Whiplash-"Sword Meet Skull, Skull Meet Sword" Single

Self-Released/Independent
2013

Not sure how I missed this one as it was released way back at the start of June in 2013! Having heard that the band was supposed to be releasing an EP called "Old School American Way, Volume 1." sometime in late 2012/early 2013 it now appears as if that whole idea was null and void! Still, at least we have this single off  of said EP right? Admittedly I lost track of these Jersey guys after their 1990 "Insult to Injury" album. O.K., I actually stopped listening to them after that. Still, when I last read about the "upcoming" EP I thought I'd give the group another try. From what I remember the EP was supposed to be a return to the group's roots. If "Sword Meet Skull, Skull Meet Sword" is anything to go by then Whiplash, which features original member Tony Portaro handling both vocals and guitars, has done right with that promise! This single, having been produced Portaro himself, features newcomers Dan "Loord" Foord (SikTh) and Dank DeLong (drums and bass respectively) joining in on the fun that can be had by blasting out straight-up speed/thrash metal! Old-school thrashers will love Portaro handling of both the vocals and guitars as his voice is just rough enough to give "Sword Meet Skull, Skull Meet Sword" edge while his leads are classic Whiplash circa late eighties/early nineties! From the looks of it Tony's two partners in crime have been backing him up since 2011 and the consistency/chemistry is obvious from the technical beat-down that is "Sword Meet Skull, Skull Meet Sword". My only gripe is at a little over three minutes in length it's come and gone before you really have a chance to sit back and settle in! I'd love to find out what the hold-up is with "Old School American Way, Volume 1.". Is it's a matter of not being able to find the proper label to release it on then why not just go ahead and release it yourself? If the lack of funds is the problem then why not go the Kickstarter route? Considering how much has been accomplished this way on the part of bands (A Sound Of Thunder is a perfect example!) Whiplash could easily raise the funds one would think. Either way this single shreds and if this is what Whiplash could be like in 2014 and beyond then you better believe I wouldn't be losing track of them again!

http://officialwhiplash.bandcamp.com/track/sword-meet-skull-skull-meet-sword

Forgotten Gems-Whiplash-Power and pain

Roadrunner

1985

Ah, early Whiplash, truly an album that stunned me back then and even today retains much of the force that it did back then. My first run in with this band was hearing them do "Thrash 'till death" on the Speed Metal Hell compilation in 1985. Not too long after that I heard their debut "Power and pain" with the classic three Tony's line-up (Portaro, Bono and Scaglione). The band had knocked out a few demos before getting signed to Roadrunner. The sound isn't far off from early Metallica and Slayer and maybe even Judas Priest only sped-up. However the energy is what helps plus they never go with just one riff because the trade-mark of their early sound was finding a way to put in a quick underlying fill riff that would catch your attention and add to the overall frenzied sound. Tracks like "Warmonger", "Last man alive", "Stirring the Cauldron" and "Message in blood" showed the band's explosive style. This was thrash when you could still hear all the notes being picked and appreciate every note, beat and word being thrown at you. Whiplash knew how to milk all they they did and get the most out of everything. They had been around less than two years when this album came out, but I guess the multiple demos and many shows in the NY/NJ area had then prepared because indeed they came with everything they had on this album and I think it's their finest moment. After this they would go through line-up and eventually sound changes with differing results. Their sophomore album "Ticket to mayhem" comes close, but this their debut remains their best album.

Whiplash-Unborn Again

Pulverized
2009




My first exposure to New Jersey's Whiplash was when I heard them on the compilation "Speed metal hell" back in 1985. That compilation also included Exectuioner, Medieval, At War, Savage Grace and others. Not too long after that I heard their crushing debut "Power and Pain". This was around the time when thrash bands were just starting to pour out everywhere. As in any scene there were leaders and followers. Whiplash established their own sound on their debut with the swirling guitar sound and Tony Portaro's frantic vocals. "Ticket to mayhem" followed in 1987, but actually included a number of songs that appeared on their demos several years earlier. The style on their sophomore effort was perhaps more varied, but just as aggressive. Perhaps this was the point where they should have moved up to the next level, but it didn't really happen. Three years later they decided to add a forth member in vocalist Glenn Hansen and they knocked out "Insult to injury". Personally I didn't like this decision as I think guitarist Tony Portaro was a fine vocalist and didn't see the need for changing, but they tried it and it did not help them advance. The band stopped for a while after this before surfacing again in the mid-90's and then they knocked three albums between 1996 and 1998. They had a different line-up on each of those albums finishing with "Thrashback" which featured the three Tony's line-up that played on "Power and Pain". In 1999 they released "Message in blood" which was made up of demos and live track from the band's early days. With this it seemed that the band had once again vanished. Then in recent years rumblings began that they were indeed coming back. Guitarist/vocalist and band mainstay Tony Portaro has recruited drummer Joe Cangelosi who played on "Ticket to mayhem" and "Insult to injury" and bass player Richard Day. I am not sure what I was expecting at this point considering the line-up changes and long gap since the last release. The first thing I noticed that as a whole they have slowed down some from the straight ahead thrash path that they once followed. Yet many of the songs are really heavy and a large of that is some top notch production. Several songs reminded more of say Metal Church as far as pace goes as they concentrated more or a slow burn than a speedy go for the throat style. There are a few faster songs and even some of those great below the surface winding riffs that were once this bands trademark make their way into the mix. The only aspect of this album that didn't completely work for me was Portaro's vocals. I know people age and some times that takes a toll on your voice. However the raging vocals were so much a part of those early albums and now I felt like his voice was being swallowed by the music. As far as comeback albums go this is a decent if unspectacular effort. Much like many of the bands that appeared on that Speed Metal Hell compilation 24 years ago Whiplash never go their proper due, but's good to see them back in action again.

Judge the album cover

You didn't have to look far to find bad speed metal covers back in the 1980's
Here is Razor's Evil Invaders


vs.


Whiplash's Power and Pain

***So which one do you prefer?