Kruiz

I entered "pop" to the genre field in advanced search for the laughs. I wasn't expecting to find anything. Found this band instead. I wasn't expecting to actually find the album on the internet, but thanks to YouTube channel "HEAVY METAL OF EASTERN BLOC," I did. I wasn't expecting anything good, since any of the "Soviet metal" I found so far ranged from "shit" to "unlistenable." This album though, it blew my mind.

This seems like a record by three Russian popsters experimenting with their sound, probably after getting their hands on some local heavy metal and likely some American thrash, which was peaking at the period this album was released in. Normally, albums of this nature are very prone to being total unlistenable garbage riddled with annoying vocals and repetitive riffing, but this is essentially extremely good and creative thrash accompanied with bearable vocals.

The open-mindedness, skill and creativity of the instrumentation here makes it hard to believe these guys are a former pop group. The guitar riffing is sometimes reminiscent of some of the better fast heavy metal out there, and sometimes perfectly mimicks the aggression and musicality of 80s thrash from the United States, in its own way. The vocals only add to the atmosphere created by the guitars. Most fast heavy metal out there usually has annoying high-pitched vocals, but this is not the case here. The baritone range of the group's frontman Valery accompanies his magnificent riffing perfectly. The foundational instruments are excellent as well. The drummer and the bassist work together perfectly, and the drumming is especially spectacular for a former pop group. The bass breaks prominent in most of the tracks are pretty cool as well. The recording quality is great for a Soviet record, and the mix perfectly blends everything together.

This isn't a purely metal album either. The sound is totally metal, but I can hear many other musical influences in the songwriting. It's possible to hear sections clearly influenced by classical music in most of the leads, especially evident in the track "The Avenger." There are some progressive pop influences apparent in the song structures and the overall songwriting. The only problem present in this album is due to the pop and hard rock influences, though. It sounds way, way too cheesy at times. This problem is especially prominent in "Knight Of The Road" and "Heaviest In Town." That's also why this has a rating of 99% instead of 100%

Overall, the instrumentation is amazing. I can't get enough of that guitar tone.

The record kicks off with the opening track "Knight Of The Road." It sets the expectations high with the cool intro; and the great riffing, production quality and good tones. I expected to be disappointed greatly again by shitty vocals, but no. As soon as the singing begins, you know you're in for a good ride. After a great song and some cheesy choruses, you're in for more of the same thrashy glory until "The Avenger" kicks in. It's an amazing half-ballad that gets heavy quarterway through, probably one of the best I've heard after Metallica's ballads. After The Avenger rolls through, you're again in for more of the same until "Iron Rock," which greatly steeps up the heaviness. Iron Rock itself is mostly thrash, but its follow up "Possessed" reminds me of early Florida deathrash, and ironically the band "Possessed" itself, if they had a better recording quality. After a Master of Puppets-esque interlude and some amazing riffing and solos that follow, it ends impressively with this amazing track.

Best of the best. If this had been a US release, it would've been considered a thrash classic, undoubtedly. This needs a listen for any avid thrash fan.

Highlights: Brave New World, Iron Rock, Possessed.