Universe

Progressive Thrash Metal from 1989 that any 80’s Thrasher must know. “Universe” defies expectations because it is not only two different albums, but two different bands. The story is thus: a Canadian Thrash band in the three-letter tradition of D.R.I. and C.O.C. is forced apparently by an unusually harsh winter into its practice space for an extended stay, and emerges with new instrumental prowess. A lot of the speed/Thrashing bashers (Destruction, Deathrow, Living Death, Voivod, etc.) from the mid-80’s stopped to look around at some stage, asking themselves whether they really liked this interesting primal noise they were producing or if they were actually capable of creating much more engaging and challenging music. Our “brain donors” here were one of them. It’s not that their energetic, uplifting Thrash/crossover debut was a weak effort by any means; it’s just that they knew they could do more within the metal boundaries, and contribute more fully to the overall expansion of the Universe.