ONSLAUGHT - review added 19th January 2011
Album Review: Sounds Of Violence (2011)
For fans of: Thrash Metal... and Volume!!!
UK thrashers Onslaught - Sy Keeler on vocals, Nige Rockett and Andy Rosser-Davies on guitars, Jeff Williams on bass, and Steve Grice on drums - were formed in Bristol by Nige and Steve in 1982, and released their debut "Power From Hell" in 1985. "The Force", now with Sy Keeler on lead vocals, followed in 1986. "In Search of Sanity" then came along 3 years later with yet another vocalist, this time Steve Grimmett of Grim Reaper fame.
That was it for the band for several years, before "Killing Peace", with Sy back in the fold, came out in 2007. That leads us onto the Jacob Hansen produced "Sounds Of Violence", amazingly only the band's 5th album in well over 20 years. I say amazingly, because Onslaught really does have a big devoted following.
The sound of... "Sounds Of Violence" is described perfectly by the album's title. The vocals are a deeper shade of evil. The guitars grind and grimace, the bass is more throbbing than a giant's heart, and the drums sound like big rocks falling onto live hand grenades. All in all, this album is Onslaught turned up to 11, then turned up to 23 because 11 wasn't loud enough.
Good:
The overall sound. It's very Slayer-esque, but it makes Slayer sound like a bunch of sissies wearing pink bows and lace-covered leotards. Sy Keeler sounds like a monster. And that's a good thing.
Not So Good:
The album cover art is boring as hell, I'm not sure any of the songs are still going to be getting airplay in ten years time (although I'll happily be proved wrong) and the cover of 'Bomber' (which is a bonus track on some or all versions of the album) isn't as good as it could have been. The band have definitely traded catchiness for brutality, but this statement could equally be in the 'good' section...
The Songs:
These guys are at their best when they go so fast their instruments catch fire, hence 'Rest In Pieces' and 'Suicideology' are the best here. However, apart from the cover, there's nothing here even remotely bad.
In Summation:
Yep, this is a bloody big, bloody loud, bloody good release. Buy it. Be aware, though, I am now completely deaf, so resist the temptation to play the music quite as loud as it begs to be played...
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Check out... All of it.
Track List:
01. Into The Abyss (Intro)
02. Born For War
03. The Sound Of Violence
04. Code Black
05. Rest In Pieces
06. Godhead
07. Hatebox
08. Antitheist
09. Suicideology
10. End Of The Storm (Outro)
Label: AFM Records
Artist's website(s): Onslaught | MySpace | Facebook
