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 It’s always nice when a hefty package lands
on The LINC desk, even nicer when we open said package to find a
luminously designed CD sampler from none other than Earache Records,
champions of some of the most extreme music on the planet over the last
twenty years.
Even better than that is the fact that this sampler, aptly titled ‘The
Thrash Pack’ contains two tracks each from the likes of the rowdily
fantastic Municipal Waste, crushing powerhouses Evile and
fresh-on-the-scene thrashers SSS.
It’s a loud, lairy and lavacious disk that blasts along at 1000 miles an
hour and kicks off in fine style with the short, sharp blast of power
that is Municipal Waste’s brilliantly titled ‘The Art of Partying’.
Clocking in at just over 2 minutes, ‘The Art of Partying’, also the name
of the ‘Waste’s latest album, sounds like seminal hardcore beasts
Suicidal Tendencies driving a Formula One car through a raging inferno,
fuelled only by adrenalin and a burning desire to make a true demon of a
tune.
We’re then presented Evile and their sonic assault of sheer power by the
slightly scary name of ‘Enter The Grave’, which, quite frankly is faster
than you could possibly ever imagine and hosts one of the most
bludgeoning riffs we’ve heard in a long time.
Something akin to ‘Show No Mercy’ era Slayer without all the silly
high-pitched wailing and daft makeup, this is pretty much text book
thrash. A meaty riff charges like a bull towards the finish whilst lead
guitars lash out like an untamed viper and vocals rant on like the
spirit of something possessed.
Only two tracks in, and it’s already our favourite.
But there’s still plenty more to chose from, and SSS’s ‘The Beast’ isn’t
half bad either. Another slab of hardcore-thrash crossover calamity,
this one puts a greater emphasis on structure and strength than speed
and shredding, and for anyone unfamiliar with SSS, it serves as a great
introduction.
If SSS aren’t so keen on speed, then Municipal Waste more than make up
with it with another track that you have to love if for no other reason
than it’s great title of ‘Headbanger Face Rip’, a noisy ode to all that
rocks, with the brilliant refrain “Headbanger! Face Rip!” at once
causing us to laugh out loud and throw our horns in the air out of
respect.
Evile bring back the Slayer comparisons next with a brutal yet technical
track entitled ‘Thrasher’. It’s fast, furious and ultimately fantastic,
with take-no-guff vocals waging war over an in your face riff and a lead
solo that ties the whole thing together nicely.
Things finally come to a close with ‘Damaged Goods’ which sees SSS
showing their Anthrax influences, occasionally breaking with the 100 mph
riff to creep slowly then pounce onto a snarling bass line before things
kick right back off again.
And even though it’s just over 90 seconds long, it makes a great finale
to a great CD, a CD that goes a long way to show that thrash metal is
far from just an 80’s thing, and that indeed, it’s still very much loud
and kicking in 2007.
Recommend Links:
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http://www.earache.com
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