Search - Razor :: Violent Restitution

IT'S CALLED THRASH (NOT TRASH) METAL

Ryan McNee | Jersey, Altered States | 07/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is only like the fourth review I have written here on Amazon, and I feel as though I am doing myself a personal injustice as I enjoy getting long in the tooth with my reviews. Simply put, this (as well as the other Razor albums) RULES!!! I know people will knock this as a Slayer rip off or whatever, and they were definitely "inspired" to understate it. However, they are cool in that they don't have the whole occult thing going on. I mean they resemble Slayer, but they do have their own thing going on as well. This band just conveys a message of attitude. The riffing, drumming, and Sheepdog's vocals (along with punctual grunts and screams) rule. The volume level on this does not allow one to play it at a forcefully offensive volume and that is the sole gripe about this plasticized pleasure. I would give this a 5, but only in the realm of thrash. I admit it is not the most mature of music, but I am not the most mature of people. And to hell with pretentious b.s. anyhow. Opeth are criminally overrated, and conceited, as well as snobby "art-musicians" who pass judgement on their percieved lack of talent in music. That, my friends, I don't need. I can spot suck from a mile away, trust me. So we go with the 4 (because Amazon does nothing halfway).



THRASH OR BE THRASHED!!!"

An overlooked gem in the eighties Thrash catalogue

Zander Haberstaft | Miami, Florida | 06/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Most thrash enthusiaists who weren't around for the original scene in the mid-80s to early 90s would say if you told them this was a great album, "Who is Razor?" Typically non-U.S. Thrash bands had a difficult time getting noticed in the U.S. market. Voivod broke the barrier, and Exciter was hot for a minute, but few others were noticed.



While Razor albums were (and apparently still are) tough to find, they are definitely worth the effort. Here on this 1988 effort, the band develops their sound even further (which is a lot like Slayer, a touch of Sodom or Kreator, with a little dash of Hardcore flare -almost like how Vio-lence did it at times.)



It's hard to pick up this album with out chuckling because it is loosely a concept album about revenge. Also proudly stated on the inside of the front insert and on the back covers is, "This album is dedicated to Charles Bronson." Ha, must have seen "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" the year before one too many times. But from the first song you know it is going to be awesome because the opening track "The Marshall Arts", yields a 27 second long scream from the frontman! Nothing short of impressive. The vocals are good mid range mostly with the occasional well placed scream here and there. The guitar riffs are the highlight of the album coming up with catchy verses at every turn and some impressive solos that scream and whale yet are also precisely executed. The drumming pounds on and on and is mostly competent. The only thing that is annoyning about it is that the crash cymbals seem to have been poorly recorded and they kinda have a ring to 'em. This album should have been the break out album for this band because it has all the good elements to it (brutal, competent playing, decent overall production), but why this band was not on everyone's map at the time will remain a mystery.



If you like 80s Thrash metal, especially bands that are on the more brutal side, and are tired of playing the same records over and over again, pick this one up. You're sure to love it."