...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI


..::OPIS::..

Yes, this is the same thrash metal band from the east coast that was one of the early signees with the then fledgling label, New Renaissance Records started by none other than Ann Boleyn. These guys released two albums, an EP and also had a couple of their tracks on the speed metal hell compilations back in the eighties which practically did not get them anywhere(while still drawing critical acclaim for being one of the first speed metal bands) and then vanished from the scene altogether. After a sabbatical of nearly 21 years, the trio is back again with this release titled “Infidel” and seems like this could have been on their eighties catalog. The feel of this album is pure old school and by no means utilizes any half step measures of the late 90s and post 2000. At War is back in business!!!!

Just like the previous two albums, the band uses the tried and tested formula of keeping the length of this one well within 35 minutes which in is fair enough for a speed metal band that uses a good dose of punk as well. The production is done pretty well alongside keeping the old school eighties feel intact. All the instruments can be easily distinguished from each other without any single instrument dominance, while the vocals are yet again vintage Motorhead style, though with a little more gruff and thrash edge. The songs in here are short and crisp, devoid of any sad as hell intros and background noise effects whereas the riff work is brilliant. Another thing likeable about this release is that the tuning is Standard E and not the drop D style that most bands follow these days.

As for the tracks, all of them blend along very well without giving any hint of falling apart at the seams. I feel no necessity of covering each and every track in detail but instead pick out a few that stick to my head prompting me to listen to them again. “Assassins” has that main riff that is some of the best I’ve heard in recent years and “Semper Fi” sort of reminded me of “Indulgence” era Nasty Savage without the insane wails of Nasty Ronnie and to an extent, Slayer in some of the guitar parts. The tracks that really stand out though are “At War” and “R.A.F”, filled with oodles of energy and a total war attitude that reminds newcomers of how thrash metal should be done. The closer “Rapechase” is a track that appeared on their debut album and also one of the “Speed Metal Hell” compilations and this in my opinion is an absolute banger of a song that could have given some of the big names back during the thrash boom a run for their money and fame.

Though some people out there would argue that this release is no different from what they did back in the eighties, and that the band has not matured at all after all these years. My take on this is that even though these guys sound dated, they’re still better off than all those bands who have taken an absolutely approach to their music. An example would be At War’s ex-label mates Sepultura who have transformed themselves beyond recognition. From a death/thrash hybrid to a total shitty sounding groove band, they’ve just made themselves look like clowns of a circus troupe. This trio on the other hand do not show any signs of compromising on their original sound and still show loyalty towards their fans with no intentions whatsoever of alienating them.

As far as the recommendation is concerned, I’d definitely go the extra mile to support these guys and bring them to the notice of the masses. Fans of yesteryear thrash, proto death and mid era Motorhead would find interest of significance here. This is the return of the war veterans.


Cravingforvenom



The best way to learn about thrash metal is, ironically, not through its big names. Most of the "Big Four" of thrash (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer) became big by straying from the genre. Metallica started writing radio hits; Megadeth tried to do likewise. Anthrax dabbled in rap, alt-metal, and rock. Only Slayer stayed mostly true to thrash, but they are so sui generis that they are almost their own genre. Thus, the so-called "second tier"-- bands that never made it big-- comprise thrash's true sound. These bands knock out machine-gun riffs and polka beats with no regard for the mainstream, and are often much more intense than the Big Four.

At War are one such band. Even when they began in the 1980s, they stood out from the thrash herd. They were from Virginia, not one of America's thrash epicenters (New York City, Los Angeles, the Bay Area). They also weren't pacifists. Much of 1980s thrash was a reaction to Reagan-era policies, with countless bands preaching the horrors of nuclear war. At War, however, were unabashed military supporters. They weren't necessarily right-wing conservatives; one of their songs advocated the separation of church and state. But they had friends and family in the military, and paid tribute to that history through their music. Thus, military imagery pervaded their artwork, and military sounds peppered their albums.

Like most of their thrash colleagues, At War stood down in the 1990s once grunge came along. But popular music is cyclical, and the past few years have seen a resurgence in thrash metal. New bands have sprung up to emulate old ones, many of whom have reunited. Thus, At War's new album Infidel feels both retro and contemporary. The band's straight-ahead approach has not changed. Paul Arnold's vocals remain commanding and rhythmic. Shawn Helsel's guitars still blend Motörhead with German thrash. Dave Stone's drums have the surprising subtlety they had in the 1980s. The band even retained old-school thrash producer Alex Perialas for this record. He elicited the band's strongest performances to date. The band has never sounded so tight, nor has it ever had such big production. Such precision and cleanliness is slightly odd for a band known for its rawness. The sound has power, though, and reflects the realities of recording in a more technologically advanced time.

War requires an enemy. For At War, that has shifted from Communists to Muslim fundamentalists. The cover of Infidel depicts an eagle-tattooed man facing down an army of Jihadists. "Want You Dead" features a chorus of "They want you dead/ Kuffar die!/ They want you dead/ Open your eyes!" This is hardly diplomatic, but metal is not diplomatic music. Infidel is a strong statement. Agreement with it is up to the listener.

Cosmo Lee



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Assassins
2. Semper Fi
3. Make Your Move
4. At War
5. Want You Dead
6. R.A.F.
7. Deceit
Lead Guitar [All Other Leads] - Shawn Helsel
Lead Guitar [First] - Adam Tranquilli
8. Vengeful Eyes
Lead Guitar [All Other Leads] - Shawn Helsel
Lead Guitar [Front And Back] - RikiLee
9. Rapechase



..::OBSADA::..

Paul Arnold - Bass, Vocals
Shawn Helsel - Guitars, Vocals (backing)
Dave Stone - Drums



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1TM62pCCZ4



SEED 15:00-22:00.
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