Violator - Chemical Assault

Title: Chemical Assault
Artist: Violator
Released: 2006                                          RATING: 3.8/5

The Good: The reason that most people got tired of the whole "Thrash Revival" thing really fast was because a lot of the bands were really bad at it. I mean, they could play, but it was really noticeably not-fresh stuff, even as far as neo-thrash goes, which is saying something. Violator was a notable exception, however, and 2006's Chemical Assault fits well alongside second-tier thrash classics such as Forbidden Evil, Eternal Nightmare, and Epidemic of Violence, to name a few. The material is hardly groundbreaking, as mentioned, but it works; even the songs about such common thrash topics as nuclear war ("Atomic Nightmare", "After Nuclear Devastation", etc.) don't sound worn out. The material is well above-average, and the band's playing throughout is air-tight. The first half of the album is the most memorable, but the whole thing is worth the acquisition for sure.

The Bad: There's nothing new about this album at all; it's textbook 80's-style thrash, for the most part. That can be a good or bad thing, of course, depending on what you are looking for. No major concerns, however. A very solid album.

Anacrusis - Manic Impressions

Title: Manic Impressions
Artist: Anacrusis
Released: 1991                                            RATING: 4.5/5

The Good: The third and best Anacrusis album, Manic Impressions, is a benchmark in progressive, melodic thrash, and a worthy successor to the Reason album that it surpasses in just about every way (though not necessarily dramatically so.). Opening track "Paint a Picture" does just that, setting the tone for what's ahead with strong riffing, dark overtones, lots of melody, and excellent drumming from then-new addition Chad Smith (not the Red Hot Chili Peppers guy). Anacrusis' cover of New Model Army's "I Love the World" is splendidly done; it is the perfect choice for a cover that they could have done as it totally fits their sound. This album is such essential Thrash/Progressive music that the fact that Manic Impressions was, and has been, ignored by all but die-hards is nothing short of a travesty. I mean, hell, they give the album away free on the band's website. Give it a listen, and be amazed.

The Bad: Poor production plagues most Anacrusis albums, but the remastered version available now rounds out the sound very well. Just get it.

Into Eternity - The Scattering of Ashes

Title: The Scattering of Ashes
Artist: Into Eternity
Released: 2007                                         RATING: 4.5/5

The Good: Canada's Into Eternity play a variety of extreme Metal that is hard to pin down; sure, it's pretty progressive and thrashy, but I would not label them as just Progressive or Thrash, or Progressive Thrash. On '07's The Scattering of Ashes, the band deliver a potent mix of thrash, death, and power metal with plenty of technical skill throughout from each of the band members, particularly lead guitarist/band leader Tim Roth, whose shredding sounds otherworldly on this album. The rhythm and leads are equally complex, and the drums are expertly played, but one of the most instantly recognizeable elements is singer Stu Block's uber-dynamic vocal performance, which is simply incredible; he could literally sing any kind of music with his voice, and lends his talents giving each song a unique feel. The band manages to be highly technical, fast, and extreme while still penning memorable-as-hell songs. There's no filler whatsoever. A truly superb album.

The Bad: Nothing. The album is excellent in that it has appeal for fans of all kinds of metal subgenres, though it is definitely more geared towards extreme metal fans, because the music is very intense. But even then, it is still worth picking up. These guys get how to make quality music.

Warbringer - Waking Into Nightmares

Title: Waking into Nightmares
Artist: Warbringer
Released: 2009                                            RATING: 4/5

The Good: Warbringer's second album is vicious, aggressive, and completely awesome. The difference between Nightmares and the albums bookending it (The debut War Without End and third album Worlds Torn Asunder) is that the overall quality of each and every song individually is better, and the combined result is a real kick in the ass. The intense thrashing and plain-ol', brutal goodness of  "Jackal", "Living in a Whirlwind", "Severed Reality", "Shadow from the Tomb" and "Senseless Life" establish Warbringer as go-to guys for fans of seriously heavy, but still seriously good, metal. As mentioned before, Warbringer at times sound similar to Demolition Hammer with their Thrash/Death combo (with singer John Kevill even offering a startlingly Chuck Schuldiner-esque growl at one point), but their sound is their own. Nic Ritter's drum work is spectacular; his super-technical style makes for many high points throughout the album. The Guitars are great, the bass is HUGE. This is the best place to start for anyone interested in the band.

The Bad: There is an instrumental track that sounds somewhat like Metallica's "The Call of Ktulu", just without the Metal fireworks. That's all.

Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked

Title: Annihilation of the Wicked
Artist: Nile
Released: 2005                                             RATING - 4/5

The Good: Nile is well known for their combination of brutal, uber-technical death metal and Middle Eastern/Egyptian elements. While some of the band's fans regard Black Seeds of Vengeance or In Their Darkened Shrines as superior albums, Annihilation boasts a tremendous set of songs, as well as super-clear production, which allows the band's extraordinary musicianship to be fully appreciated. "Cast Down the Heretic" is an awesome first song, especially because of its contrasting brutality to the relaxed, instrumental track that officially kicks off the album. There are some very long songs, but they are not without variety, thus preventing any boring, adreniline filled riff-fests that plague lesser works (think Pleasures of the Flesh, for example). The album as a whole is fantastic, and should be at the top of anyone's list when checking out Death Metal for the first time.

The Bad: The vocals are an acquired taste, even by Death Metal standards, as they are sung at such a deep pitch. Some of the songs can be a bit obnoxious, with three lasting over eight minutes long.

Deicide - Deicide

Title: Deicide
Artist: Deicide
Released: 1990                                           RATING: 4/5

The Good: Deicide's self-titled debut album is fast, heavy, and super evil; it is not unlike Morbid Angel's Altars of Madness in this regard, but Morbid Angel's eerieness and epicness is replaced here by sheer malice. "Lunatic of God's Creation" is a seriously good song, and even a catchy one by Death Metal standards. The album as a whole is strong, combining strong, furious playing with over the top lyrical themes to create a soound that can be very intimidating to the unfamiliar ear, indeed. A highly reccommended listen for Death Metal fans.

The Bad: Sometimes the songs tend to blend together, what with the repetitive themes and deliveries. The solos, which are highly energetic and dexterous, is completely indebted to the classic Slayer atonal squeeling style; that's not really a negative, but it's still there, especially since they aren't quite as, well, good as the source. Some of the solos can sound like super-fast flurries of random notes, at times.

Ripping Corpse - Dreaming With The Dead

Title: Dreaming With The Dead
Artist: Ripping Corpse
Released: 1991                                            RATING: 4/5

The Good: Standing at the very crossroads of Death Metal and Thrash Metal is Ripping Corpse's sole LP Dreaming With The Dead. The album is a bit of an enigma; while not necesarily ground-breaking, Dreaming's overall sound and approach are not very common. Full-blown guitar solos are, for the most part, replaced by solo fills throughout the songs, carefully woven in-between and alongside the lyrics. The musicianship is top-notch, and the songs just sound brutal. With songs of varying lengths from about two-to-four minutes each, the album is best experienced when listened to as a whole. A lost gem from the golden era of extreme music.

The Bad: The production helps add to the album's doomy, erie feel, but one gets the feeling that the music itself would be more enjoyable if it could be heard properly. The album's murky tone does little to help identify the complicated guitar and bass playing throughout.