Psycho Psycho

In its early days, Nasty Savage was a fantastic formation. „XXX“ in the Metal Massacre VI version caught my attention immediately, the debut offered great songs and „Indulgence“ marks a thrash metal milestone for all eternity. The following EP was still very good, but then the reputation of the savages began to crumble. The band with this weird, individual, mysterious aura ran out of breath… and returned 15 years later with „Psycho Psycho“. This was a fitting title, because Nasty Ronnie had always been famous for his psychopathic touch, of course not he personally, but his artistic ego. Expectations got even higher when I saw that four guys of the debut were involved into the reunion. But to reproduce the chemistry of the early days is always a very difficult challenge for more or less old men. No wonder, Nasty Ronnie and his comrades failed.

When it comes to “Psycho Psycho”, my first thought is: too long, dudes, too long. The full-length suffers from its very uniform song material, too many mid-tempo parts without the necessary dose of aggression and some lukewarm sections. Sometimes the songs rather tend to power metal than to thrash. I don’t say that the five-piece throws sonic stink bombs. There are no songs which deserve to be hated due to senseless, half-baked, meandering or even embarrassing parts. Nevertheless, tracks like “Anguish” or “Dementia 13” do not stand for excitement or any kind of fiery sounds. It’s true that the title track kicks off the album in an aggressive and infectious art. Moreover, the stereo effect of the chorus lends the song a pathological vibe. But there are eleven tracks more to discover (or to endure). They are more or less standardized in length and approach, the guitar lines do not vary a lot and Ronnie’s once very charismatic vocals are okay but not the outstanding factor they had been before.

Sometimes the quintet is able to present some parts with a certain weird feeling, but the magical mysticism of classics such as “Hypnotic Trance” remains out of reach. Added to this malaise is the stuffy, relatively lifeless production. Everything seems to be pressed into a corset and so "Psycho Psycho" has a comparatively dull effect. The lack of transparency reinforces the interchangeability of the songs. Even “Step Up to the Plate”, a piece with a strong double bass supported beginning, does not develop any lasting aroma. Thus, it feels good to listen to their old number called “Savage Desire”. It’s the only track that combines a flowing easiness with expressive metal lines, even though the vocals sound pretty odd in the middle of the song. Nevertheless, together with the straight and vehement “Hell Unleashed”, it is the only tune here which comes more or less close to the title track. And so, allow me this personal note, the release date of “Psycho Psycho” is its best detail, because on this day my wonderful son was born.

“Nasty, Nasty… Ronnie, Ronnie, are you here to break my TV?”; I’m pretty sure the veterans out there remember this popular children’s tune from the 80’s TV show… only that I had completely forgotten it with time although I loved, and still do, to bits the guys’ earlier discography. And yet, I never even remotely followed what was going on in their camp once they folded. I don’t know why I thought that Nasty Ronnie and Co. would be one of those never to return to the fore; not after they had penetrated every single pussy… sorry, point from the scene during their first spell with the music industry. Well, I was so wrong, and this is the reason why I received a small shock when I saw the CD in the shop some time in 2004, quickly replaced by near euphoria. And this “psychotic” title… I was sure that after the penetration this was the next level to explore on the road to total illumination.

Nearly the entire line-up from the first period was up-and-ready in 2002, both to storm the field with their intricate stylized thrashisms and to break as many TV sets around the world as possible. Although I want to believe that the latter did become a daily occurrence for them, the former was only partially achieved on the album reviewed here which sees the band more interested in mixing the more conventional shenanigans from their first two efforts. In other words, “Penetration Point 2” this isn’t although it tries hard to convince the listener that the old school would reign supreme all over with the boisterous steam-rolling title-track, the heavy demolishing rhythms putting a wide-ish smile on everyone’s face. The latter can even become wider after the headbanging winner “Hell Unleashed” and the cool melodic semi-technicalities on “Anguish”, but on an almost hour-long opus deviations like the groovy stompers “Human Factor” and “Terminus Maximus” are to be expected, more or less, the band winking at the past decade semi-guiltily. Not too many winks of the kind, fortunately, the pounding urgency of “Indulgence” finely reflected (“Triumphal Entry”, “Step Up to The Plate”) on the more belligerent material, leaving the more laid-back epic power metal-decorated (“Return of The Savage”, “Savage Desire”) numbers a bit behind despite those cuts’ “savage” pretensions and nostalgic looks towards the debut. Both sides come expertly mixed on the final showdown “Merciless Truths”, a more engaging quasi-progressive saga with dark atmospheric undercurrents the band both thrashing with verve and adding more lyrical, melodic strokes without speeding up mercilessly.

A dignified acquittal on all counts, this opus saw the guys well-equipped to participate in the already commenced old school resurrection campaign, their appearance coinciding with the one of Hirax, Exodus, Attacker, etc. In other words, the US scene was waking up for more lofty exploits, and although it was debatable whether our favourite Nasties had all the chances to become the leaders of this revival, it was quite clear that they had by no means forgotten how to shred with force. Certainly, there were quite a few who were expecting an exuberant technical beast along the lines of the mentioned magnum opus, but one had to be well warmed-up before embarking on such a challenging adventure, right?

And this “psychotic” entry definitely served this purpose, only that the band hid from sight once again a few years later. An untimely vanishing act that was put an end in 2016… the fans’ expectations this time are not very high, and not only because the latter are not quite sure how long Nasty Ronnie and his cohort would hang around for this time. It’s just that once you’ve reached beyond the penetration point, there’s not much enthusiasm left to carry on… which is a pity since the road to total illumination hasn’t been mapped that well yet… I have the feeling that a few more broken TV sets along the way may as well get the job done.

With the enhanced re-issue of Wage of Mayhem and some live dates under their belts, it was only a matter of time before Nasty Savage would grease the elbows and head into the studio for a new attempt at full-length album glory. The result was the 13 track opus Psycho Psycho, which stylistically sticks as closely as possible to the prior few albums, albeit with a darker modern style. All of the hallmarks return: schizophrenic thrash metal with its roots clearly laid out in the sphere of American speed/power, Nasty Ronnie's scatterbrained vocal delivery, and lyrics that delve into the psychological, sexual and society at large.

While Psycho Psycho is not one of those trailblazing, inspirational comeback albums that arrives once in a blue moon, it has enough choice moments to at least keep it hovering above the pit of endless suck that so many reforged acts sink into. A few of the songs here rub me the wrong way, through either the vocal patterns or the riffing sag it tends to take towards the middle, but others truly capture the spirit of their 80s material, and one cannot feel any disconnect as far as the band's intent to remain loyal to themselves and what their mostly diminished fan base would expect of them. But I definitely get the vibe here that the songs could have used another comb over before sending the masters off to press.

I'll start with a few of the better songs. "Hell Unleashed", once it clears its opening vocal sample, becomes a pretty raging speed/thrasher. I'm not entirely in line with the vocals, as they seem to lack some of the energy and dual split range of prior attacks, but I do think the delay he's added to them slightly compensates, assisting with the impact here. The solo section is standard thrash rhythm over which a bluesy lead wails out with determination, and there is no hidden, amazing riff anywhere in the track, but it's solid and reminds me of Indulgence. "Merciless Truths" is wedged in at the end of the album, but it's a solid mid-paced track with some of the band's signature thrash arcs that you can totally square off to. Once more, the vocals don't completely blow me away, but the leads are cool, and I enjoyed the melodic finale as it faded out. "Anguish" is another of these slower fist-bangers, and the title track "Psycho Psycho" is a solid lead-in to the album, though the refrain in the first verse of 'slave of passion with a cerebral erection' felt a little lazy, like an impatient 13 year old lyricist.

For the rest, well few of the songs had any impact at all. "Human Factor" and "Terminus Maximus" try and coddle you with big, manly, obvious vocals, and the latter has a kind of morbid haze to it, but when they pick up the riffs are simply not so interesting. "Dementia 13" is not a cover of the sneering (and in my opinion, underrated) Whiplash tune, but a pretty average thrasher with a lot of bass in the intro and no major payload. "Step Up to the Plate" has a strong opening section and some demented verse rhythms, with a pretty brutal chorus, but I just could not get into Ronnie's vocals. "Triumphal Entry" and "Betrayal System" each feature at least one decent riff, but overall they feel rushed and very easy to skip. The band also includes a rehashed version of "Savage Desire", from the Wage of Mayhem demo, but the old school Diamond Head, Venom feel to the central riff feels out of place with the rest of the album. Almost like they're including a cover song, even if its one of their own.

I wish I could stack some more praise upon this effort, but even the better songs I mentioned earlier in the review do not compare to the material found on Indulgence, Penetration Point or the Abstract Reality EP. A Chris Jericho guest spot can't really save the album from its ultimate feel of mediocrity. However, the band deserves some credit for not attempting some radical shift in style, and trying to get back to the basics which made them one of the better thrash acts of the South in the 80s. It's already been six years since this album was released, and there has yet to be a follow-up. But I do hope, that if they are to enter the studio again, they'll take with them the same passion and emerge with a better set of songs.

Highlights: Hell Unleashed, Merciless Truths, Anguish

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

Almost 14 years have passed since their last album, but now they are back with a new one. I am very glad for this reunion since I was a big fan.
So who cares if it is 2004? Let’s party like 1984! Nothing have changed about them, all their trademarks are here in this album.

How could I describe their sound? It is definitely Thrash but there a few traditional Power edges to them. They have a unique aggressive coarse sound, their riffs alternate between fast and mid tempo but some slow moments are there too.
You people, who have never listened to Nasty Savage before, imagine a mid tempo primal Slayer style of guitar riffs.
Having said that I do not want to make an assumption that they are a Slayer copycat, in the contrary Nasty Savage have their own unique vein to their guitars riffs and solos the same way Slayer does.
However, the most unique element of Nasty Savage's vein, is the voice of Nasty Ronnie, coarse and aggressive as their overall sound. Despite the harsh nature of his voice, Nasty Ronnie attempts to perform high pitched screams, but it seems that he cannot like he could. Probably all these years he was riding Harley Davidsons instead of practicing phonetics, I hope he catches up with his old vocal form.
Just for the sake of describing his voice to people who haven't listened to him before I could say imagine a Venomized Tom Araya, alternating between cleaner and harsher vocals and growls, and some falsettos that are getting reedy sometimes.

I do not want to go over every song one by one, since there are 13 tracks which they do not differ that much, but I will point out my favorites or disappointing parts.
Psycho Psycho is the first track of this cd and thank God from the very first sec I can feel its pure unadulterated Nasty Savageness. Staggering repeating riffs, catchy verse and chorus and Nasty Ronnie's majesty haunts this track as he only knows.
Hell Unleashed continues with a slow riffing intro which transforms into your classic Thrasher.
Next song Anguish could be a much better song if Nasty Ronnie had retained his form when performing high falsettos.
Step Up to the Plate seems to be another thrasher in the vein of Stabbed In the Back. Return of the Savage is more of a Power than a Thrasher vein, while Triumphal Entry has Thrash groove riffs, but the vocals sound more Traditional.
Savage Desire is a pure Traditional and Power groove, but I am a bit disappointed with the vocals on this one, maybe because I am used on much better vocalists when it comes to this style ,and Ronnie lost his high pitched edge, during the whole track he seems to struggle to maintain an acceptable performance but when he tries to scream at the chorus he fails, this is more notable the second time. Still it is a killer groove song and one of my favorites on this album.
Savage Desire was also featured into Wage of Mayhem Ep were Nasty Ronnie performs it much better.
Merciless Truth that closes this cd is another favorite which elaborates the slower side of Thrash riffage.

Overall is a good album which satisfied me and I will keep listening to some tracks for quite while.
The strange thing about it is, although that it has some very good moments that get nailed into my brain, overall is difficult to remember a track as a whole.
I am glad for this comeback, I found it a very good try, if you take into consideration that none of them was into music for more than a decade, and I hope that they find inspiration to continue. I don't care if it takes them another 15 years to make another album. I am going to wait for that.
However, I can’t wait for them to come to Europe, I could afford a few hours flight to watch them live and see Nasty Ronnie smash TV sets onto his chest.

I found it hard to give an objective rating to this album since I am a big fan so you can either give or take up to 15 points.