Tag: thrash metal

dbc - universe
CD

Dead Brain Cells: Universe (1989)

Sometimes you hear something – usually at a certain age – and it becomes the cornerstone of how you define something. Whenever I thought about my favorite kind of metal music, I always thought musically of Universe, the sophomore and final album by Canadian technical thrash band Dead Brain Cells, more commonly referred to as DBC. It was that aggressive, intricate and twisted guitar work that recalled a more diabolical Fates Warning, and even if my brain wasn’t focused on a particular song, it was focused on the overall vibe, the execution. This, my brain would say to no one in particular, was how I conceived of metal.

Continue reading “Dead Brain Cells: Universe (1989)”
Unknown's avatarChris1 Comment
sovereign - altered realities cover
Cassette

Sovereign: Altered Realities (2024)

Yeah…remember when I mentioned DBC as a sonic touchstone when I reviewed the Demoniac album? That really should have been applied to Altered Realities, the debut from Oslo’s Sovereign. Echoing the best of late 80s, early 90s technical death/thrash, it’s a marvel of a metal record, so good that even though I caught really late in the year it made my overall end of year list. A little DBC, a little Leprosy-era Death and you have the makings of my favorite kind of album. 100% technicality tied with 100% groove and 100% badass cover art, making for 500% of pre metal glory, if my math is right…

Continue reading “Sovereign: Altered Realities (2024)”
Unknown's avatarChrisLeave a comment
demoniac - nube negra
Cassette

Demoniac: Nube Negra (2023)

Even if you don’t get the homage to Peter Gabriel based on the cover to Nube Negra, the third full length from Chile’s Demoniac, you’ll feel that sense of restless exploration in the thrash band’s sonic assault. It can be a bit startling to hear where bands now are taking the genre I fell in love with 40 years ago; the music here seemed primed for a younger, more voracious mind. I can barely keep up, but that doesn’t mean I don’t thoroughly enjoy the attempt.

Continue reading “Demoniac: Nube Negra (2023)”
Unknown's avatarChris1 Comment
anthrax - worship music
CD

Anthrax: Worship Music (2011)

In 2011 Anthrax decided to get back into the Belladonna business.  It had been eight years since We’ve Come For You All, and expectations on new music, particularly with Belladonna back in fold were high.  Could the dude even still sing?  Were those Journey-esque soaring vocals going to crash and burn with tepid hard rock or were the mosh masters going to come blazing back like it was 1987 all over again?  Worship Music surprised the hell out of me, the tunes covering almost the entire spectrum of Anthrax’s career, but also putting to rest any fears that Belladonna wasn’t going to fit right back in. Continue reading “Anthrax: Worship Music (2011)”

Unknown's avatarChrisLeave a comment
anthrax - no hit wonders
CD

Anthrax: No Hit Wonders 1985-1991 (2005)

This thing didn’t really need revisiting: Forget their inclusion in the “Big 4” of thrash – for me Anthrax were one of the formative bands of my youth.  In some ways I know these songs like I know my childhood, since they were such a large part of it.  Anthrax was the first band to carry the aggression of the music I had been seeking, but coupled with the clean, rousing vocals I had also come to love.  It may seem odd to kick off Anthrax with No Hit Wonders, a compilation of their (initial) period with Joey Belladonna, but at the time I still had all the cassettes and a compilation seemed like the most budget-friendly solution to hearing some of my favorite songs in higher fidelity. Continue reading “Anthrax: No Hit Wonders 1985-1991 (2005)”

Unknown's avatarChrisLeave a comment