Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of East Coast thrash metal veterans WHIPLASH. Comments WHIPLASH's Tony Portaro: "My main influences were the West Coast thrash bands that Brian Slagel brought into the limelight in the early '80s. Without them attracting my attention in the first place, I never would have written 'Power And Pain'. And the fact that Metal Blade is still promoting old-school thrash and believing in me gives me the inspiration to continue creating my East Coast style of metal." Known for his lightning speed riffs and leads, Portaro heads a power-trio lineup delivering metal, old-school style. WHIPLASH exploded on to the USA metal scene in 1984, branding the East Coast with its original thrash sound. Debuting their Roadrunner release "Power And Pain" at Ruthie's Inn in Berkeley, California, they followed it with two additional releases: "Ticket To Mayhem" and "Insult To Injury". From its East Coast thrash beginnings, WHIPLASH claimed its place in the metal archives. As a New Jersey native, Portaro made his chops at New York clubs, including CBGB and L'Amour. Always attracting talent, Portaro led bandmembers through various incarnations of WHIPLASH, trying to realize the musical vision he heard in his head. Producing four more WHIPLASH records through 2009, WHIPLASH stamped their way around the globe, gaining thrash followers whose ranks still grow to this day. WHIPLASH has recorded a new album, and in order to get a more old-school sound, Portaro opted to record to two-inch tape. Also, with the advice of renowned mastering engineer, Maor Appelbaum (FAITH NO MORE, HALFORD, ARMORED SAINT, SEPULTURA, CANDLEMASS, ANVIL, GOATWHORE), he chose to have the mix done by Phil Anderson, a longtime collaborator of Maor. Phil mixes on an analog board which should further benefit the project and push it in the direction Portaro is looking to reach. Besides Portaro, WHIPLASH consists of bassist Dank Delong, who had been recruited by Portaro in 2010, and drummer Ron Lipnicki, whose thrash injection to WHIPLASH in 2018 would begin a new era for the band on Metal Blade. Hailing from New Jersey, Ron's drum skills need no introduction, coming off a 12-year run with OVERKILL, and before that, hitting it with HADES. With his precision guns firing, Lipnicki obliterates the kit while setting rapid-fire pace. WHIPLASH's new album will drop in early 2019. Photo credit: DM Jones
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