thrash metal Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

Metallica “Ride the Lightning”

sfilzen — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 20:42:35 +0000

Metallica “Ride the Lightning” 1984. Today, August 3rd, is Metallica co-founder/singer/guitarist James Hetfield’s birthday (b. 1963) so I’m spinning their 2nd LP, and their last on an indie label, Megaforce Records; they signed to Elektra Records after the success of Ride the Lightning which went to #100 on the US charts with little-to-no commercial exposure. It since has gone several times platinum. I’m not a big metal fan, in fact I think this might be the only Metallica album we have (and I literally was just given it 2 days ago!), but I have always liked Metallica as far as metal goes. I did have Master of Puppets on a dubbed cassette back in the day. So I’m not going to wax poetic about the tunes but just say that it’s really great, really heavy (of course) – many critics consider Ride the Lightning their best release: a big leap in complexity, musical prowess and pushed the metal genre forward. Metallica released three singles from the album: the dark power ballad “Fade to Black” (a promo single only, it did managed to chart in Switzerland of all places), the biblical plague-themed “Creeping Death” (I don’t think it charted anywhere but has been ranked as one of Metallica’s best songs by folks who do that sort of thing), and the amazing, epic “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (my album cover says “Toll” but that sounds weird so I’m guessing it’s a typo) which was also released as a promo-only single but went on to be one of Metallica’s most popular songs (even I know it!). It did chart, but that wasn’t until 2019 on US Rock and Alternative chart.

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Motörhead “Ace of Spades”

sfilzen — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 20:15:33 +0000

Motörhead “Ace of Spades” 1980. Yesterday the last surviving member of the original Motörhead lineup, guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke, died, preceded by drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor in 2015 and singer/bassist Lemmy Kilmister, also in 2015. I’m not a big heavy metal fan, but Motörhead is one of the few metal bands I truly enjoy; their proto-thrash, ferocious ass kicking style appealing to my punk sensibilities. Plus Lemmy was absolutely genuine and endlessly (accidentally?) entertaining; I think I’ve watched the 2010 documentary Lemmy (49% motherfucker. 51% son of a bitch) a half dozen times and laughed my ass off at each viewing.

Ace of Spades was Motörhead’s fourth studio album – the first to be released in the US – and it peaked at #4 on the UK charts but reached legacy status where it continues to reside to this day. The title track “Ace of Spades” was the only track Motörhead released as a single, reaching #15 on the UK charts (hitting the charts again at #13 in December 2015 after Lemmy’s death). “Ace of Spades” has been placed on multiple best-of lists, including greatest guitar tracks and hard rock songs of all time. The whole album is fast – exhausting – with beats and guitar that never let up but other tracks that standout are the roadie anthem “(We Are) The Road Crew,” the romantic (kidding!) “The Chase is Better Than the Catch” and “The Hammer.”

We saw Motörhead play just once, on October 13th 1999 at the Rave in Milwaukee. Only Lemmy remained from the classic lineup by then of course: Clarke left in ‘82 and Taylor was gone permanently by ‘92. But it was still a memorable show. Nashville Pussy, Motörhead protégés, opened so it was LOUD, raucous, mean and amazing despite the Rave’s shitty acoustics.

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Burning Sons “Reduced to Equality”

sfilzen — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 20:04:02 +0000

Burning Sons “Reduced to Equality” 2011. Mystic Records. Today June 20th is my friend, primary vinyl dealer (at RushMor Records) and Burning Sons drummer Dan DuChaine’s birthday. Local hardcore punk/thrash metal band Burning Sons opened for the Dead Kennedy’s last week at Turner Hall here in Milwaukee.

Reduced to Equality is loud, fast and brutal (if the cover wasn’t a good enough clue). You can listen to and purchase the record here but the bandcamp site does not include the little gem at the very end of Side B: a voicemail to Dan from some irate guy who just goes off, calling himself a sacrificial lamb because Dan offered him $5 for an Iron Maiden album and rambles on about nuclear weapons and aliens. It is weird. So Happy Birthday Dan! and I hope good triumphs over evil and the aliens don’t get you or whatever.

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