Album review: FLOTSAM AND JETSAM – No Place For Disgrace 2014

Metal Blade – Out Now.

For better or worse, Flotsam And Jetsam will always be known as the band where ex-Metallica bassist learned his skills and that is perhaps the reason why “Doomsday For The Deceiver” (1986), the band’s debut studio albums, is revered the way it is by Metalheads around the world.

Well, the fact of the matter is that only two years later, and following Newsted’s well-documented departure, Flotsam And Jetsam came up with a far superior album entitled “No Place For Disgrace” – an album which has been out of circulation for quite some time now.

It was the band’s inability to obtain the master tapes that led them to re-record the ten compositions on offer and, with a slightly revised album cover, they are now presented under the title “No Place For Disgrace 2014”.

How well do these new recordings fare when compared to the original material? While certain important elements of the original release, such as the band’s youthful energy and the rawness of sound are conspicuous in their absence, others are finally given some overdue attention.

While Troy Gregory’s bass was lost under layers of massively distorted riffs, Michael Spencer’s work often takes centre stage, perfectly complementing the massively inspiring guitar work of the duet Edward Carlson/Michael Gilbert.

It’s been twenty six years since the original album first saw the light of day so one should expect and excuse Eric A. ‘A.K.’ Knutson for not hitting all the high notes – still, the legendary front man has provided some pretty impressive performances throughout this release.

Thought a tad slower in tempo, the same-titled “No Place For Disgrace” sounds pretty fresh while, at the same time, remaining loyal to its original vision. “Dreams Of Death”, perhaps my all-time favourite Flotsam And Jetsam composition, has suffered a bit here, due to the lack of fast tempo riffs and high pitch screams – taking the wind out of its sails, somehow.

Troy Gregory’s bass guitar in “N.E.Terror” is quite impressive and the outstanding harmonies rerecorded for “Escape From Within” mark it as one of the most inspiring tunes of the album.

The crunchy riffs present in the original cover of Elton John’s classic “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” are also, sadly, no longer present, however the band has somehow managed to come up with a pretty interesting alternative, while the trio “Hard On You” / “I Live You Die” / “Misguided Fortune” finds the band’s guitarists in rude form.

More exceptional work on the six string can be found in the six minute “P.A.A.B.”, while the closing instrumental “The Jones” proves skill and adventurous spirit have characterized this band from the early stages of their career.

It is quite fitting that the members of the band have mentioned in the accompanying press release for these re-recordings that: “A lot of diehards are nervous about this.”, since the original “No Place For Disgrace” has been one of the most seminal, though criminally underrated, Thrash Metal albums of the 80s.

Were the members of Flotsam And Jetsam right to undertake such a task? Well, if the original Elektra Records version was easily obtainable I would say “no” but, since that is not the case, and especially as some of the new versions have shed new light on some compositions, then I openly offer my support to this release. Thrash till Death!

John Stefanis

Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)

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