Quick Change-Circus of death

Metal Mind
2007 (originally released in 1988)

This album was originally released by Roadrunner back in 1988, but Metal Mind have now put it on CD. Quick Change hailed from Illinois and despite being on Roadrunner they were kind of lost in the outpouring of thrash bands that occurred in the late 1980’s. It was time when every label was trying to sign bands in hopes of landing the next Metallica or Slayer. The music here sounds like a combination of Anthrax, Testament and maybe even M.O.D. in some spots. It’s not entirely original, but they manage to sound fairly heavy and the pace moves along rather well. They also keep it brief as most of the tracks don’t go over the three and a half minute mark. That works very well for this style of music. However, the vocals just are not up to the same level as the music. Dwayne Whitehead’s vocals are rather thin and just lack aggression and he doesn’t have much of a range. Part of that may be the production, but most of it is definitely that he was lacking something. It takes away from the kind of power I think this band could have had if the vocals would have complimented the music. Still the band certainly does enough to make the fourteen tracks fairly interesting. This version includes a booklet complete with lyrics, a band history and reprints of some old fliers. It’s easy to see why these guys never made it as big as say Testament, Overkill, Exodus and the like, but it’s certainly a good addition for anyone that likes old style 1980’s thrash.