E-x-e - Sicker Than I Thought! [CD]

Razor sharp New York Thrash Metal classic remastered! Finally available again. New York, New York... the mighty metal hordes that you have raised... Anthrax, Overkill, Pro-Pain, Carnivore, Prong, Nuclear Assault, Riot, Helmet... need we go on? How about these E.X.E.cutioners here? The style during those early days was boisterous heavy/power metal, remnants of which were still quite audible on the debut "Stricken By Might", a blend of heavy, power, speed, and thrash that was very entertaining in its own charming way. Two years later the band hit with a another, sicker release "Sicker Than I Thought!". And they've tightened their act by leaps and bounds, concentrating on the speed/ thrash side of the previously displayed conglomerate. The sound quality has also gone up, the production's more polished, giving the guitars an articulate sharp click. For at least half the time the band just mosh with little remorse, unleashing vehement headbangers, stirring mosh-pits left and right, trying to match the belligerence of their colleagues from the NYHC scene every bit of the way. The only thing that has remained unchanged being the vocal one; Tommy Lee Haley retains his quite effective clean attached antics from the first instalment, recalling both Russ Anderson (Forbidden) and Joey Belladonna (Anthrax). In the long run, one shouldn't be spitting over the guys too much regarding their not so focused first endeavour as similar transformations (Helstar, Attacker, Heathen, Nasty Savage, etc.) were not such an uncommon phenomenon on the US scene. And, they got it right the second time around, producing this exhilarating old school thrashing beast that added another plus in their hometown's impressive resume. The band disappeared in the early-90's alongside myriad other 80's-spawned practitioners. But they will rise; I have faith in them... the executioners will start beheading and decapitating again; they just need to sharpen their axes some more... and to start subjecting their will to sicker and sicker thoughts.