Torture - Storm Alert

Liu · 04-13-2006, 04:03 PM

Torture - Storm Alert
Escapi Music

Originally released back in 1989, Torture went under the radar of the then booming thrash movement, due to failure of obtaining a U.S. deal and thus their sole release, Storm Alert, was only released in Europe. However, thanks to the persistant commitment of vocalist/guitarist Tom Hicks, the album has finally been reissued in the U.S. with a nice remastering job to boot by Neil Kernon (the guy who did the first few Nevermore albums).

Torture's influences are quite easy to tell: Slayer, Exodus, Celtic Frost, among others were the primary source of this young band's sound. After the overlong intro track, Ignominious Slaughters rips into a full thrash frenzy, bringing to mind equal parts Slayer and Sadus. The melodic riffing after the first chorus could have very well been written by Jeff Hanneman. Tom Hicks' vocal phrasing are very reminiscent of Morbid Tales era Tom G. Warrior, though delivers his lines at a much quicker pace and maintaining a very ominous tone. This reissue contains two songs not found on the original release that were recorded at a later time period. One can tell that Dwell Into Surreality is one of these songs just by listening to it. At 11 minutes long, Torture pace themselves with an ample amount of changes, going back and forth from mid paced riffing to a more immediate hectic thrashing. If the song had been half its length and placed later in the album tracklisting rather than being the third song (which pretty much halts the momentum created by the opener), it would have had a more lasting impact.

The speed is restored on Blood Portraits and the smile inducing Slay Ride which halfway through really ventures into old Metallica territory (one has to give props to any band writing a song about Silent Night, Deadly Night). A mandatory acoustic arpeggio piece starts up the title track (almost every thrash album has at least one, it must be a law or something) which goes into a mid-paced chunker that brings Sodom's Agent Orange to mind. There are two back-to-back instrumentals: Whips Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, the latter being the other song that was recorded later. They are standard thrash instrumental affairs, more of a collection of unused riffs than anything else (though quite a few awesome ones are present).

While this isn't gonna replace Reign In Blood, Master Of Puppets or Bonded By Blood on your favorites list, Storm Alert is a fine addition to a thrash fan's collection. Its taken 17 years, but better late than never.

01. Intro
02. Ignominious Slaughter
03. Dwell Into Surreality
04. Blood Portraits
05. Slay Ride
06. Terror Kingdom
07. Storm Alert
08. Enter The Chamber
09. Whips Pt. 1
10. Whips Pt. 2
11. Deciever

Score: 7/10

zach · 04-13-2006, 05:33 PM

once again, this is a fantastic cd. I listen to it a lot... i especially love Dwell Into Surreality

Demolition Hammer · 04-13-2006, 11:53 PM

Zach introduced me to it, and I enjoyed it so much I bought my own. Good ol' thrash. \m/

zach · 04-14-2006, 12:28 AM

Hah, i never did hear your oppinion on that. Glad you liked it!

By the way, i'm very surprised Possessed wasn't mentioned in this review...

Liu · 04-14-2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zach

By the way, i'm very surprised Possessed wasn't mentioned in this review...

Doh! Yea, definately Possessed influenced.

04-13-2006, 04:03 PM	#1
Liu Global Galaxy Tyrant Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 196	Torture - Storm Alert Torture - Storm Alert Escapi Music Originally released back in 1989, Torture went under the radar of the then booming thrash movement, due to failure of obtaining a U.S. deal and thus their sole release, Storm Alert, was only released in Europe. However, thanks to the persistant commitment of vocalist/guitarist Tom Hicks, the album has finally been reissued in the U.S. with a nice remastering job to boot by Neil Kernon (the guy who did the first few Nevermore albums). Torture's influences are quite easy to tell: Slayer, Exodus, Celtic Frost, among others were the primary source of this young band's sound. After the overlong intro track, Ignominious Slaughters rips into a full thrash frenzy, bringing to mind equal parts Slayer and Sadus. The melodic riffing after the first chorus could have very well been written by Jeff Hanneman. Tom Hicks' vocal phrasing are very reminiscent of Morbid Tales era Tom G. Warrior, though delivers his lines at a much quicker pace and maintaining a very ominous tone. This reissue contains two songs not found on the original release that were recorded at a later time period. One can tell that Dwell Into Surreality is one of these songs just by listening to it. At 11 minutes long, Torture pace themselves with an ample amount of changes, going back and forth from mid paced riffing to a more immediate hectic thrashing. If the song had been half its length and placed later in the album tracklisting rather than being the third song (which pretty much halts the momentum created by the opener), it would have had a more lasting impact. The speed is restored on Blood Portraits and the smile inducing Slay Ride which halfway through really ventures into old Metallica territory (one has to give props to any band writing a song about Silent Night, Deadly Night). A mandatory acoustic arpeggio piece starts up the title track (almost every thrash album has at least one, it must be a law or something) which goes into a mid-paced chunker that brings Sodom's Agent Orange to mind. There are two back-to-back instrumentals: Whips Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, the latter being the other song that was recorded later. They are standard thrash instrumental affairs, more of a collection of unused riffs than anything else (though quite a few awesome ones are present). While this isn't gonna replace Reign In Blood, Master Of Puppets or Bonded By Blood on your favorites list, Storm Alert is a fine addition to a thrash fan's collection. Its taken 17 years, but better late than never. 01. Intro 02. Ignominious Slaughter 03. Dwell Into Surreality 04. Blood Portraits 05. Slay Ride 06. Terror Kingdom 07. Storm Alert 08. Enter The Chamber 09. Whips Pt. 1 10. Whips Pt. 2 11. Deciever Score: 7/10 __________________ Lapland Metal

04-13-2006, 05:33 PM	#2
zach Bass of Tyranny Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Olympia Posts: 632	once again, this is a fantastic cd. I listen to it a lot... i especially love Dwell Into Surreality __________________ Death to false metal! It is sacrilege! Give me metal or give me DEATH! Skelator / Metal on Metal Records

04-13-2006, 11:53 PM	#3
Demolition Hammer Murders & Executions Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The American Gardens building on West 81st St. Posts: 6,205	Zach introduced me to it, and I enjoyed it so much I bought my own. Good ol' thrash. \m/ __________________ I have to return some videotapes. Fallen Angels new CD "Rise From Ashes" available now from Metal On Metal Records,. Visit our Myspace page here for samples. TCW - Tulalip Championship Wrestling

04-14-2006, 12:28 AM	#4
zach Bass of Tyranny Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Olympia Posts: 632	Hah, i never did hear your oppinion on that. Glad you liked it! By the way, i'm very surprised Possessed wasn't mentioned in this review... __________________ Death to false metal! It is sacrilege! Give me metal or give me DEATH! Skelator / Metal on Metal Records

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