XNO
ANTHEM
Tightrope
Reckless/Enigma
From Tokyo comes a four-piece
heavy metal ensemble known as An-
them. These guys rock with the best
Japanese metal. Tightrope is pack
ed with tight drum bursts, quick bass
runs and an inventive blend of flashy
guitar and powerful vocal work. Eizo
Sakamoto combines his traditional
Japanese tongue with choruses
sung in English. The language mix-
ing seems odd at first, but the songs
are so strong it doesn't matter after
a few listens
The self-produced album reveals
production methods comparable to
those of big name U.S. metal bands,
such as Ratt and Bon Jovi. With
bright, crisp cymbals and the deep
end, double bass drum work of
Takamasa Chuchi, the beat is heard
loud and clear throughout the
album's eight tracks. Guitarist Hiroya
Fukada plays as fast as fellow
metalist James Hetfield (of Metallica)
and employs all the tricks of the
trade, but with taste. Bassist Nacto
Shibata has a solid supporting role,
leading the band through various
chord changes, never allowing them
to slip, or lose focus of their musical
goal.
In five short years Anthem has
achieved what most bands strive for
a quickly identifiable sound and
presence. It will be interesting to see
what these Asian head bangers will
come up with next. R.S.I
NUCLEAR ASSAULT
Game Over
Combat Core Records
Nuclear Assault explodes, and
that's no joke. Most people would ex-
plode just trying to play at the speeds
they do. Spontaneous combustion,
KA-BOOM! But these four metalists
take it in stride. Nuclear Assault
bassist Dan Lilker was thrown out of
Anthrax because he wanted to play
even faster than they do. Dan set out
to find people who would and could
play as fast as he wanted. He found
singer/guitarist John Connelly,
guitarist Anthony Bramante and skin-
basher Glenn Evans, and together
they formed Nuclear Assault.
Suprisingly enough, the band's
favorite topics seem to be nuke-
92
RS
Record
Collection
related. Titles like "Radiation
Sickness," "After the Holocaust" and
"Nuclear War" are typical of what
you might hear in their set. But they
also have a sense of humor, however
sick it might be. "Hang the Pope is
their idea of a fun sing-along, one
they might howl by the campfire on
an annual camp out to Yosemite
Seems that these guys sell out
metal shows and punk shows at
CBGB's all the time. So, if you like
your metal fast, or if you like your
punk mid-tempo, you will probably
like these guys. R.S.II
VIRGIN PRUNES
The Moon Looked Down and
Laughed
Touch and Go
Although the Virgin Prunes have
existed for a number of years, I wasn't
sure what to expect. After hearing the
first song, Christian Death came to
mind. After a more in-depth listen, I
decided that there is a similiar style.
but that the Prunes seem to lean
toward a more commercial side of an
ever-present, demented, mysterious
music with danceable edges. What
once was a small independent hard-
core label has now expanded its
horizons with acts like Cory's faves.
the Virgin Prunes. PB
VICTIM'S FAMILY
Voltage & Violets
Mordam Records
Victim's Family are tight, and they
don't sound at all like a three-piece
band. The guitar sound fs at times
reminiscent of The Dictators (a heavy
guitar-oriented band from the late
70's) while the bass and drums play
almost as a single unit, complemen-
ting each other with well-placed ac-
cents. The bassist fills in all the emp-
ty spots that three-piece combos
sometimes run into when the
guitarist is soloing. The guitarist
displays hints of a jazz background
at times, as if he might also be a
secret fan of Husker Du. Their drum-
mer has a knowledge and understan
ding of dynamics. One song, "Devon
Drool is a light-hearted affair that ex-
plores backwoods roots music
played at a fast country-shuffle pace.
Guitarist and overall main dude,
Ralph Spight, has a unique way of
putting his thoughts into words, as in
the song about the plight of the
American Indian, "Buffalo": "I pav-
ed over their mass graves/l moved
their descendents onto a barren land
and got them drunk on Budweiser"
Funny but true?
Voltage & Violets is a record all
lovers of creative thinking and play-
ing should own. As a trio they are
tops. Sure, they don't sound like the
Police or Rush, but for what they do,
they sound great. R.S.II
LOVE AND ROCKETS
Express
Big Time Records
From the ashes of Bauhaus comes
Express, the US. debut from Love
and Rockets and their second
release. The gloomy past of Bauhaus
has been transformed into a bright,
more pop-oriented sound. Their big
hit, "Kundalini Express" displays
more of a rock sounding guitar riff
than we're used to, and a steel guitar
which remains dormant on the rest
of the album. I was never a big fan
of Bauhaus, so I'm surprised I like
Love and Rockets as much as I do.
It seems their past experience com-
binod with new ideas has enabled
them to create some truly likeable
material. PB
NEW ORDER
Brotherhood
Qwest
As the dark shadows of the past
fade, a new light continues to grow
New Order surges in popularity with
every new release. Brotherhood, their
fourth Lp, is an excellent follow-up to
two bad post-Low Life (3rd Lp)
12-inchers. While the musicianship
and lyrical content of Brotherhood re-
mind me a lot of Low Life, the sing-
ing style and vocal tones are more
reminiscent of Power Corruption and
Lies. They still display a touch of
dance-oriented teen riffs, but that's
what really adds flavor to the com-
positions. It's something to kick your
shoes off and have fun with. It's also
available in a box cassette. PB
THE BEAT FARMERS
Van Go
Mike Curb Records
When singer/drummer Country
Dick Montana drawis "She wants me
to be true to her / She comes home
once a month. / Her moustache cak
ed with vomit / and teeth marks on
her butt," on the song "Big Ugly,
Wheels," you just can't help but sit
down and listen. These good of boys
sound like convicts playin' ZZ Top
songs under the noon sun before the
sheriff comes back to town from
vacation. Nice and down home-
pour me another ice cold mug of
what's on tap right thar-saloon
music. DP
WIRE
Snakedrill
Mute Records
This is new Wire. After a long
separation and many solo projects
the band has reunited. This four song
Ep delivers the essence of sinister
Wire compositions, as though there.
had never been a departure. It's as
if Snakedrill was the vinyl between
the Chairs Missing and 154 Lps.
Snakedrill has strong, tight melodic
grooves with an avant garde twist.
The slow pace has an eerie appeal,
but creative bits are also mixed into
give it a driving beat. Colin
Newman's vocals still echo with a
unique harmony that gives Wire their
definitive sound. For being away so
long, Wire has conceived an ex-
cellent new beginning. I'm now
waiting for the Lp; it should be excep-
tional. Welcome back! BS
WIRE-SNAKEDRILL
PB-Paul Birnbaum, OP - Damien Pythias, RS Ray Stevens il BS Brian Schroeder
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