(Reigning Phoenix Music)
UK thrashers Onslaught were one of the earliest from the genre overseas with the 1980s album Power From Hell (1985), The Force (1986), and In Search Of Sanity in 1989 with Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper) on vocals. Including Origins Of Aggression, three singers to date and eight albums.
Disc 1 includes rerecording’s of important tracks from the early years, while Disc 2 consists of punk and metal covers. Currently behind the mic, Dave Garnett has a vocal approach that is a crossover yelled harsh thrashy voice that fits for short 1 minute plus songs “Thermonuclear Devastation Of Planet Earth”, “Black Horse Of Famine”, and 2.5 minute “Angels Of Death”, with the direct rapid-fire riffing. You can hear why on disc two the covers include “Iron Fist” (Motörhead), “Holiday In Cambodia” (Dead Kennedys cover), “A Look At Tomorrow” (Discharge), and “U.K. 82” (The Exploited).
Church bells and evil spoken words signal the start to “Power From Hell” as the groove lays in a pocket. Sometimes rerecorded (classic) songs from a band’s back catalogue are questionable, but in this case are the exceptions “Metal Forces” and “Let There Be Death” with their focus on riffing straight ahead, accenting leads that have a nice punch and are sonically bigger. Quickened build to “Thrash Till the Death” that goes full steam ahead.
“In Search Of Sanity” is the video single with a stomping mid-tempo attack where the band’s style was more focused thrash. “Shellshock” (originally from 1989) could have been on a Kreator or Sodom song from the timeframe with attention to balance of tasty riffing, aggression, and changes.
Other covers to mention that are well delivered are Judas Priest’s “Freewheel Burning”, Sex Pistol’s “Holidays On The Sun”, and Sabbath’s “War Pigs” that honor the original arrangements, while letting the vocal be more melodic (and traditional metal) at times and adjusting to the song’s verses and chorus.
Rating: 8.5
The post REVIEW: ONSLAUGHT’s Origins Of Aggression – “Includes Rerecording’s Of Important Tracks From The Early Years” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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