A.R.G. - REDEMPTION FROM REFAIM
AAARRGGGGG!!!!
Finnish thrashers A.R.G. are back with a new album, their first album in 24(!) years. Which is nothing but remarkable that a band returns with an album after such a long absence.
If you're unfamiliar with A.R.G. I can tell you that they released two studio albums back in the heyday of thrash, 'Entrance' and 'One World Without the End' before disbanding in the early nineties. Jari Kelloniemi, Vesa Säkkinen and Tepa Karjalainen are all back together and they have found themselves a new drummer in Timo Hanhijoki who has drummed for numerous Finnish death metal bands. He replaces original drummer Pasi Takkula who passed away in 2004 (R.I.P.).
I used to say that time changes everything but when it comes to these Finnish thrashers it seems like time has been standing still in Finland. Because A.R.G. has been able to conserve their sound remarkably well. Back in the late eighties and early nineties they were considered to be one of the best Finnish metal bands.
They were sometimes referred to as a Finnish version of Kreator. Just like their German bredren these finnish guys have updated their sound a bit and the production here is cleaner than anything the band has produced before. A.R.G.'s brutal death / thrashing ways are instantly recognizable for those who are familiar with the bands past. The vocals by Tepa Karjalainen reminds me a bit of Chuck Billy's (Testament) full-bodied voice, Tepa's style is more common in the death metal field but the music is pure aggressive thrash metal with but it's not lacking melodies like these extreme types of music sometimes do.
I'm positively surprised by A.R.G.'s comeback album I wasn't sure that the band still had it in them to deliver, but A.R.G. delivers material that can compete with your modern day giants like Testament, Exodus, Kreator and Onslaught but an obscure band like this will probably never be recognized to be on that level. But I think this sounds pretty good so welcome back A.R.G.!
Rating:
| INFO |
Label: Ranka Kustannus Year: 2015 Country: Finland Duration: 37:19 Tracks: 10 Genre: Death/Thrash Reviewer: Ruthless Rating: 3/5 | ||
| TRACKS | LINEUP | |
| Jari Kelloniemi - Guitars Tepa Karjalainen - Vocals & Bass Timo Hanhijoki - Drums |
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