Only the Dead See the End of the War

Acrassicauda is a Middle Eastern thrash outfit that was the focus of a documentary called Heavy Metal in Baghdad a couple of years back that told the tale of the their plight to play the music they love in everyday war-torn horror. As I watched the documentary the other night, mentally taking notes on this band that seemed unpolished and raw, I asked myself what this band might sound like in a real studio with solid production and tutelage. They seemed to have the talent (including one hell of a guitarist in Tony Aziz) and their influences seemed to indicate that they might make a small impression on the masses if given the chance.

The documentary ended with the band having to momentarily forego its dreams and sell their equipment to survive after being denied refugee status by other countries. They also went their separate ways for a brief period to work in other countries. Imagine my delight and surprise to find the band has not only made it to America, but has released an EP produced by none other than Alex Skolnick. After getting status here in the U.S. in ’09, a meeting with Testament commenced and Alex helped the band polish its sound along the way. The result is twenty -one minutes of some pretty damn good thrash that draws influences from Sepultura, Metallica and Testament. In short, there’s a solid thrash effort here that old-school fans will dig. It amazes me how much the band has evolved from the very humble beginnings of playing in primitive conditions to what might well be our first and best Middle Eastern import.

Only the Dead See the End of the War of course touches upon the war, death and destruction seen on a daily basis in their homeland. The anger, hurt, resentment and hope is all meshed into four tracks of well-polished music that deserves to be heard. Forget the hype around the film, forget the novelty of a band from Iraq, and forget the anti-Islamic rhetoric usually associated with the Middle East. Music is designed to bond us, not drive us apart. It’s the one constant in our lives that finds us forming friendships, brotherhood and solidarity against the established order, no matter what order it might be. Enjoy the music that was created by four guys that love their metal music as much as you or me, and if you’re going to hear a band rant about the visages and horrors of war, this is the real deal all around! These guys lived in it, through it and among it, and if ever there was a case for complete honesty in one’s music this is right up at the front of the line. Talented and musically-versed, Acrassicauda is a nice additive to any thrash library.

The songs are little glimpses into the real face of war, especially evident on the track “Massacre”, which has Testament-like feeling at its introduction, then quickly slaps the face of the listener with its heaviness and lyrical anger. The lyric “I’d rather die than disintegrate” speaks volumes, and the guitar solo that follows is a perfect accompaniment to the fury of a peaceful respite one minute, then chaotic disorder in an instant. As I said, honest metal music from four guys that have seen it all is what you’ll get here.

All in all, the band is talented, heavy, and honest, and I sincerely hope they manage to have more tales to tell in the future. Check them out and experience a small part of what they’ve seen in under twenty-one minutes. Guaranteed it’s nothing like being there, and Acrassicauda tells the story in a way that we just might better understand in language we all know and love.

(Originally written for http://www.metalpsalter.com)