D-Extreme - The Truth Shall Be Told (1991)

Hard-edged political crossover metal was rarely this good, but alongside the equally colourful 24-7-Spyz and Naked Truth, D-Xtreme just never got the attention their lyrics and music deserved. This is a reasonably vocal and violent debut record from this all-black outfit who trade Living Color-styled commentary with spikier menace, resulting in soulful yet gritty thrashing crossover and gritty funk metal that never once annoys like so many other bands did at the time. The track titles speak for themselves with 'Race Riot,' 'The Crackside' and 'Child Abused Kid' so as expected this isn't going to be an easy ride, but the choppy raps, bruising guitars and social commentary deserve your attention. This one slipped under the radar but slots nicely alongside Mordred's 'In This Life', Urban Dance Squad, Naked Truth, 27-7-Spyz, but lacks the fun of say Fishbone, but hey, it can't all be smiles in the ghetto, but this album is a real grower.
7.5/10

Incantation - Onward to Golgotha (1992)

By 1992 I was becoming fed up with metal and all of its nuances but if you were prepared to stick around until 1992 then your life would have been blessed with this bruising death metal experience. Incantation formed back in 1989 but were never really slotted into the 'classic' death metal scene that spouted out such marvels as Morbid Angel, Obituary, Entombed, but as debut albums go 'Onward...' is one of the finest death metal releases that quite literally stamps all over your face - the vocals of Craig Pillard are guttural to the extreme, whilst the twisted guitars hint at the Morbid Angel madness whilst the drums of Jim Roe are simply relentless. This isn't quite up there with Morbid Angel's debut record, but it's still a formidable death metal record that never got the credit it deserved as fellow New Yorker's Suffocation and Immolation seemed to bathe in the limelight.

Although fast in most of its journey this is a very accessible record that reeks of evil, hints at melody and echoes with the sinister. One of the last of the old school tyrants.
8.5/10

Wasted Youth - Black Daze (1988)

Wasted Youth began life as a U.S. punk band but like a fair few riotous acts they decided to crossover into 'metal' territory, and also, like so many other bands, I really think the end result was one of note. Wasted Youth combine raging thrash with a punk attitude, and it's no wonder people have put this album in the same pigeonhole as D.R.I. and the likes, but there's some great melody here, as the band thrash out a decent batch of tunes an adopt a really crunchy guitar sound punctuated with punchy solos. Standout tracks have to be the cool 'Any Gun Can Play' and the hardcore fluster of 'Bucket Head' which features more dazzling guitars.

'Black Daze' is a pacey affair that should appeal to anyone who likes their metal furious but well thought out, because time and time again you'll find yourself marvelling at those superb chords and flashing solos.
8/10

Hobbs Angel of Death - Inheritance (1995)

If you want proof that '80s styled thrash metal was still in existence during the god awful grunge invasion, then Hobbs Angel of Death's 'Inheritance' is the album you  should have owned. These guys were criminally underrated throughout the '80s let alone the '90s when metal had all but died - but obscure classics such as this emerged. Hobbs Angel of Death were formed by Peter Hobbs, and were an Australian thrash act who went through several line-up changes and rather extraordinarily only released a couple of records. Even so, if you want to hear evil-sounding thrash metal in the vein of old Slayer then you can't go wrong here, because this sounds as if it was recorded back in the early '80s such is the menace of tracks such as 'Dream Killer' and 'Depopulation,' and Peter's voice is at times a dead ringer for Slayer's Tom Araya if you can imagine Tom's voice being more guttural. This is a killer album featuring some brilliantly ominous guitar work, you'd have been a fool to have missed out on this.
8/10

'Black Roses' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - v/a (1988)

'Black Roses' was like the lesser known sibling of the brilliant 'Trick or Treat' movie. It was certainly the least talented family member too as a film - but as a soundtrack it was quite a decent affair, showcasing some of the '80s more accomplished metal bands, ranging from King Kobra, Bang Tango, Tempest and Hallows Eve. Most of the tracks on offer were good rockers, with the Black Roses band (consisting of several known metal musicians such as Carmine Appice, Alex Masi and Mark Free) rocking out four of the tracks on the soundtrack, the best of these being the melodic 'Paradise (We're On Our Way')' and the fiery 'Soldiers of the Night'. Elsewhere Hallows Eve offer the thrash assault of 'D.I.E.' which appeared on their excellent 'Death & Insanity' opus, whilst 'Tempest's 'Streetlife Warrior' is a cool, fizzy metal number albeit rather formulaic. Even so, 'Black Roses' soundtrack is a far better ride than the movie
7/10

Fisc - Handle With Care (1989)

Fisc sound rather dated to be honest considering this is the late '80s although it could be that rather lightweight vocal of Andre Blazar that gets on my wick. Tracks such as 'Live It Up' 'Come Run Riot' and 'Breaking All The Rules' are rather formulaic hard rock with a heavy dose of metal - 'Live It Up' being even more watery, although slightly similar to Kiss's 'Lick It Up' chorus wise, but occasionally the band like a chug - 'Come Run Riot' a prime example, but there's a distinct lack of bite here although the piano-tinged 'Won't Let You Go' is a nice stab at pomp rock balladry. Radio friendly hair metal to the hilt.
5.5/10

Kidd Gloves - Feel the Fire (1986)

A decent little metal band, the rather poorly named Kidd Gloves were fronted by Lisa St Ann whose silky tones gave this band a very melodic feel. Even so, the title track, which simmers nicely, has a Hellion-meets-Whitesnake feel with its slow-building smooch feel. Worth noting the excellent guitars of Frank Shaw who comes into his own on 'Turn it Around'. Simple metal but that's all we wanted back then as teenagers. Favourite track has to be the scorching 'Reasons' with its fiery guitar and heavy drum bombs. A cracking little EP this one.
7/10