RUSTED DAWN

Formed in 2004 and with two self-released EPs under its collective belt, the rage of Canadians RUSTED DAWN finally boiled over and solidified into its full-length debut for Diminished Fifth Records. Entitled "The Black Tides of War", the quartet of Jeremy and Justin Goddard (vocals/guitar and lead guitar, respectively),Chad McMillan (bass),and Tom Blizzard (drums) bring the thrash with unmitigated violence and a pissed off conviction.

What separates "The Black Tides of War" from a host of other vintage thrash metal acts? Well, not a great deal, except for the fact that it sounds a whole like an album made by talented musicians and true fans of thrash, rather than happy-go-lucky bandwagon jumpers. Then again, what difference does it really make, as long as the anger is palpable and the songs are constructed with at least some manner of care? That is certainly the case with "The Black Tides of War". Sticking to an approach that is familiar (e.g. NUCLEAR ASSAULT, a little D.R.I., etc),yet not cookie-cutter to a fault, the album is chock full of neck-wreckers and furious boot-stomping gallopers (take "Derelict" and "Master Species", for example). As far as memorable riffage is concerned, the creativity level easily exceeds the 50th percentile (never falling below and creeping upward with some frequency) and the boys do have a knack for whipsawing changeups and some pretty hot, albeit compact, leads.

It is virtually impossible to question the seriousness of attack on songs like "Where Turns the Tide" and "I am Becoming Death" (two of the best arrangements) with any sound basis of argument. If nothing else, "The Black Tides of War" is hard as nails and crammed with nasty attitude, is some respects similar to the rawness of VINDICATOR's "There Will be Blood". And on the subject of blood, it gushes with regularity from the wounds opened by RUSTED DAWN on its full-length debut. That's the true test.