World Targets in Megadeaths

Has anyone else been ruined in regard to the word “megadeath”? Obviously I’m referring to the spelling of the band name Megadeth in contrast to the actual word, making me constantly misspell it and also pretty much assume the definition is “Dave Mustaine’s band” rather than “millions dead in (nuclear) war”. As such, I hope that Acid Force’s decision to title their second album World Targets in Megadeaths was a deliberate reference to the band as well as conflict in general. Anyway, that’s how I’m thinking of it, and the Slovakian quartet indeed have a few vibes from So Far, So Good, So What? in their sound, as well as Rust in Peace feels on the album artwork. Compared to Acid Force’s debut album (admittedly from 6 years back), this has much less of a punk or crossover edge, with more fleshed-out songwriting in particular, though that aspect still remains in part.

I actually thought from looking at the band’s past and the cover of World Targets in Megadeaths that the performances would be rawer and more frantic than this, whereas what I hear seems pretty melodic, especially on the really gorgeous lead guitar moments of ‘Rebirth of the Sun’, which seem idyllic instead of apocalyptic, which is where most of the themes head. The interweaving acoustic and harmonized guitars in instrumental ‘Beyond the Concrete Fields’ also seem unthinkable in the context of punky thrash, though I guess D.R.I. and Nuclear Assault can lay claim to the lion’s share of influence on ‘Split the Atom’, which is the only sub-3 minute track here, as opposed to half of them on the debut. Elsewhere, Acid Force do not overly hurry to spread their message, sometimes using mid-paced thrash riffage, sometimes speed metal lightness to motor through 8 songs, the latter of which can be witnessed in almost Running Wild style on ‘Lightning Cops’. Therefore, the band realize a lot of possibilities in a trim 36 minutes.

Before I go any further, I need to point out how much of a modern-day (classic) ripper of a thrash song the title track is. One of those songs that just feels as though it has everything right from the first time you listen to it, using that Slayer trick of making each vocal line sound louder than the last because the first word is emphasized, plus dedicating fully to the prolonged melodic solo in the latter part, a feature in which Acid Force have really come to excel. 100% recommend anyone into any ‘80s thrash at all to try that one, it goes up next to stuff like ‘Nuclear Winter’, ‘War Ensemble’, and ‘Rust in Peace…Polaris’ as a great statement. Note that combining Sodom, Slayer, and Megadeth makes for a combination both rhythmically heavy and melodically inclined, as well as direct and skilful at the same time, which I feel characterizes World Targets in Megadeaths pretty well. Heavy as hell in some regards, precise and nuanced in others. The production plays into that too, with no modern compression or crudeness at all, more a spaciousness and sort of softness that lets the different styles mix together uninhibited. The bass is right up there too, pinging with that Peace Sells quality, as ‘Preachers of Mayhem’ demonstrates with its delicious introduction.

I don’t think it’s any accident that Acid Force remind of all these superb ‘80s acts. I believe the Slovakians have done their homework and perfected the songs with a clear vision in mind, leading to one of the best truly classic-sounding thrash albums I can remember in recent years. World Targets in Megadeaths would have been truly game-changing if released any time up until 1989 and should still be cherished in 2023 when the selection of speed/thrash is much wider and the classics have been definitively identified. Honestly, what we have here is just fucking delightful.