FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

Release Year: 2022
Artist Origin: USA
Style: intricate technical speed thrash metal

the forced farewell of Jason Newsted to Metallica may have brought additional attention to American quintet, yet it did nothing to affect their ambitious mindset or explosive character of music, something unmistakably proven by these ten tracks of sophomore full-length [1988], where commanding Eric A.K.’s voice and epic harmonies collide with a barrage of merciless riffs, while technical speed/thrash metal constantly shifts dynamics, moods, and structures without losing aggression or its dark direction even during melodic passages; from the samurai code-examining title track, the lightning-fast N.E. Terror and monumental Dreams of Death to the Middle Eastern-flavored I Live You Die, the cult recording sounds razor-sharp throughout, evolving into a creatively inexhaustible triumph of American thrash metal; recent Dutch 180g black vinyl edition for audiophiles