Artist: Whiplash
Title: Unborn Again
Type: Album
Label: Pulverised Records

Truth be told, I’m not au fait with the back catalogue of these NJ thrashers. Bar a couple of tracks on Speed Kills… compilations and the likes, they’re not a band I’ve really gone out of my way for and I guess that probably comes down to laziness. Of all the thrash bands, Whiplash are one of the less talked about. They could be mentioned in the same breath as fellow RoadRacer acts such as Heathen and Xentrix or even other Repka-ized thrashers like Evil Dead and Acid Reign, in that to the thrashing minority any of these could be considered underrated even if deep down they know they’d hate any of these to enter the charts (Whiplash for Christmas #1 2010? Who’s with me?) Anyway, Whiplash plodded through the 90’s putting out a number of albums, and now Unborn Again is their first release in a decade. So, how does it fare as an introduction to the band?

Well it’s about what I was expecting, to an extent. It kicks off with a brief intro that matches the fairground theme depicted on the cover art, and as the rollercoaster carriage comes zipping down the rails, up comes a succession of pummelling drums courtesy of Joe Cangelosi and then it’s time to ‘Swallow The Slaughter.’ From hereon in you can expect adrenalin fuelled thrash filled with speedy riffage and ripping drums and all the usual goods you’d expect to find on a thrash album worth its candy-floss. ‘Pitbulls in the Playground’ launches a snarling, slavering attack with some fast and snappy riffs, which ephemerally breaks away from the main melody as an Eastern lick leads us down a heavy, iron-fisted path. This isn’t the only ethnic break they’ve digressed with, as ‘Firewater’ begins with some tribal Indian flavour (perhaps a commentary on a post-Vindaloo excretion when you put the words Indian flavour and fire in the same sentence, ho). Anyway, this number takes us away from the expected thrash-by-numbers approach and sees a more sludgy approach and a progressive vibe to the guitars that refuse to go in a straight line. ‘Float Face Down’ takes this even further with an oppressive Sabbath-esque intro that breaks away revealing a speed-fuelled piece of thrash that makes me want to hit the lights (see what I did there?) The sludgy Sabbath vibe returns and takes us into the next track.

It’s hard not to note comparisons between Tony Portaro and Dave Mustaine; the vocals on ‘Fight Or Flight’ have that snarl down to a tee and any more lessons from the Megadeth main-man he’d he whining about some Danish drummer on Blabbermouth. Fancy a trip down the Sunset Strip? ‘Hook In Mouth’ will take you straight there if you’ve got your hair teased, eyes’ lined and donned your tartiest pink leggings. Well, I didn’t say everything was as I expected, and this track certainly strays far from the beaten Bay Area path. Still, where’s the harm in a bit of diversity? This album owes just as much to the NWOBHM sound as it does to US thrash, with a bit o’ classic doom and glam and rock thrown in for good measure. A worthy listen for any serious metalhead.

http://www.myspace.com/whiplashusa
http://www.pulverised.net/

Luci Herbert

MTUK HOME