I still remember years and years ago, before I became a complete and total hermit, being at a house show and wearing an Overkill t-shirt or something, when some kid comes up to me and tells me about his plans to start a classic crossover styled thrash metal band with some friends. They were going to call it Municipal Waste, and I believe he turned out to be their original drummer. Never in a million years did I image that they'd not only pull it off, but end up on Earache as pretty much the only band on their entire roster that represents the label's absolutely classic heritage. And with Ed Repka cover art, no less!? I'm sold.
As if song titles like "The Thrashin' of the Christ" and "Bangover" weren't enough, this is definitely the band's tightest and most efficient offering to date, plowing through 15 tracks in just 26 minutes with tons of energetic speeds and ripping vocal patterns that totally throw you back to the late-80's crossover style, the chief difference being that the recording has a crispier edge that doesn't really sound "dated" back to that particular time period. The addition of Dave Witte on drums certain adds some punch in terms of sheer precision and killer fills, and yes, as I was reminded after my contemporary thrash rant last week, Municipal Waste is among the select few bands whose vocalists actually stay true to the classics and simply shout and yell without any added "extreme" nonsense. You can't lose. Good times, my friends... good times.
Municipal Waste "The Thrashin' of the Christ"
Municipal Waste "Mind Eraser"
As usual I waited way too long to grab this one, and then waited even longer before I finally got around to posting about it, so if you're among those who haven't yet been "wasted", make the grab and let the circle pits ensue:
Comments
Ultimate party band.
1.23.2006 | By steve
This is great!!!! First a throwback to Pestilence and now a classic D.R.I. throwback!!!! Brings back more memories of doing homework!! I need to go back to school just to have homework to do to these tunes!!
1.23.2006 | By Anonymous
amazing album
1.23.2006 | By Anonymous
My favorite band to come around in a long time. I was wondering if you were going to review this.
1.23.2006 | By Anonymous
so fun live.
1.23.2006 | By Anonymous
Fuck yeah, the Waste are definitely one of the best bands to come down the pipe in eons. If you like Thrash and/or Crossover, you can’t fucking lose with this band. I can’t believe I haven’t gotten to see them live yet…
1.23.2006 | By scott
haha YES! amazing band totally accurate comments all around. Not only did I get to see these guys live in SF but they were playing with the ACCUSED who I personally love, for a perfect old/new crossover thrash of the titans. The circle pit was a maelstrom of bodies that night, at least until someone pitched a full sized COUCH, a boogie board, and a bunch of pillows into the mess, and things went from nuts to bonkers.
1.24.2006 | By Anonymous
Yes, absolutely fucking great record. Metal needs more of this kind of kick in the pants kind of shit right about NOW.
1.30.2006 | By The Corpse Glide
Can’t wait to see this band live. This CD reminds me of skateboarding and jr. high.
2.7.2006 | By Anonymous