|
By JEFF MAKI
Call it a revival' call it a comeback or call it the latest trend. Call it anything you want, but it's officially here: the New Wave of American Thrash Metal. Bands are forming, playing shows, getting signed and releasing albums left and right. The latest of this new breed of thrash is Warbringer, releasing their debut album, War Without End, on Century Media Records. Warbringer toured all over the southwestern United States supporting their EP One by One the Wicked Fall, playing shows with the likes of Suffocation and Exodus. After generating a healthy buzz in the underground with the EP, the band signed a deal with the label and seem to be strongly supported and already slated to tour once again with the mighty Exodus in early 2008.
So what does this band have to offer? Do they add anything new to thrash metal? I'm undecided. I was a huge fan of thrash metal and it was what I listened to most growing up. Megadeth, Testament, Overkill, Nuclear Assault, Anthrax and, of course, Metallica all saw heavy rotation in my tape deck (eventually CD player—that's how old I am) Just because I was into thrash doesn't mean I wore jean jackets, tight jeans and white Reebok high-tops; that was never my thing. But it is for these new bands. It's a lifestyle all over again. Warbringer reminds me of a cross between Slayer and Exodus. They sound like them, dress like those bands did in the '80s and seem to do everything in their power to mimic their thrash metal idols. And this is why I am undecided. From the outside looking in, it seems as if they're merely paying tribute to their favorite bands. Why not include a cover tune while you're at it? Seriously, that'd be pretty fucking cool. At the least, bands like Warbringer will help a new generation of metal fans discover the great thrash bands of the '80s.
After careful listening, Warbringer is truly legit and they have something to offer in the metal scene. The guitars absolutely shred and this fucker is fast, but the band is smart enough to slow the tempo down here and there, making for some extra special headbanging moments. The production, handled by Bill Metoyer (Slayer, Sacred Reich, D.R.I.), is raw and the vocals are rough, barking like Slayer's and sometimes breaking into an early-day Tom Araya wail. The choruses don't pack enough power or punch to grab you directly by the throat, but are effective. In case you missed it, war is the dominate theme of the album with songs like “Total War,” “Systematic Genocide,” “Shoot to Kill” and “Combat Shock.” “Instruments of Torture” and “Shoot to Kill” are immediate standouts with their mid-tempo chugging riffs and memorable, tongue-in-cheek choruses.
The look, feel and certainly the sound of this album all hearken back to the glory days of thrash. As aggressive and heavy as War Without End is, it's fun. The same could be said about their idols back in the day, and this is the big part that Warbringer gets down just right.
|
