WARBEAST

With a name like WARBEAST, an album called "Krush the Enemy" that was produced by Phil Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT RITUAL) and released on his label, and a membership that includes vocalist Bruce Corbitt (RIGOR MORTIS),guitarists Rick Perry and Scott Shelby (GAMMACIDE),bassist Alan Bovee (later incarnation of GAMMACIDE),and drummer Joe Gonzalez (DEMONSEED),you can bet your sweet ass that the band hasn't jumped on the deathcore band wagon or developed a kindler, gentler form of metal. On "Krush the Enemy" WARBEAST brings 10 tracks carrying 10 tons of thrash and pure American metal. An epic piece of songwriting it is not; it is however a no-frills karate-chop to the throat and a swift kick to the ass.

Not all that dissimilar to the approach taken by ANGER AS ART, "Krush the Enemy" comes off like a violent reactionary countermeasure to a legion of youngsters raised to think that metal can be prettied up, overproduced, and injected with crooning choruses, and still be called metal. Running the gauntlet of thrash burners and PANTERA-like face breakers like "The Plague at Hand" and the title track, as well as muscle-bound OVERKILL-esque stompers like "The Controller", one interpretation of the message conveyed could be summed up as follows: "Metal ain't supposed to be food for the well adjusted or the perpetually optimistic and nobody gives a shit about the tears and eyeliner that ran down your cheeks last night when your girlfriend broke up with you over Facebook." That message is received loud and clear on "Krush the Enemy".

Digging deeper, minor complaints can be lodged about songwriting that is moderately uneven at and that could stand a pinch less predictability. In most cases, the wild-eyed aggression and a whole lot of ass-whippin' riffage makes up for it. As indicated by the rating, it's not enough of an issue to make "Krush the Enemy" anything less than an above-average effort. Besides, as one might surmise from the undisputed attitude of the album, any invitations sent out through the music come in two parts: "go" and "fuck yourself."