Music: Thrash
Country: England
Cool Songs: Let There Be Death, Destroyer of Worlds, Power From Hell, Metal Forces
Web site: www.onslaughtfromhell.com/
In the mid-eighties, satanic thrashers ONSLAUGHT put out two classic thrash albums, Power From Hell and The Force. The group ousted front man Sy Keeler, replaced him with Steve Grimmett and to the dismay of the bands fans, released In Search of Sanity. In 1991, just two years later, the group disbanded. The cult English band returned in 2005 with original singer Sy Keeler, signed to Candlelight Records and released Killing Peace in 2007. A year later, ONSLAUGHT recorded a live performance, which they titled Live Damnation.
Recorded at Damnation Festival in Leeds, England, Live Damnation gives an enthusiastic, fist pumping, leather-and-denim crowd eight tracks of old school thrash metal.
The groups set list includes a good mix of material from the three albums featuring Keeler. Unlike many live albums, Live Damnation” does not sound crappy. The overall sound is fantastic, partially due to the mastering talents of Andy Sneapwho plays in another important English thrash band, SABBAT.
ONSLAUGHT opens with Let There Be Death, taken from The Force album. Following a brief introductory instrumental, the group rushes the crowd with the force of a bloody berserker.
Metal Forces is another that originally appeared on The Force” album. Wearing less hardcore than the opening track, Metal Forces conveys inspiration from fellow Brits IRON MAIDEN. The fashion that Keeler carries his notes during high-pitched vocals resembles David Wayne of METAL CHURCH.
Although less on the side of early speed metal, the chugging grooves, Keelers aggressive voice and lyrics of our grim reality make the newer tracks as enjoyable as the older tunes. Destroyer of Worlds and Burn relate a nineties-onward SLAYER feeling. Due to The New World Order lyrics and ringing-chord dynamics, Destroyer of Worlds is one of the albums finest moments. Also of note is the crossover-styled pre-chorus. Here, Keeler spins off several lines detailing whom dies as result of the NWOs wicked plan, which so happens to be everyone!
Never a mainstream act like the big four or even as recoginzed as Germanys glorious scene, ONSLAUGHT has nonetheless remained a classic cult thrash act. Live Damnation doesnt contain the original lineup, but the bands voice returns in fine form, the sound is terrific as is the bands performance. Because of the location, distribution and their folding in much too early, many of us did not experience ONSLAUGHT the first time. Thanks to Candlelight Records, it is now easier to discover this band. Live Damnation is a great point to start.
note: 8.5/10
Tracklist
1.Killing Peace
2.Let There Be Death
3.Destroyer Of Worlds
4.Metal Forces
5.Seeds Of Hate
6.Demoniac
7.Burn
8.Power From Hell
Total playing time 41:56
Line-up
Sy Keeler – Vocals
Nige Rockett – Guitar
Andy Rosser-Davies – Guitar
Jeff Williams – Bass
Steve Grice – Drums
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