By: Anders

Posted: Sep 6, 2005

High energetic thrashy speed metal with many punk influences, crossover as we knew it in the late 80ties, but with a modern and very up to date production. That is Municipal Waste for you, ladies and gentlemen! This American quartet enters the scene, with quite some balls and energy and is ready to slay.

The compositions are catching on right away, together with the energy. The crunchy and ripping guitar leaves marks, with it hooks and almost thin punky sound. Though it's backed well up by the heavy and punching bass, which once in a while acts as the rhythm backbone, and at other times as the instrument in front. The sound of the bass is at times huge, and is more or less audible all the way through the album. The drumming is at times insane, all over the place, hitting everything there is to hit and a bit more, and at other times a good backbone for the insanity going on. The vocals are high and straight in your face, when it's best it reminds me of Kurt Brecht from DRI, when not the vocals are still good and leads the all out frontal attack.

There have been many interesting debut albums lately, but this is on the top of my head taking the price. Crossover sounding like the old days, but with a great and powerful production, with the instruments well placed in the mix and audible at all times, even when it gets chaotic. A great trip down memory lane, very nostalgic without sounding outdated, this could be a new breed of popular metal, that wouldn't bother me at all. If you miss some new metal with the deeds of the late 80ties crossover scene, sounding fresh from hell and out on a smash 'em all down streak, then Municipal Waste is your band!

Rating: 8½/10

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