Reviews
2008-04-05
This is actually a re-issue of the 1998 release by Canadian thrash merchants
Random Damage. It was released three years after their debut was out, and contains similarly themed metal, to which the word thrash doesn't exactly fit in perfectly, it's more of a hard-rock influenced heavy metal album, with some thrashy riffs and drumming, courtesy of ex-Annihilator man Ray Hartmann.
The sound is quite low-key, it's clear and well-produced, but lacks some shine and strength, when Hippocritic starts out you get the distinct feeling this music deserves a much bigger sound. It still works pretty good, the music is melodic and very well-crafter, the guitar riffs are solid, if a bit unimaginative, and vocalist Jonas Falle is the definite center of the band, he has a strong melodic voice that helps elevate even the lesser tracks into something much more powerful.
Burn is a much stronger track, and Hartmann's relentless drum attack lends it some serious energy, the guitar riffs and leads are very well executed, but again it's Falle's voice that ties it all down together. Anyone who expects a traditional thrash metal release similar to the band's roots, a-la Annihilator or Aragathor will be disappointed – this leans much more to Hard Rock than to anything else, but as long as you just take the band at face-value, it's clearly a strong album created by veteran musicians who know their crafts well.
It all takes about 33 minutes, none of the songs overstay their welcome, and though some of the tracks feel like they needed something more, a bit of diversity, it still a very enjoyable album by a band I would very much like if finally released a new album.
Alon Miasnikov
