Forgotten Gems-EXE-Stricken by might

Shrapnel
1987


In 1987 the thrash scene was on fire and there were tons of bands wearing white high top Nikes, black thrash band shirt and ripped jeans popping up everywhere playing thrash. Since there were a lot of bands playing this style that unfortunately meant that not every band was going to make or get a ton of notice. So plenty of bands slipped through the cracks. Now that doesn't mean every thrash act was good because there were plenty of stinkers. Back around 1985-1990 I was listening to every thrash album I could get my greedy hands on. One day after school and before work I went into my local record store and looked over the cassettes and saw one called "Stricken by might" by an act called EXE. I had never heard of them but one look at the in your face logo and the snarling monster had me knowing that this had to be a thrash album. When I got it home and in my player I realized that indeed it was thrash. It has some definite earlier influences like say speed metal that would have played more around say 1985 and there is even some more mid-tempo classic style metal as well. The influences were all over the place, but include Exciter, Agent Steel and maybe even Jag Panzer for starters. This album is very raw both in playing and in production, but that doesn't hinder it but rather it adds to the charm. I remember the group of metal fans I hung with remembered this album most for a track called "Crib Death". That song was remembered for the cheesy lyrics and title, but also for being a powerful song. I just heard this album again for the first time in over twenty years and was enjoyed it plus Crib Death is still as corny and powerful as I remember it being. "Martial Law" and "Fatally wounded" are two other favorites of mine on this album. These guys went on to do one more album with "Sicker than I thought" in 1990 which is good, but not quite as forceful as "Stricken by might". I had actually forgotten about this one for years but when I remembered it I searched and found a free download and gave it a shot again. Glad that I did.