Torture - Storm Alert
- Released: 1989/2005
- Label: Escapi Music
- Rating:
I was walking down the street on a beautiful sunny day. Dogs were barking, birds were chirping, children were playing, and old people were sitting outside on their chairs doing nothing. The sun beamed down on my face, and I smiled as a butterfly flew and landed on my shoulder, as though to say “Hello, my friend”. I began skipping and whistling a tune and two people came from across the street and grabbed onto my hands. We began skipping together and birds hummed along with us from the trees nearby. Truly magical.
Suddenly, I had remembered my discman was tucked neatly away in my jeans pocket, and in it, Torture’s new release, Storm Alert. With a smile I pushed the play button and a very eerie keyboard melody began playing that reminded me of The Exorcist. Suddenly, “Ignominious Slaughter” began playing with a razor sharp riff. I blanked out. All I saw was red, but I felt an overwhelming urge to go psycho. When I snapped out of my trance, I remembered nothing. I looked around me and all I saw was chaos. Dead bodies lay scattered on the ground, buildings were on fire, and the sky burned as red as blood. I raised my hands to my face and realized I was holding uzi’s in each of them. The rain began to fall as I raised my head to the clouds and whispered “What have I done?”. The final track had ended.
Ok, so this story isn’t exactly true, but one thing is – whenever I pop this sucker on my stereo I go nuts. Storm Alert was released last year; however, in truth, it was a re-release. Storm Alert was actually released in 1989 and is a true underground thrash metal gem. One thing’s for sure – this album blows nearly every other thrash album out of the water. The CD is a bonebreaking, rage-inducing, energy-giving nectar. It’s thrash done perfectly. The modern production doesn’t hurt it, either. For an album that’s over 10 years old, the production is simply amazing. It’s really heavy and edgy yet somehow still retains a certain 80’s vibe to it.
Thrash metal is all about energy and riffing. If a trash metal album lacks either one of these, it’s a dud. Torture offer both of these in spades. Every track features a real hooky riff that just begs to be air-guitared. Best of all, all of the tracks feature more than just one riff being played over and over again, unlike oh so many other albums I’ve heard in my life. The songs go places and never lose their ferocity.
Speaking of going places, did I mention this album is over 50 minutes long? The third track alone is somewhere around the 10 minute mark. I don’t understand how it never gets boring or tedious, especially for thrash. The songwriting is phenomenal as well. Somehow, their songs manage to sound classy and professional, yet at the same time, they have a certain immature, fun vibe to them that kind of reminds me of Exodus’ works. That’s just vibes though. Style-wise I’d say there’s Destruction to be found in the riffing, Slayer to be found in the vocals, and Overkill to be found in the structure. The vocals are pretty much “Slayer-ish” throughout, yet we are offered alot more variety. It’s a very rough voice used most of the time, with shrieks, screams and growls to be found here and there to serve as eye-openers. Well done!
Highlights include the godly “Ignominious Slaughter” that I believe is the best example of what Torture can bring to the table and thrash metal in general. “Slay Ride” is fucking ridiculously fun and funny despite being twisted and morbid as Hell. The instrumental “Whips” simply owns and really showcases the inhumanly great drumming. Shit, I might as well just say all the tracks because there is not one weak track on this album.
The lyrics are fun, demented, and violent, and suit the music perfectly. I just love singing along to these tracks in the car as I smack around my steering wheel. Granted, they’re not exactly thought-provoking or deep, and I think you’ll actually be a bit dumber after finishing the album, but that’s how I like my thrash. – pointless!
I think I’ve kissed this album’s ass enough though. It’s time to get into what should’ve been done better. The third track, “Dwell Into Surrealty” is, as mentioned, around the 10 minute mark. Big mistake! Now don’t get me wrong, the track does indeed own, I just tend to space out here and there while I’m listening to it, usually halfway through. Other than that, I really can’t think of anything else I didn’t enjoy about this album. It’s pure, hard-hitting 80’s thrash done right, and is the perfect soundtrack to any brawl you may be getting into. Go pick this fucker up right now.
Brent C. | 08/25/2006