The saying 'ahead of its time' gets thrown around like juggling balls at a circus these days and being one to stray from such cliches it is only with careful consideration that I would lump something into such a category. Energetic Disassembly was FAR ahead of it's time, Watchtower took thrash to it's extreme before some of the biggest names in the genre had even lifted a guitar Thrash metal didn't exist to most people before a slew of big releases in 1986 launched it onto the musical radar.
The music here is obscenely technical but in such a way as to express aggression and paranoia as opposed to being a crutch or a gimmick, it's an integral part of the music as opposed to an obstacle preventing the music from happening that we see so often happen these days. What exactly is it that justifies the technicality? - well the songs are catchy and fun as hell. The guitar and vocal harmonised interplay in Asylum has to be heard to be comprehended. The title track has one of the most killer breakdowns in a thrash song. And Meltdown is a tech-thrash anthem that has major hooks, especially the chorus with hilariously awesome lyrics - that you can actually hear! Good luck singing along with them though, you'd need give your gems a mighty squeeze before you sing that high.
Every part of this musical tapestry is utterly chaotic (not to mention virtuosic) from the shredding solos and lightning scale runs of Billy White to the equally light fingered bass work of Doug Keyser to the falsetto banshee wail of Jason McMaster to the jazz syncopated electronic drum lunacy of Rick Colaluca. I must admit it took me a long time to get used to and to like the wailing 80's vocal style but I actually quite like it these days, it certainly fits in with the music.
On another note some people consider this the first ever progressive metal release, so there you go, Tech-thrashers should enjoy.
Track Listing:
| 1. | Violent Change | 03:22 | |
| 2. | Asylum | 03:48 | |
| 3. | Tyrants In Distress | 05:59 | |
| 4. | Social Fears | 04:41 | |
| 5. | Energetic Disassembly | 04:39 | |
| 6. | Argonne Forest | 04:38 | |
| 7. | Cimmerian Shadows | 06:35 | |
| 8. | Meltdown | 03:59 |
Total playing time37:41
Download here: (Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly, V0)
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