Search - Stress Factor 9 :: BrainWarp MindSpin

Headbangers can breathe a sigh of relief, it's time to rock again. Back in the commercial heyday of heavy metal around '88-'92, one noteable gold selling record was Alice in Hell by Canadian band Annihilator, which combined immaculate guitar, sneering vocals, and rock steady drums. That band suffered firings and lineup changes leading to a few years where its guitarist and a drum machine were all that was left. Fans and critics frequently remarked that the stellar classic debut cast a long shadow. In 1999 that classic lineup reunited briefly with flying colors and big tours, parting again in less than a year. Fast forward to 2005, and thrash-punk icon Randy Rampage (vocals) and drum basher Ray Hartmann join forces in a new, functional, conflict-free, focused effort called Stress Factor 9. Absent now are the 3 minute intros and intricate guitar pinacles, now replaced by big fat slices of chant-along choruses, snappy punches, choppy riffs, and excessive street attitude. Many bands try to claim "all killer no filler", but this album relentlessly dishes out volume 11 effort, song after song. It plays to the lowest common denominator in a brazenly guilt free way. The lyrical subject matter ranges from inner conflict on the motorhead paced My Leech and the plodding Taker, to societal injustice on the punky Spare Change and the bust-a-move Suck-Cess, to the real life based Pig Farm Willy about their headline dominating hometown serial murderer.. For this genre, Randy Rampage has a true star quality, candid and open and real like Iggy Pop or David Lee Roth or Jim Morrison. What you see is what you get. Every word and bark and howl is delivered like he were waiving a broken bottle at you as you back out of the tavern. Rough edges are part of what makes debut albums so unsurpassable and worthy of fondness. It may not be a Kill Em All or Too Fast For Love, but if you like genuine attitude and easy to like songs, this delivers.