign In Blood taking on Corrosion Of Conformity’s crossover thrash hall of famer Animosity, and Sepultura’s Arise trys to fend off Overkill’s multi-platinum Years Of Decay.
