MUNICIPAL WASTE „Hazardous Mutation”

Music: Thrash
Country: USA
Website: http://www.earache.com
Duration: 26.55


Cool Songs: Intro / Death Ripper, Unleash The Bastards, Thrashin’ Of The Christ, Terror Shark, Black Ice, Hazardous Mutation, Blood Drive

You like Thrash? Well short of breaking out ‘Spreading the Disease’ and ‘Dealing With It’, Richmond, Virginia band ‘Municipal Waste’ would suggest you take a listen to their new one ‘Hazardous Mutation’. It invokes the spirit and attitude of all those great thrash albums of the 80’s, pulled off with a super production and an amazing retro flavour. This is no half assed attempt folks, this is the real deal. It’s the throwback of all throwbacks for sure, but when the music is this good, it’s hard to complain about breaking new ground. That’s not what it’s about….

More than any other bodily movement that this new Municipal Waste album is prone to induce (and believe me, the old neck will be sore in the morning folks), it is the permanently etched, big fat shit eating grin left on your dial at the albums end that will please you most. This is the best piece of retro action, thrashed upped, snotty punk crossover fun you’ll have this year. Yep, this thing rips from go to whoa.

Municipal Waste has arrived virtually from nowhere. They’ve been around for five or so years, released a couple of split indie efforts, a self-titled EP on Amendment Records, plus an LP entitled ‘Waste ‘Em All’ on Six Weeks Records, their profile has been built on an underground ethic. Now signed to Earache and worldwide distribution, ‘Municipal Waste’ exists not only as a link to one of (if not THE) greatest movements in metal, but also as leaders of a possible revival.

The best thing about ‘Hazardous Mutation’ is that it doesn’t pretend top be anything but a full on thrash/hardcore crossover album. It is one part early Anthrax, one part Nuclear Assault meets the wicked hardcore/punk crossover of The Crumbsuckers and the extremely influential D.R.I. In fact, it is the unrelenting attitude and spirit of D.R.I that is possibly the most captivating aspect of ‘Hazardous Mutation’. The snotty, fuck off vocals of Tony Foresta, the shredding riffs and the speed driven back beat of new drummer Dave Witte (from Burnt By The Sun & Discordance Axis) point directly towards seminal classics such as ‘Dealing With It’ and ‘Crossover’. I particularly liked the short shouty, gang vocals that recall early era ‘Violence’ (‘Bodies on Bodies’). And it sounds so fresh (if retro can sound fresh!) – It’s an old style no question, but this is far from treading water – The whole thing just tears through with amazing conviction and confidence. Furthermore, at fifteen tracks, clocking in at a tad shy of 26 minutes, this has only one speed; Fast, fast and faster!!

Magnificently recorded and produced by Corey Smoot (aka Flattus of Gwar), and featuring cover art by the master of all thrash artwork, Ed Repka (best known for his work for Megadeth), ‘Hazardous Mutation’ is your retro thrash album of the year. Many bands have attempted to rehash this classic style, but have fallen short in terms of capturing the true spirit and attitude of that era. Municipal Waste, on the other hand, sound like they’ve just emerged from some sort of cryonic state of suspended animation such is their retro authenticity. It’s probably a tad too short in its musicality and song writing ideas for the true ‘thrash-metal’ head, but nevertheless I defy anyone not to break into unrestrained thrash induced lounge room destroying behaviour at the drop of the first track. And then there’s that big fat, shit eating grin that you’re left with at the end. Magic!!

note: Quote: 8.8

Tracklist

Intro / Death Ripper
Unleash The Bastards
Thing
Blood Drive
Accelerated Vision
Guilty Of Being Tight
Thrashin’ Of The Christ
Hazardous Mutation
Nailed Casket
Abusement Park
Black Ice
Mind Eraser
Terror Shark
Set To Destruct
Bang Over

Line-up

Tony Foresta – Vocals
Ryan Waste – Guitars
Land Phil – Bass
Dave Witte – Drums