6 Under-Appreciated Classics Of UK Thrash (Pt.4)

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Re-Animator – Condemned To Eternity (1990)

Arriving a little later in the day, Re-Animator still had enough potential to cause a stir and 1990’s Condemned To Eternity is their greatest achievement.

Another band in thrall to Testament‘s semi-melodic approach, particularly in the Chuck Billy aping vocals, Re-Animator still possessed the required skill to amount a convincing thrash attack; proof positive that us Brits could really thrash when we wanted to!

“Low Life” and the instrumental title track are the real highlights, both demonstrating the bands knack for experimental and yet vertebrae-shattering riffs. “Low Life” may rip off Metallica‘s “Creeping Death” in its opening bars but that can be forgiven, the song goes on to establish itself as a frenzied neck-breaker in its own right while the title-track challenges Death Angel‘s “The Ultraviolence” in the epic instrumental stakes.

In the end, Condemned To Eternity may be one for thrash diehards, but it’s no less convincing because of it.

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Solitary – Nothing Changes (1998)

One of the UK’s best kept thrash secrets, these nutters decided to embark on a career in thrash in 1998 and couldn’t have given two shits about the sorry state of the genre as the decade drew to a close. Fuck it, they’d create their own scene if they had to!

Solitary‘s debut release, Nothing Changes, made an immediate impact on the UK’s own nascent thrash scene, reminding thrashers that the UK could still shake shit up when we wanted to and Nothing Changes proved to have a hit in its considerable arsenal!

By 2002, “A Second Chance” had topped the mp3 Metal Charts – having on average been downloaded four thousand times per month – and Solitary were a name to watch. With a solid ear for groove, it was the heads-down clattering of “A Second Chance” and “Twisted” that made Nothing Changes a 90’s thrash album worthy of attention.

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Virus – Force Recon (1988)

Perennial underdogs of the UK scene, Virus proved their worth with their second album, Force Recon.

This punk/thrash overload from one of the UK’s most violent band of thrashers kicked even the most hardened thrasher square in the mush when it was released in 1988 and the arrival of guitarist Coke Finlay appeared to light a considerable fire up Virus‘ collective arse!

To say that Force Recon was an improvement on debut album Pray For War would be an understatement. Fast, savage and punky as all hell, the production may be shite but the songs shine through with the likes of “Testify to Me” and “Viral Warfare” proving particularly potent

Just a little good, friendly, violent fun….UK style!

Also included in this series:

6 Under-Appreciated Classics Of UK Thrash (Pt.1)

6 Under-Appreciated Classics Of UK Thrash (Pt.2)

6 Under-Appreciated Classics Of UK Thrash (Pt.3)

6 Under-Appreciated Classics Of UK Thrash (Pt.5)