Cyclone Temple: I Hate Therefore I Am (1991)

This is a hidden gem of an album.  Released at a time when thrash metal was on its way back out of the public eye (thanks to Metallica's black album and the rise in grunge), it captures the spirit of early thrash metal and evolves the sound.  Cyclone Temple was formed by the musicians from Znöwhite when vocalist Debbie Gunn left the band.  I first heard about this release when I saw that drum legend Gene Hoglan listed it as one of his favorite metal albums of all time.  I had to check it out.

The music fits in well with the direction that thrash metal was going.  And no, I am not referring to the more radio rock-friendly sound Metallica was heading in.  This is progressive-leaning thrash metal that retains a lot of the aggression of the past, yet develops a strong musical viability.  The musicianship here is incredible.  The riffs are complex, the bass is intriguing, and there are some amazing solos.

Now the band is not nearly as devastating as the Znöwhite albums, which were bordering on brutal thrash metal, challenging the likes of Slayer.  But Cyclone Temple is devastating in a different way.  There is a very somber tone to the entire album and the band tackles some weighty subject material, such as the death of a sister and suicidal thoughts.  Brian Troch's dry, yet melodic vocals capture this dark mood incredibly well.  The highlight of the album is "Words are Just Words" which is maudlin and melodic throughout the first half of the song and then turns punishing and brutally fast in the second half.  It is a bit of a callback to the Znöwhite era. 

Thrash metal was barely holding on in the early 1990's, but a few bands were still putting out quality releases.  This is easily one of the best albums I have heard from the genre around this time.  It is sadly forgotten for the most part because it arrived at such a bad time for thrash.  That's a shame.  This is a hell of a release.