Steve Gaines
Anger As Art
8.3
Ohhhhh good. Good, good, good. A solo album. Nothing I like more than some no named jerkoff sitting in his basement playing Metallica covers. But wait, wait. Steve Gaines? The guy from Abattoir, Bloodlust, Dreams of Damnation, and Pagan War Machine? Well then. That changes things. Slightly.
Described as "a cross between At The Gates and Vio-lence", it's all aggressive old-school thrash inspired with tolerably boisterous vocals. The album begins with a real punk-influenced song called "Attitude Adjustment" - it's over the top introduction features Steve Gaines yelling "it feels like a hole in my mother-fucking head!" The riffing is intense and catchy as all hell - even the solos are extraordinary. It's really incredible how competent Gaines is at every instrument. "I Create Your God" sounds like The Chasm if their guitars were more rock oriented and their lead singer sounded like the kid of guy who wears tight white pants and aviator glasses. I do wish the vocals were...something else, as I believe it would draw more stiff-minded metalheads into it. I'd have to say the highlight of the disc is the beginning of "Wait For The Hammer", where the guitar and bass match up flawlessly to kick off a lead-footed song that only relents for the guitar solo. At only thirty minutes long, it's sort of like being sucked up into a thrash whirlwind and thrown a few miles from your home.
What the fuck is wrong with this guy? How old is he? Is he married? What does his wife think? Does she know he's completely amazing? He embodies thrash metal. Eats it, breathes it. The guy probably has sex with Testament albums still in their jewel cases. Whatever. It's nice to see someone with such an enthusiasm for the style they're playing - even better when they have the talent to back it up. Lovers of all things thrash should willingly throw down their hard earned money and souls to Steve Gaines. Top notch.
