Wargasm : "What Are You Afraid of ?"

 

This Boston-based thrash band released one of the best thrash albums ever in 1988, titled "Why Play Around?" In some ways, they felt like a cross between Sodom and Coroner, while bringing more groove to the occasion. They were trying to reissue their 4th and final album, "Suicide Notes," but their record label sabotaged this in some way, so here we are with a secret self-release of it. There is less thrash and more groove, as they adapted to the 90s. The vocals are pushed forward in the mix, and the staccato chug of guitar is more mid tempo, though they still resolve things with intersting chords that ring out more sonically. 

"Engine" is even more melodic than the opening track, and it takes a few listens for the change in direction they took here to grow on me. They give things a taunt, thrash, and chug to accent certain passages and lean into it more on "Underground". They seem to be pondering what they do lyrically on this song. The guitar solos are pretty impressive if you are into that kind of thing; they are true to the era of music they are making. The drumming stands out as being very solid and one of their strengths. More naunce than flash. "Meat" feels more like a Pantera song, but it works well for what it is. They throw in some ofthe punk speed that crossover into thrash with "Not Forgiven, Not Forgotten." This gives is more of an old school Metallica mood. 

"Jigsaw Man" carries more weight in the chugged tension that propels it; when they pour on the speed, perhaps it does not carry the same weight. The riffing of the title tracks locks in tighter as things click in the songwriting here. The drummer is really popping off on it.  "Grey Matter" is a short instrumental that feels more like an interlude. It is a clearer picture of where Thrash went in the 90s on "Fire Away."More deliberate, less speed metal momentum. Many of the songs feel like latter-day Metallica as they are recapturing the thrash spirit after reprioritizing their approach to the genre's aggressive attack. I will give it a 9. 

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