Metal Blade – Out Now.

The relationship between the Arisona-based Metallers Flotsam And Jetsan and Brian Slagel’s Metal Blade Records has been marked by many highs and lows over the last three decades and the last time that these two names stood side by side was back in 2001 when the band’s eighth studio album entitled “My God” was released.

Many would say that for the band and label to collaborate again many old wounds must have finally healed but the truth of the mater is that “Ugly Noise”, Flotsam’s latest offering, was a fan-funded project (through PledgeMusic) which requires the legendary North American label’s assistance only in relation to its distibution needs.

So why opt for a partial and not a full-blown collaboration, one might ask? My guess is that after thirty two years of existence, the last thing that the guys in Flotsam And Jetsam want is for some label guy to tell them what it is that they should or shouldn’t be releasing. Having liberated themselves from any form of retraints and/or expectations, Erik A.K (vocals) and Co have released on of the most diverse albums of their career – an album that finds them dipping their fingers into many different (musical) pies.

The common denominators of these twelve new compositions are: simplicity and total reliance on Erik’s commanding vocals – vocals that provide really powerful and emotionally charged performances. Following a period of thirteen years, the guitar duet of Ed Carlson/Michael Gilbert is back in action and the end result is, at times, trully impressive indeed.

Last time I remember these lads using piano tunes was for the recording of “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” – one of the best Thrash Metal covers of all times. This time round, this beautiful instrument is responsible for the moody and dark intro of the mid tempo head banger “Ugly Noise” – on of the simplest and greatest tunes ever recorded by this band. While the follow up “GittyUp” is a more groovy rhythmical affair, the band once again flirts with the dramatic in the sublime “Run And Hide”.

Simple crunchy riffs are exactly what “Carry On” has to offer while “Rabbits Foot” finds the band siding with acoustic themes and riffs of a Hard Rock Nature. While “Play Your Part” is another composition filled with heavy riffs and outstanding vocals which are more than capable of keeping a good momentum going, the simple “Rage”, the Punk Rock “Cross The Sky” and the Annihilator-sounding “Motherfuckery” prove to be a bunch of interesting tunes, but sadly lack the gusto and quality of their predecessors.

Luckily for both the album and the listener, the last three compositions of the album regain a sense of mission. “I Believe” is a short and simply-crated offering, containing what one would describe as a classic Flotsam melody; “To Be Free” is the kind of rhythmical Thrasher that old-school fans were perhaps hoping the whole album would sound like, while “Machine Gun” is a low-chorded rhythmical monster filled with clever vocal melodies and a short flamboyant solo.

So what should one expect of “Ugly Noise”? Well, if you are one of those people who believe that the last good quality Flotsam and Jetsam album released was 1988’s “No Place For Disgrace” and you hope for a return to such forms then “Ugly Noise” is not going to appeal to you on any level whatsoever.

Flotsam’s eleventh studio album is not about regression but about progression! Simplicity, elegance, daring – these are its attributes – ones which listeners with a more varied musical palette will properly comprehend and appreciate. Are you one of them? If the answer to that question is ‘yes’ then you are definitely in for a ride.

John Stefanis

Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)