|
There AC/DC cover, which closes the record, is somewhat more succesful as there vocalist kind of sounds like a Thrash version of Bon Scott, anyway. The standout however, is "The Toxic Waltz", a wonderfully tongue in cheek ode to mosh pits and there ilk, that features a verbal blitzkrieg of words and a terrific swing along riff that captures the mood. Exodus have progressed quite a bit from there brutal debut, the inconquerable, "Bonded by Blood" and seemed to have matured and retained a certain sense of humor into there third release.A decided step above in quality from there previous album, "Pleasures of the Flesh", this album features a much more focused Thrash ethic and feels more akin to what the band was all about.Several song rock with purpose from the classic speedster of a title track to the brutality of "Cajun Hell" and "Last Act of Defiance" to the disturbing and well written, "Like Father Like Son". The track is "Overdose".A pretty cool headbang in the end that will rock you for awhile, but not the perfect fun thrasher it could have been. One of the great metal songs and a personal favorite.However, not all is so fine on the record as the band goes into Anthrax territory with the inappropiate and mean spirited, "Verbal Razors" which does not fit the band at all and comes across as very forced. Same can be said of the phoned in cover of War's "Lowrider", which is pretty terrible. This band dosen't give up though, and still delivers a good record. After all, if you hit the floor you can always crawl.
This is probably my favorite Exodus album. I could do with out the two cover songs, and Cajun Hell is a bit too long but those are my only complaints. Songs like Open Season, Verbal Razors and the title track will leave your head spinning, the band is super tight on this album but the sound is just raw enough.
Metallica was of course awesome in their day, but perhaps a little bit too epic and bleak to hit home with us mere mortals. I have always called Exodus the finest metal bands never to make it. If they did make it, they might have ended up fat, lazy and self-indulgent like Metallica or ACDC (ouch). Outrageously cool. My vote for one of the best metal riffs ever.If you don't have this album in your collection and you dig thrash metal - get it - now. OK a bit harsh, but this is metal man - say it like you see it.
And unlike other detractors, I love Steve Souza's brutal voice. Perhaps this has what kept them producing some of the finest thrash metal albums ever created. Exodus hit the mix perfectly - outrageously awesome riffs and lead work, while actually having something worth listening to in the lyrics, stated with unexpected clarity, intelligence, and downright cool. And that's exactly what the boys do here. Awesome social commentary, mixed with some fun hot covers like Cheech and Chong's Low Rider and ACDC's Overdose. Anything else would have been way to gay for this power thrash metal band.This album contains perhaps one of the best metal song's ever - Toxic Waltz - a brutally humourous commentary of what it means to truly appreciate metal (the mosh pit).
5 STAR GOLD.
'Toxic Waltz' nearly steals the record. "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" had some great moments. "Pleasures of the Flesh" had its moments. 'Cajun Hell' has kind of a deep southern charm.
I didn't much care for "Force of Habit." Once could easily argue that "Temp of the Damned" is their best. Giving you a brief rundown of where I stand, I think "Bonded By Blood" is arguably their best. The record then goes through a softer period. 'Open Season' is yet another high point. While I do not consider "Fabulous Disaster" as good as "Bonded By Blood" or "Tempo of the Damned," I consider "Fabulous Disaster" a great record.
The cover of 'Low Rider' is decent. I didn't much care for 'Overdose.' But on a record of this strength, a weak spot here and there is easy to overlook. "Impact Is Imminent" also had some moments. 'Like Father Like Son' has an eerie sound to it. 'Last Act of Defiance' is a powerful opener.
The title track 'Fabulous Disaster' keeps the pace going. The strength of the record then recovers with 'Verbal Razors.' 'Corruption' is a great following track. While not quite the record "Bonded By Blood" or "Tempo of the Damned" is, "Fabulous Disaster" is still a triumph for the grossly underrated group EXODUS.
Exodus reached the maximum level of technical speed with "Fabulos Disaster", they improved a lot after "Bonded by blood" and "Pleassures of the flesh" despite the constant internal problems they had since their beginings like the departure of Hammet before the debut album and the change of frontman Paul Baloff for Steve Souza formerly of Testament also several issues with record labels such as distribution limitations and lack of proper support, all that probably contibuted for this bay area band to not quite acomplish with the stardom that other bands reached like Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth, despite they had all the potential to achieve it, Exodus at the end of the day was a metal act that could be, should be and deserved to be. but thats life.Fabulos disaster is pure speed, pure trash, fun dynamic , exciting a catharsis, the change of subject from evil topics to social and political lyrics was really in benefit for the band continuity and adaptation to the second half of the 80s and early 90s, tracks sound amazing "the toxic waltz" ,"like father like son", "corruption", "cajun hell" and of course War cover "low rider" wich is pure and 100% fun, you have to check this album to realize what I want to express with words but its not possible untill you listen.HM
|
