FLOTSAM & JETSAM |
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If there’s one heavy metal band who’s been an absolute model of consistency throughout the years, it’s got to be Flotsam & Jetsam. Having begun in the mid-80’s, certain death for most metal artists trying to make a living today, these Southwestern shredders keep producing memorable heavy music, yet not enough people seem to know
about them or give ‘em the exposure they deserve. In case anyone out there’s too young to remember, this is the band that gave Metallica their current bass player Jason Newsted. That’s right, so how about giving them a look now! This newest release and third overall for Metal Blade, “Unnatural Selection,” is a title which F&J created in describing their surprising longevity in a turbulent craft that’s headed God knows where anymore since beginning their journey nearly fifteen years earlier. Having seen their share of personnel changes and record label shifts during this time, the core of the group still remains in tact with Eric A.K. leading the charge behind distinctive vocals/screams and Ed Carlson on guitars. Following up on what was their return toward a straight ahead metal record with “High” two years ago, “Unnatural Selection” sees the addition of two new players and with this influx of talent, new strides toward distancing themselves from their past and challenging themselves further. The production here is a little hollow compared to past work or even as recently as “High,” where the guitars always dominated, but that not withstanding, the sound is consistent to what the band’s been known for, heavy, aggressive, and a twisted vision of the world as they see it. Written from a personal perspective, it’s vintage Flotsam & Jetsam lyrical inscriptions through and through. Early on during playback of the new disc, we discover the key word is “noose,” as those abusers of both drugs and drink unwittingly apply it to themselves. “Promise Keepers” is classic F&J circa “When the Storm Comes Down,” but most of what’s found on “Unnatural Selection” leans most closely to what they did for 95’s “Drift,” their last recording for MCA. On that, they took a similar approach, opting to get away a bit from the formulaic stuff they had been doing on the last couple of releases and adding a new element to the music that featured more updated content and thick grooves. Heavy basslines and such beefed up guitar riffing can be found right off at the start of track number seven, “Braindead” where the discussion taking place involves how many cells must be lost before you ARE legally, while feeding into the “what a ‘Way to Go’” pronouncement drawing upon the world’s current upheaval. Want something to perk you up, lift your spirits? Try the next one, “Win, Lose or Dead” which deals with the pressure of trying to succeed and excel at something so greatly so as to lose sight of what else is really important…one’s own health. This is not an album designed to instill faith or goodwill toward its listeners. It will however evoke a critical response that most can identify with. There’s a lot to ponder here. Of course there’s enough out and out anger and profanity to satisfy the earliest of F&J’s fans like on “F**kers” which will provoke hostility in even the most saintliest practitioners. And after hearing this one and still having the ringing of “Die You Fuckers, Die” in my ears for several minutes after, I don’t think I’d like to cross these guys on a bad day. The album ends most appropriately with “Welcome to the Bottom” which is as full-fledged metal as anything they’ve done in recent years, slowly-paced and desperate. Personally, I thought “High” from a couple of years ago was one of their best albums since “Doomsday…” or “…Disgrace.” I’m not going to say this one’s better, but it’s close. I just happen to prefer the beefed up production they gained on that one as well as their “it’s metal so f**k off” written pronouncements as their latest declaration of ill-will and defiance. Unfortunately, my review for “High” never saw the light of day which is too bad—it was a damn good one. But “Unnatural Selection’s” closely related to each of those two past records, “Drift” and “High” but occupies more of the seriousness in content and musical direction of “Drift,” and should open more doors for the guys. In either instance, metal fans can’t go wrong with this or any other Flotsam & Jetsam record—or look at it this way, they haven’t stuck around all this time because someone feels sorry for them. They’re a truly talented heavy rock band that deserves to be heard and this album offers them as good a chance as any to deliver their message. And with a name like Flotsam & Jetsam—it must have taken me two albums before I finally learned what that meant—let’s face it, if it starts spreading around a bit, who the Hell’s gonna forget it? But truthfully, I’m still waiting for the return of “Flotzilla!” Released by Metal Blade Records GmbH, P.O. Box 1332, 73054 Eislingen, Germany. Metal Blade Records Inc, 2828 Cochran St. Suite 302, Simi Valley, CA 93065-2793, USA Website : http://metalblade.iuma.com/ Email : mtlbldrcds@aol.com Review by By Vinnie Apicella |