Fatal Violence - Ashes Tell No Tales - Compilation (2008)

Fatal Violence . . . ahh. This is certainly a band I'm sure you have not heard of, although once you hear them, you'll probably remember them easily. The riffs are SICK and the vocals are high and heavy! Although the drumming needs a little work, this compilation of Fatal Violence's greatest works remastered from their '80s demos is certainly a keeper; That's for sure.


This thrash/speed metal band formed in Illinois in 1985 right before thrash metal was reaching its prime state. Vocalist Doug Trevisan and bassist Rob Charrier were originally in the band Enforcer, although neither did this band or Fatal Violence ever release their demos into full-length albums, which is a shame considering these two bands have incredible talent. Regardless, we have this compilation album and we're all happy.

This album starts with an eerie, space-y introduction and soon fades into lightning-fast soloing as the lead vocalist eventually lands his banshee singing into such a masterpiece of a song. In the later tracks, his voice takes on a thrash-y, harsh style that is easily in the same tier as vocals from bands such as Metal Church or maybe even Helstar. Get this if you're a fan of either one or even Agent Steel, for that matter!

LINEUP:
Doug Trevisan: Vocals
Dave Enlow: Guitars, keyboard
Rob Charrier: Bass
Mike Paulson: Drums

TRACK LISTING:
Intro - 1:13
Faces of Death - 4:26
Terror on the Horizon - 3:46
Ashes Tell No Tales - 4:45
Cause for Deliverance - 4:55
Eye of the Storm - 5:31
Violence is Golden - 4:20
Sonic Freeze - 4:04
Fusebox - 5:31
Cyanide - 5:27
Friday the 13th - 7:06
Shades of Sam - 5:32

Final thoughts on Fatal Violence's "Ashes Tell No Tales": This is a nice little metal gem I'm sure you'll enjoy if the sound of Metal Church mixed with Helstar and Agent Steel sounds like a nice combination. Consider this a compliment because it is. 8.75/10.

MEDIAFIRE LINK (~200kbps VBR)

Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! (1985)

I don't care what anybody says; Megadeth's debut album "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" is definitely the best album from them. Despite poor production due to money usage on drugs (Which doesn't really matter--it's solid regardless), Megadeth pulled through with it and made one of the most solid thrash gems out there.

After Dave Mustaine gets kicked out of Metallica sent on a Greyhound bus to L.A., he forms Megadeth declaring he "wanted blood. Theirs," and that he "wanted to be faster and heavier than them." Surely enough, it's proven here. (Compare Metallica's first album, 'Kill 'Em All,' with Megadeth's 'Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!' There's a vast difference.)


The album starts with an eerie piano piece faded out rather quickly to insane shredding by Dave Mustaine on the first track "Last Rites." Lyrics of relationships, thrashing, falling in love as an auto mechanic, being a hitman, the perspective of a religious figure, a Nancy Sinatra "cover," and far more are bound to be found in this album and it's an interesting mix, I tell you. The drumming is superb, Dave's shouting and aggressive "heroin-fueled-rage," as I call it, is beyond extraordinary, and the insane bass makes this album so successful in my eyes, that any thrasher needs this album as soon as possible.

LINEUP:
Dave Mustaine: Vocals, Guitars
Chris Poland: Guitars
Gar Samuelson: Percussion
David Ellefson: Bass

TRACK LISTING:
Last Rites/Loved To Death - 4:40
Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! - 3:06
Skull Beneath The Skin - 3:47
These Boots - 3:41
Rattlehead - 3:43
Chosen Ones - 2:55
Looking Down The Cross - 5:05
Mechanix - 4:22

Final thoughts on Megadeth's "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!": All I can say is . . . get the album. There's nothing more I can generally say about it. My favourite tracks off this album would easily be 'Last Rites' and 'Mechanix.' If you have the chance, hear the "remastered" version of 'These Boots' with the censorship--it's actually quite hilarious. 9.5/10

MEDIAFIRE LINK