Agreed, if you're a metalhead anywhere near/over 30 and/or have been collecting all the Metal Blade releases from their glory days, you already have this or at least heard this. Also agreed, if you were a thrash metaller from back in the days you probably hated this band when they came out with this album because from what I hear, before this album, these guys were your regular American thrash band playing your regular thrash metal. Now, nothing wrong with that at all because I dig my dose of generic thrash but when a band takes a turn in styles to release an album as excellent as this, you've got to appreciate it.
"Screams and Whispers" is the band's fourth and final album and what a way to go, if you ask me. I've always thought Nevermore and followed later by Communic played Power, Progressive and Thrash Metal without taking any of the standard songwriting ideas and riffing routes. In other words, they are power, prog and thrash metal without sounding like your regular power, prog and thrash metal. But I didn't know this album existed till a month ago. This album would fit very nicely next to those.
Anacrusis, with this album [1992/93] did a lot of things that predates what metal bands would do in the future. First thing I noticed were those vocal ideas and some groovy riffing that remind you of what Nevermore (and Communic) did a little later. That's not the only thing that this album predates. The harmonized lead riffs (for the lack of better term), some occasional mindblowing screams/screeches and clean singing over extremely down tuned guitars by (guitarist/vocalist/chief-songwriter/producer) Kenn Nardi, the innovative and groovy rhythm section and so on.
One interesting observation about looking at the band picture in the inlay. A full-on metal band with a guitarist playing a 3-single-coiled fender stratocaster. That's rare.
The songwriting is very experimental/progressive, varied and always interesting. A metal band for that time that never used any of the cliches in their songwriting and arrangements for sure. There are extreme parts in the music but in general, things are mid-paced with major emphasis on melodies, dynamics, groove and down-tuned guitar goodness. All the best songs in metal have excellent peaks and with this band on this album, every song has a few of them.
I don't want to keep shoving praises down all you readers' throats but if you want to judge this album by a single fucking song, check out track#7 "grateful". The bands ideas peak right here and after all these listens this is also my favourite track on the album. In parts, this is even close to Faith No More if they were playing heavier/thrash(y) metal. Doesn't take anything away from the rest of the album because this is as consistent as an album ever gets.
Go to their website, they've got a lot of tracks for free download. If you like what you hear and want to buy their albums then all the best. They're pretty rare now and are already going for high prices. This release is the easiest to find and (hence) the cheapest, so really, it's not all that bad.
Many thanks to kvltblog's very own Gautham for hooking me up with this album.
Anacrusis - Screams and Whispers
Label: Metal Blade
Release year: 1993
Band Line-up:
Kenn Nardi: Vocals, guitars
Kevin Heidbreder: guitars
John Emery: Bass
Paul Miles: Drums
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