| CD REVIEW Laaz Rockit |
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Band : Laaz Rockit Bloody hell, this one takes me back a couple of years...actually to my beginning days as music journalist in 1985: the Oakland, California based Thrash Metal act (whose residence close to San Francisco allowed 'em to be part of the Bay Area Scene) band had just released their second album No Stranger To Danger on the German Steamhammer label (which made it somewhat easier available to Europeans than its 1984 predecessor City's Gonna Burn, released through US label Target). I have to admit in those days things went about slightly different from today: working with an Underground magazine meant most of us had to actually buy most of the albums we were to review (at least in the first two years...after that we actually got some records sent every once in a while), and Lääz were not exactly my own "discovery". I heard the album played twice at one of our rare meetings, and I can't even remember if I was especially impressed or whatever...in spite of the fact that, having started in 1982 (originated by singer Michael Coons and guitarist Aaron Jellum), they were set on the same level in the Thrash Metal genre as such break-out acts like Metallica, Testament, Slayer, Exodus, and Anthrax. Lääz Rockit split in 1993 (at which time only Coons and Jellum remained from the classic 1984 line-up), leaving us three more studio albums (1987's Know Your Enemy on Music For Nations, 1989's Annihilation Complete on major label Enigma, and 1991's Nothing Sacred on Roadracer, a US subsidiary Roadrunner at the time; which was preceeded a year earlier by the 4-track EP A Holiday In Cambodia on that same label) and one live recording (1992's Taste Of Rebellion – Live). Individual members of the band would go on to play in other bands [Coons and Jellum would be active with Gack (released just the one Japan-only Fix album in 1993), the latter would then also revive his pre-Laaz Rockit outfit Warning SF (also only album with 2002's Aftermath); and bassist Willy Lange would play his instrument with Diamond and then be part of the formation of Dublin Death Patrol in 2006]. The band reformed in its classic 1984 line-up (also including lead guitarist Phil Kettner and drummer Victor Agnello, who had by that time become a doctor in the US Army) in 2005 for a short US tour with Testament (including the San Fransico Thrash Against Cancer event), who then took Laaz over to Europe for a couple of shows in Holland (including an appearance at the main stage of Dynamo open Air, in support of Anthrax and Testament). Followed an appearance in Japan at the Thrash Domination Festival alongside Testament, Destruction and Kreator, selling out two consecutive nights! So much fun was found in the band's live acivities, they decided to issue the DVD Live Untold, not only showcasing the band's appearance in Japan, but also their story all the way up to present day with clips of old concert scenes and pictures from back in the days. The band then announced that their back catalogue would be remastered for re-issue through the Old School Records imprint, a first product of which came with the band's debut album in 2007 (also containing extra material, so I'm told). With the positive fan reactions regarding the reunion, the band wanted to go on playing, so they replaced Agnello (who'd only been available for the reunion tour) with Sky Harris. The new Laaz travelled back to Europe in August 2007 for a short tour, including an appearance at Germany's Keep It True Festival. The guys eventually realized that they were far overdue for making a full-length studio album of new songs, and committed themselves at picking up where they had left thing musically, recording 10 tracks with the productional help of Juan Ortega and former Laaz Rockit guitarist Scott Sargeant (whom, after Lääz, would go on to join Killing Culture, then Skinlab in '98, and is currently a member of MOD, and now also doing a guest appearance on the album). According to the biography, the new album follows in the footsteps of 1989's The Annihilation Principle quite perfectly...something which I am of course unable to confirm or contradict (seen my previous statements). Personally, I've found a very diverse Thrash Metal outfit with a singer who's frequently (but not to an abundant point) backed. Even at a first listening session you'll find things don't have to Thrash-out all the time with these guys! Sure, that aspect IS important in the band's music, but they also know how to take back on the pace somewhat, and bring a somewhat calmer track like "Ghost in The Mirror", without loosing their Thrash leanings. They even start up the longer (almost 8 minutes) "Desolate Oasis" with a very nice calmer vocal/ acoustic guitar passage, and when the electricity kicks into the guitars, the pace is still calm with Coons singing quite strong and voluminously, but in a somewhat sedate mode. The album is closed with the 8:24 instrumental "Outro", which then turns out to be twó instrumentals (the first rather energetic and including the whole band, without singer; the second calmer, guitars-only, and but a mere 2 ½ minutes in length) with a 2-minute silent interval. Personally, I feel that hidden track is misplaced: in my opinion it should've opened the album, just to show right up-front that there is also a more sensitive side to the band. But hey, this is the way the guys chose to present themselves anno 2008! For a sneak preview (the album might be out by the time you read this), the guys posted three of the more energetic tracks (album opening "Brain Wash" "My Euphoria", and "Liar") on their new albumat myspace.com/thelaazrockit (for older material, just enter "laaz rockit myspace" at google...I'm sure that'll give you a couple of pages to find some of the older stuff). When push comes to shove, we also have to make an end conclusion about this (slightly legendary) San Fransisco Bay Area Thrash Metal act's comeback album, and I'm sure a lot of Oldschool Thrash fans are gonna place Left For Dead in their year-lists. Due to the small beauty mistakes, I feel forced to disagree and punish the band with a couple of points taken off the perfect rating! 93/100 Tony. |