Onslaught - In Search Of Sanity (1989)

Onslaught were UK thrash hopefuls yet confused from the very start. My fave record of theirs, being the dungeon dampness of 'Power From Hell', was lampooned by many, and so from there the band transformed into a more raw, thrashy outfit and recorded 'The Force'. However, album three sees the band bring in chief warbler Steve Grimmett of Grim Reaper fame, and now they are on the quest to become the English Metallica. 'In Search...', for all its attributes, is a timid 'Ride The Lightning' imitation, disembarking on an Americanised route, which at the time was probably advised condisering the lack of fortune among British thrash acts. The guitar attack of Rockett and Trotman is sufficient enough to compliment Grimmett's tones, and the band show their promise on the lengthier cuts such as 'Blood Upon The Ice' and 'Welcome To Dying', which are structurally impressive although again they reek of that style Metallica made their own in the late '80s. 'In Search...' of sees a band striving to find an identity, and yet three albums in they still seem uncomfortable despite their ability. The sound is polished, the only stain being the cover of AC/DC's 'Let There Be Rock', but the gods are casting great shadows over these type of bands who failed to up their anti and so found themselves being crushed under the weight. The Bay Area scene may have harboured many bands with a similar crunch but when UK acts strive for that type of sound it doesn't bound well. Even so, 'In Search Of Sanity' is a half-decent record, but would have been better titled 'In Search Of Self.'

7/10