Danish thrash metal!
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Danish thrash metal! |
Artillery - Fear of Tomorrow (Axe Killer) 1985
1. "Time Has Come" (5:23)
2. "The Almighty" (4:17)
3. "Show Your Hate" (4:54)
4. "King Thy Name Is Slayer" (3:42)
5. "Out of the Sky" (3:49)
6. "Into the Universe" (3:48)
7. "The Eternal War" (5:28)
8. "Fear of Tomorrow" (3:27)
9. "Deeds of Darkness" (6:41)
"Fear of Tommorow" is Artillery's first album, after releasing a series of demos that were apparently pretty popular in the then thriving tape trading underground. Artillery were a more than competent thrash band. They wrote killer riffs and their guitar tones were heavily distorted much like their German thrash counerparts. However, the overall mix and recording is not great. Not really that big a deal though as it is the aggresssion and the riff work that makes this disc a great listen. Album opener "Time Has Come" is a perfect example of a great thrash song. It's fast and furious but changes several times. Check out the drop to half speed during the bridge on this track. In other words, the music is fast, but not always fast with plenty of variation and good breaks. ("Into the Universe" also has a really a choice break as well.)
For years this album was nearly impossible to find on CD, other than on the double album release with "Terror Squad". However that pressing ommited "King Thy Name Is Slayer" and the title track. Thankfully France's Axe Killer Records saw fit to press the album in it's entirety on CD.
Artillery - Terror Squad/Fear of Tomorrow (RC Records/Roadrunner) 1985/87
1. "The Challenge"
(4:12)
2. "In the Trash" (4:47)
3. "Terror Squad" (5:50)
4. "Let There Be Sin" (3:52)
5. "Hunger and Greed" (5:05)
6. "Therapy" (4:06)
7. "At War with Science" (7:12)
8. "Decapitation of Deviants" (4:38)
9. "Time Has Come" (5:23)
10. "The Almighty" (4:17)
11. "Show Your Hate" (4:54)
12. "Out of the Sky" (3:49)
13. "Into the Universe" (3:48)
14. "The Eternal War" (5:28)
15. "Deeds of Darkness" (6:41)
This 1990 re-release is spectacular. "Terror Squad" has to be one of the finer speed metal/thrash discs I've heard. It's definitely Artillery's shining moment. I'm surprised the band didn't get more noetiety at the time. The band sports tons of mosh beats, great thrash riffs, plenty of speedy solos, and unique vocals that are an equal mix of growl and melody. It's also nice to have "Fear of Tomorrow" as a bonus. To bad two songs from "Fear of Tomorrow" were eliminated because of time constraints of the single disc.
This is one of those discs that I got into a bidding war over on eBay. The bidding got up to around $15 so I waited until the last two minutes and bid $17.50. In the last seconds the other guy beat me out and paid $18 plus a whopping $4 shipping. One week later another copy was posted with the bidding starting at $9. I bid $15, but nobody else ever bid on it so I ended up getting it for $9 plus $2 shipping.
Artillery - By Inheritance (Roadrunner) 1990
1. "7:00 From Tashkent"
(:53)
2. "Khomaniac" (6:42)
3. "Beneath the City" (4:48)
4. "By Inheritance" (5:42)
5. "Bombfood" (5:42)
6. "Don't Believe" (4:40)
7. "Life in Bondage" (5:27)
8. "Equal At First" (4:25)
9. "Razamanaz" (3:!4)
10. "Back in the Trash" (6:02)
After getting the reunion disc "B.A.C.K." and being totally into the old school thrash sounds, I began searching for Artillery's older discs. I have seen them several times on eBay, but they always seem to sell for much more than I am willing to pay. Fortunately, Christmas seemed to be a slow time for obscure stuff like this, so I was able to pick up this one for $5 (plus shipping). Not a bad deal. The music is a little less aggressive than I expected, but overall, this is a good disc, albeit not quite as good as "B.A.C.K." "By Inheritance" is Artillery's third album, so the search continues. "Razamanaz" is a Nazareth cover.
Artillery - Deadly Relics (Mighty Music) 1998
1. "Artilleristic
Prelude MCMXCVIII" (:53)
2. "Khomaniac" (6:42)
3. "Don't Believe" (4:31)
4. "Out Of The Sky" (3:40)
5. "Fear Of Tomorrow" (3:43)
6. "Deeds Of Darkness" (6:56)
7. "Too Late To Regret" (3:59)
8. "Deserter" (5:36)
9. "Hey Woman" (3:51)
10. "Time Has Come" (6:08)
11. "All For You" (4:33)
12. "Bitch" (3:50)
13. "Blessed Are The Strong" (4:37)
"Deadly Relics" is a compilation of Artillery's many demos dating back to as early as 1984. There are four demos covered on this album, of Artillery's five total. Unfortunately the band's first demo titled, "We Are the Dead" (1982) is not represented at all. Tracks 1-3 are from the "1989 promo demo". Tracks 4-5 are from the 1985 demo (five more demo tracks do not appear here). Tracks 6-9 are from the 1984 "Shellshock Demo" demo. Tracks 10-13 are from the second 1984 demo, "Deeds of Darkness". The first five tracks are typical of what one would expect from Artillery, heavy thrash metal. The remainder of the CD, however, is quite different. Track six is much less of a thrash metal nature, but is still quite heavy. These songs seem to have a heavy Mercyful Fate influence complete with King Diamond-esque vocals. Having said that, however, the vocals on "Deeds of Darkness" and "Deserter" reminded me of Ulrich Roth of the Scorpions. As a matter of fact, the resemblance was uncanny at times. However, I would imagine that this was a coincidence rather than any kind of direct influence. I wonder what this band would have sounded like had they continued to explore this sound rather than moving into realms of thrash metal. It's interesting to hear the transition from the first '84 demo to the heavier second '84 demo. These last four tracks walk a fine line between traditional 80's heavy metal and thrash metal. Even the vocals are more aggressive on this demo. although those Uli-like vocals do peak through here and there as well, especially on the chorus to "Time Has Come." "Deadly Relics" is packaged in a digi-pack with a nicely laid out booklet featuring tons of rare photos of the band, demo covers, concert flyers, etc. as well as a complete discography of the band including demos. This disc is essential for Artillery fans.
Artillery - B.A.C.K. (Diehard Music Worldwide) 1999
1. "Cybermind"
(4:01)
2. "How Do You Feel" (3:58)
3. "Out of the Trash" (3:58)
4. "Final Show" (5:26)
5. "WWW" (3:53)
6. "Violent Breed" (3:47)
7. "Theatrical Exposure" (3:56)
8. "B.A.C.K." (3:47)
9. "The Curse" (3:15)
10. "Paparazzi" (4:07)
A good friend of mine from Germany sent me this disc 'cause he knew I would love it. Well, my friend was right, I love this disc. Before hearing this I was unfamiliar with Artillery, so I began my daunting task of hunting down their back catalog. So, with that in mind, I love this CD. I have read over the years numerous lukewarm and downright negative review of "B.A.C.K." and frankly, I cannot understand why. Artillery play old school thrash metal, and they play it well. I'd put this one the same level with bands like Kreator, which is a high honor in my opinion. Vocalist Flemming Ronsdorf has a unique voice, although at times he reminds me of the vocalist from Cirith Ungol. The CD opens with a full-throttle thrash metal assault titled "Cybermind". Frankly, this song alone should convince any skeptic that Artillery are indeed back! The next track only slows things down slightly and sounds very much like classic Artillery, with an updated production. As well "Out of the Trash" holds ups the intensity level. This song features some smoking bass and guitar solos. Quite frankly, the intensity never really lets up throughout the album right through the album's last track "Paparazzi". Yes, the band does makes use of some mid-pace, groove elements here and there, but what thrash band doesn't? Bands like Kreator, Sodom and Slayer have sucessfully used grooves as well. So, besides being a great thrash album, "B.A.C.K." also succeeded at making me an Artillery fan. This is classic thrash metal. If you don't believe me, igrnore the reviews and listen for yourself. I doubt you'll be disappointed.
