Review Summary: Your money back if you don't have a good time through Thrashback
20 years now, I have listened to a lot of heavy metal albums. Some albums blew me away instantly while others took a while before sinking in. There were those albums that proved to be influential and others that followed trends. And there is Thrashback. One of the most underrated heavy metal records in my book. The reasons are plenty.
First of all Whiplash never achieved a big following of thrash fans. After their first 3 records, the band penned mediocre LPs at best, practically disappearing from the scene. If you ever listen to Whiplash in the nineties, you get the feeling that they tried really hard to sound up to date with modern bands, sacrificing what made them special from the beginning: the raw thrash sound.
Secondly, there is nothing really fancy with Thrashback. The production is nowhere near the top level of bands like Haunted or Slayer. Although you can hear everything crystal clear, the sound is very polished and refined, which does not sit well with a thrash band. There are no band mascots, cool logos, satanic lyrics or anything that draws your attention. Even the cover is a photo of 3 guys making weird faces.
Thirdly, Thrashback had nothing new to offer, like Pantera or Machine Head’s new type of thrash and nothing trendy to add to heavy metal, like Korn or Limp Bizkit’s groove and rap. Whiplash did not even claim to revisit the good ol’ days with a comeback from hell. Thrashback doesn't sound like Whiplash of the 80’s, so even their fans couldn't relate.
So why I even bother to review Thrashback? Because it’s one of the best god damn heavy metal records out there. And it is a shame to go unnoticed. Tony Portaro, Tony Bono and Tony Scaglione, got back together for one last time. As the title is self explanatory, I worry not about defining the genre these New Jersey lads enjoy playing. Plain and pure heavy/thrash metal it is.
Friend, if you still want to hear a pure heavy/thrash album with riffs, this is your break. And I mean riffs, not just grooves or harmonics or down tunes or palm muted riffs. Good old fashioned riffs that make every song memorable and unique. There is nothing classy about the song structures - opening riff, chorus, solo and back again- but Thrashback consists of everything that a metalhead needs.
In “Temple of Punishment” Tony screams to welcome you to Thrashback with his whiny voice. In “Killing on Monroe Street” Tony shreds for your pleasure, taking you back to Kill em All days. In “Thrash till Death”, Tony almost destroys his drums, to convince you that thrash sounds best when played from the heart. But nothing beats “Nails in me deep”, where all Tonys saved the best for the last. Like they knew that this would be their last song together, they rip a melodic heavy thrasher, which I personally consider as an all time favorite of mine. The galloping twin metal riffage, the backing gang vocals and the ultra melodic solo, make for a perfect ending…
… to a perfect and really fun (as Manosg wisely pointed out) record! While I could mention nearly all the songs (honorable mention to “King with an axe” for its epic intro), I prefer to explain once again why Thrashback managed to become one of my favorite records. It symbolizes a hard working group that doesn't rely on money to sound as good as it gets. When in listen to the 3 Tonys, I envisage them recording in their local studio giving it all for their swansong. Not for their fans, or their company or a future spot in MTV. Just for themselves.
I never had the chance to live in the beginning of the eighties, when all the classic metal heroes began to thrash. Thrashback, got me as close as I could get to a pure old wave thrash metal garage, forwarded in 1998. Coming from 3 guys that did all that and more, back in the day. Matured and not ashamed about it. And for that honesty, It holds a special place in my heart. A classic "5" from me.
