Tankard was already pretty damn good on their debut album, but they still managed to improve on their sophomore release. If anything, this album is even more savage and biting than their first one, kicking off with some terrific riffs in "Total Addiction". The songs are more sophisticated from a compositional standpoint, featuring varied structures and a more dynamic sound, rather than the more direct songs on the debut. Shockingly, the band even uses some very pretty acoustic melodies leading into the instrumental "For a Thousand Beers", which is quite the dichotomy when considering the title. But that song represents the best songwriting on the album. The band also uses a blues riff to open the title track.
The band's sense of humor and obsession with alcohol persists. "Tantrum" is about being pissed off that someone stole your beer. And then there are songs like "Puke" and "Alcohol", which is re-recorded from their debut release.
I am just beginning to discover the music of Tankard with these two releases. Their debut was impressive enough, but this is even better and belongs in the pantheon of great German thrash metal albums. I will have to keep going with this band. I still do not know if their larger body of work deserves to be held up with the Big Three (Destruction, Kreator and Sodom), but I could be convinced.
No comments:
Post a Comment