Sunday 26 April 2009

E-X-E - Stricken By Might (1987)


Released right in the centre of thrash chaos, E-X-E were touted as the next cool thing in thrash circles. Of course, they never reared their ugly heads beyond the mundane despite 'Stricken...' being a relatively decent thrash assault. Ten tracks on offer which remind me alot of early Slayer but without the haunting menace or evil arrogance. The album exists on a hot-bed of soaring solo's, buzzing riffs and predictable vocals, and comes wrapped in a truly atrocious sleeve which looks to have been drawn by a five-year old. Okay, so petty quibbles aside, 'Stricken...' is a half-decent thrash opus but they won't win any awards in the serious stakes for calling sides A and B of the record, Icky and Pooey!! Oh such metal humour could be so cringe worthy to say the least.


E-X-E do play reasonable thrash metal, and this is a cult offering, but once you've slapped on Slayer's 'Hell Awaits' you'll soon forget E-X-E ever existed.


6.5/10


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