Various Artists-Thrashmageddon Volume 1

Roxx Records / Metal For A Dark World
2013

 This upcoming compilation, which is due for release on November 26, 2013 (In both digital and physical fashion with the physical CD release being a "Limited Edition", one time only/you snooze and you lose affair!), is a collaboration between Roxx Records and Metal for a Dark World Records. And, as the time so helpfully points out, this one covers thrash from both older, more established acts and new, up-and-coming ones. Being that it's on Roxx Records it should go without saying that it's all about Christian thrash, but when it comes to some bands like Tsavo Inc. and Supresion it's not as if you can really tell (as, at least with those two acts, the music is plain nasty and comes packaged with gnarly solos that promise to tear apart your body and leave it just lying there for all to see!). With this compilation there were some bands that I had heard before (Deliverance, Join the Dead, Ultimatum and Boarders), some bands that I had heard of but never heard anything (music-wise) by them (Step Cousin being the one band I was most curious to hear as their name had popped up on a lot of Christian metal discussion boards) and bands that I had never heard of before period! That last collection/description of groups dominated most of this album for me which was good as it gave me something to look forward to with each new track!  Things start off with Deliverance who I believe I've mentioned in the past. If not then the short end of the story is that I first heard these guys with their 1990' "Weapons Of  Our Warfare" album and then I actually saw them play live in the basement of my local library! They were pretty good, but I remember being turned off by the group's later work as it always (at least to me) paled in comparison when put next to the Metallica-like "Weapons...". They sound as if they have returned to form with the opening number. This unreleased demo version of "The Annals of Subterfuge" looks as if it's is a sneak peek at what awaits fans when it comes to the group's upcoming new album "Hear What I Say!". As for the rest of the tracks though? It might be a bit too much to do a track by track breakdown, but I did walk away with a few observations and the desire to hear more out of a couple of these bands. Let's see, while that opening cut by Deliverance is really good (very cool power metal/heavy thrash combo!) the next track by Join the Dead is about two minutes to long! We're talking about a cut that runs like six minutes! I had to fight the urge to just hit "next" so while it's a fine thrash track it just goes on and on and on and for w-a-y too long at that! When you look at this compilation's track listing it does seem as if they tried to stack the more well-known acts up front. Take a look-

1. Deliverance – The Annals of Subterfuge (from the forthcoming album ‘Hear What I Say’)
2. Join the Dead – Idol Faith
3. Ultimatum – Blood on a Thousand Hills
4. Tsavo Inc. – Immunodeficiency
5. Boarders – IV Reich
6. Kyrius – Cara a Cara (Face to Face) (Previously Unreleased)
7. Step Cousin – Bitter Reminder
8. Disaffection – Prepare to Die (Previously Unreleased)
9. Divulgence – The Swarm of Eden
10. Last Rites – Wisdom of Job
11. Puritan – Faixa De Gaza
12. Supresion – Total Thrashing
13. Truster – A.C.D. (Attack Against The Devil)
14. Temple of Blood – Fearsome Warrior (Remastered)
15. Spirit’s Breeze – Another Day
16. ESDRASH – Suicidio N.E.L.S
17. Moshketeers – Internal Torment (Previously Unreleased)

With the exception of Tsavo Inc. those first few bands seem to be the bigger names right? Well, as you go along it's actually some of those less known tracks that end up being the better material here. To cut through the clutter I decided to just give each track a rating. With one "+" being an "decent at best" rating it will go like this:
+=Decent at best.
++=Good, if nothing special, metal.
+++=Solid metal that's worth checking out as it comes packed with some cool ideas.
++++=Now we're talking! This band is cooking with real fire folks!
+++++=Must hear! Where have these guys been all my life? I'm off to look for CDs by this band right now!

1. Deliverance – The Annals of Subterfuge (from the forthcoming album ‘Hear What I Say’) ++++
2. Join the Dead – Idol Faith  +++
3. Ultimatum – Blood on a Thousand Hills +++
4. Tsavo Inc. – Immunodeficiency +++++
5. Boarders – IV Reich  ++++
6. Kyrius – Cara a Cara (Face to Face) (Previously Unreleased) +++
7. Step Cousin – Bitter Reminder ++++
8. Disaffection – Prepare to Die (Previously Unreleased) ++++
9. Divulgence – The Swarm of Eden ++
10. Last Rites – Wisdom of Job ++++
11. Puritan – Faixa De Gaza +
12. Supresion – Total Thrashing +++
13. Truster – A.C.D. (Attack Against The Devil) ++
14. Temple of Blood – Fearsome Warrior (Remastered) ++
15. Spirit’s Breeze – Another Day +
16. ESDRASH – Suicidio N.E.L.S ++
17. Moshketeers – Internal Torment (Previously Unreleased) ++
  

So, there you have it. There were some great surprises and some disappointments. I walked away with some new bands to check out like Tsavo Inc. and Disaffection, but found myself longing for more out of Ultimatum (Their track is basically early Exodus meets early Metallica, but it just feels as if it doesn't stand up next to some of their other, better, material that I've heard). Also, the much-hyped (at least in the promo) "Long Lost never before released classic track" from 80's thrash act the Moshketeers was just alright. Nothing at all that special really. It was one of the tracks I was simply dying to hear as the Moshketeers were underground heroes back in the day and one of the few Christian thrash bands that really seemed to be a legit alternative to what was happening in the secular scene. I remember getting a third or forth generation tape of the Moshketeers back in high school and being really impressed by what these guys had to offer. I was surprised then when they never really took off. Back then it seemed as if someone had really dropped the ball, but that happened with a ton of good metal and thrash bands in both the Christian and secure market. It was just one of those things. As for this compilation then? If your a thrash fan then I'd say yes, look into getting this. The better aspects of this compilation out-way the so-so parts and with 17 tracks there really is quite a bit of variety on display here!

Boarders-R-Existence (Deluxe Edition)

Roxx Records
2013

You can always count on Roxx Records to deliver something the goods when it comes to things in the "interesting" department. Count this four-piece band as one such interesting act. Boarders are an Italian  band that are mostly a thrash metal act and sometimes a melodic metal one. At least on this album they are. They are also a band that can trace it's roots back to the eighties. That isn't so much interesting I suppose. They are pretty outspoken about their faith (as if being on Roxx Records wasn't clue enough that they are a Christian band). I suspect the same could be said about a lot of Christian metal acts these days though. This next part is different though. This Christian act was also a Megadeth tribute band at one point time. I'm not sure if they still are in their part time, but that is pretty interesting I'd say. You could argue that since Dave Mustaine claims to be a Christian that this isn't so much of a leap, but I do find it all odd.  So, you have a band that plays most thrash/sometimes melodic metal, once served as one of Italy's better Megadeth tribute bands, can trace their roots back to the eighties (1988 to be exact), and who wear their faith on their sleeves. And how will that all mix together? Read on. As Roxx Records is looking to add more thrash metal to their roster Boarders is the right call there. This is thrash metal 101. It's all very technical and yet retains a very distinct edginess. The group are lead by have vocalist/guitarist Egidio Casati. Here he sounds more gritty then anything so I'm not sure how he pulls of covering Megadeth (if indeed he sings lead in the tribute act). Regardless, his gritty vocal delivery works well here as the band serves up a hearty helping of thrash that is both older (check out the early Megadeth meets early Anthrax of "Vengeance is Yours") and modern ("Meet my Heart"). It doesn't always work though. What is up with "Sixth out of five"? It defies logic. This deluxe version features "A Warm Place" followed by "To My Father". Two back to back instrumentals. And then you get the bonus cut (off of the deluxe version again) "This Time". The piano in it feels out of place as the cut is almost nu metal. "Cause of Life" is much better in that regard as it might border on nu metal, but it has almost more of a Helmet feel to it then anything. "Pure Gold" is good in a modern metal kind of way although the deluxe version features a subtle acoustic version that, while softer, is actually better. The deluxe version features two unreleased demo cuts to end things and, along with the excellent "Lightbringer", are great slabs of metal goodness. Here's the official scoop on the deluxe version:
Set for release on January 29, 2013 the newly expanded package will be available in a Limited Edition CD pressing and also available digitally at all your favorite retailers. The Deluxe Expanded package will contain 5 additional tracks, 3 brand new recordings as well as 2 previously unreleased demo tracks.  Final track listing below.

1.       Prelude
2.       The Agony of Lying
3.       Signs of Resistance
4.       Vengeance is Yours
5.       IV Reich
6.       Pure Gold
7.       Lightbringer
8.       Sixth out of Five
9.       Cause of Life
10.   Meet my Heart
11.   To my Father
12.   A Warm Place (Deluxe Edition - Bonus Track 2013)
13.   Pure Gold [Acoustic] (Deluxe Edition - Bonus Track 2013)
14.   This Time (Deluxe Edition - Bonus Track 2013)
15.   Deliver You Back To Hell [Unreleased Demo 2003] (Deluxe Edition - Bonus Track 2013)
16.   For What it’s worth [Unreleased Demo 2003] (Deluxe Edition - Bonus Track 2013)

It features a different running order for sure, but with all the extras it packs on it's a must-own if your a fan of the band. While I didn't mention them by name tracks 2 and 3 are also really good. This band really does know how to craft good thrash metal in the vein of Megadeth, Metallica,etc. Christian metal fans will definitely want to pick this one up, but chances are good that even secular metal fans could find plenty to like about Boarders.