Band : Toxik

Album Title : World Circus/Think This

Label : Displeased Records

Distributor : Displeased Records

Release Date : 06/02/2008

Review : CD-re-issues

Toxik's debut World Circus surely is an album you should own in your collection. The fierce looking clown pushing the red button-cover by Ed Repka jumps nearly into your face and you know immediately what you get, merciless power thrash.. Toxik's sound was definitely quite reminiscient of their peers, firmly fixed in the early Agent Steel territory with a bit more of a classic metal tinge to the music. Vocalist Mike Sanders is quite similar to John Cyrriis , an alienated affected higher pitched vibrato banshee howl that was also able to carry a melody fairly well. The songs are full of solid, memorable riffs and creative solos, and although the music is basically straightforward and very energetic thrash metal with a strong balls-to-the-wall attitude, there are lots of fine touches in it. Especially Josh Christian's innovative and stylish classical guitar playing is guaranteed to catch your attention.

By their second release Toxik had clearly started to lose some steam. With Think This the band took a slightly cleaner and more melodic approach in their music than before. With the unfortunate departure of Mike Sanders , an important element of shrieking heaviness had been lost, and although Charles Sabin was not a bad singer his voice just doesn't cut it for me. On the other hand the music is more complex, but not as memorable or intense as before. Occasionally there's even something Queensrÿche /Skid Row -like in the band's style, and the guitar attacks of Josh   and new axeman John Donnely work extremely well together. Technical, harmonically daring and rhythmically challenging, the frequent, melodic intros and interludes help to create a unique, refined style for these fantastic albums.  

Toxik sounded like no other band.

Displeased Records has provided metal fans with these Toxik -reissue series and DVD that truly provides a package that'll speak to the fans, encapsulates a historical band's entire output without compromise, and delivers value for money!

Cosmicmasseur.