For some reason I have not paid much attention to Flotsam & Jetsam since I bought their first album, Doomsday For The Deceiver way back in the mists of time. So, when I purchased this after hearing a track online it was like listening to a completely different band. Today’s version of Flotsam is more akin to progressive metal, as opposed to the thrash universe they came from, although Brace For Impact is total thrash heaven.
It’s interesting to see Ken Mary blasting the hell out of the pots and pans because I first heard of him on TKO’s In Your Face, and I didn’t think of him as this heavy machine-like beast of a drummer, but he pounds the hell out of this record. Blood In The Water is pure dual guitar heaven as both Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley are just riff machines. In fact, it’s drums and guitars that make this a stellar album. Every song is a pounding groovefest. To pick a fave track is hard but I’m going for The Wicked Hour. Superb heavy pounding groove with matching riff and the cherry on top is a great vocal from Eric Knutson.
I think I might have to explore more of their catalogue.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
