Minotaur
Power of Darkness
[No Colours]
I was incredibly surprised to see this listed under No Colours’ name when I went net shopping the other day, I had read quite a bit about this particular release in various old-school rags and naturally I was in a particular fervour about this disc, and for bloody good reason, too.
What we have here is the complete antithesis of much of Steffen and No Colours’ material, an orgiastic, steel-clad example of classic Teutonic speed/thrash that failed to nudge Sodom, Destruction and Kreator from their pole positions in German thrash, and subsequently is quite the obscure band. However, like fellow obscure thrash revelations Darkness, Vectom and Exumer, Minotaur’s obscurity doesn’t develop parallel to their musical quality. This is pure thrash metal mayhem in the absolute, uncompromising, hellish and an unadulterated headbanging frenzy from start to finish.
Foraging forward in true Kreator/earlier Exodus style, the prerequisites of Teutonic steel are all here in their resplendent, abrasive glory. Chunky, furious riffage erupts at breakneck, unrelenting and vile speeds, clashing with the haphazard skin bashing and barked, spiteful vocals. Song quality is uniform throughout, and the ensuing carnage refuses to relent or to have a reprieve, this is a drunken high-octane, no-frills accompaniment to your favourite ale, no doubt.
A minor gripe about the layout, though, why is it that Merciless and No Colours always feel the itching compulsion to include a full catalogue with every CD sleeve? Instead of more comprehensive liner notes (all we get is a ridiculously scant blurb) or some more pictures of these rather daft looking blokes, we have an unsightly, capitalistic catalogue listing No Colours’ stock. Agh. I’d have liked to know more about this obscure and forgotten outfit.
Honest, genuine thrash/speed metal that won’t serve to disappoint, and a rabid little record that will warrant long stints in your stereo. Stuff like this reminds us of how tepid and feeble this retro-thrash movement is.
[ 9 ]
© 2000 equimanthorn
What we have here is the complete antithesis of much of Steffen and No Colours’ material, an orgiastic, steel-clad example of classic Teutonic speed/thrash that failed to nudge Sodom, Destruction and Kreator from their pole positions in German thrash, and subsequently is quite the obscure band. However, like fellow obscure thrash revelations Darkness, Vectom and Exumer, Minotaur’s obscurity doesn’t develop parallel to their musical quality. This is pure thrash metal mayhem in the absolute, uncompromising, hellish and an unadulterated headbanging frenzy from start to finish.
Foraging forward in true Kreator/earlier Exodus style, the prerequisites of Teutonic steel are all here in their resplendent, abrasive glory. Chunky, furious riffage erupts at breakneck, unrelenting and vile speeds, clashing with the haphazard skin bashing and barked, spiteful vocals. Song quality is uniform throughout, and the ensuing carnage refuses to relent or to have a reprieve, this is a drunken high-octane, no-frills accompaniment to your favourite ale, no doubt.
A minor gripe about the layout, though, why is it that Merciless and No Colours always feel the itching compulsion to include a full catalogue with every CD sleeve? Instead of more comprehensive liner notes (all we get is a ridiculously scant blurb) or some more pictures of these rather daft looking blokes, we have an unsightly, capitalistic catalogue listing No Colours’ stock. Agh. I’d have liked to know more about this obscure and forgotten outfit.
Honest, genuine thrash/speed metal that won’t serve to disappoint, and a rabid little record that will warrant long stints in your stereo. Stuff like this reminds us of how tepid and feeble this retro-thrash movement is.
[ 9 ]
© 2000 equimanthorn