Power Hungry

Contrary to what many now choose to remember, there was a lot more going on with the California heavy metal scene than just the hair and the excessive partying. Often dismissed as a wimpy and commercialized version of the art form due to polemics largely spearheaded by Metallica's camp, there were nevertheless a fair share of bands hailing from the west coast that were not tied to the Bay Area thrash scene that were definitely worth their salt. Among the bands to come out of San Diego who probably should have gotten more attention than they ended up receiving was a speed-infused powerhouse named Victim that were more along the lines of the denim and leather-obsessed music of Judas Priest and the more riff happy and aggressive side of the NWOBHM in outfits like Diamond Head and Saxon. Their 1983 debut, which came out in fairly close proximity to Metallica's famed debut Kill 'Em All, is only a tad less raging and fast in its demeanor and definitely cut from a nastier grain than the objects of said band's derision.

As an early purveyor of what would come to labeled as speed metal, this is a band that definitely puts a heavy emphasis on instrumental prowess and playing it fast and furious. Between the mad, NWOBHM on crack opener "On The Street Tonight" and the Judas Priest-infused powerhouse and possible b-side to Screaming For Vengeance with bass work busy enough to rival Cliff Burton, it's almost impossible to believe that this album dropped a year before Razor and Whiplash started making waves in the underground circuit and was also not tied to the British scene. Even somewhat more measured speeders like this band's ode to the Sleepy Hollow legend "The Bridge" are a tad more over the top than anything to come out of California, and even comes off as a fairly crazy romp even by early 80s Judas Priest standards. The more mid-paced "She's A Savage" even has some subtle thrashing tendencies to the riff work that predicts the coming craze in question almost as much as select offerings out of Sweet Savage and Blitzkrieg.

The fact that this band remains a largely unknown quantity outside of a small circle of old school heavy metal fanatics is nothing short of a shame, as there is definitely a lot here that thrash fans and trustees of the ongoing New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal can sink their teeth into. Between the wild Halford shrieks and smooth sleaziness of vocalist Rocky Reiger, the shred-happy soloing of Mike Pfahler (who basically sounds like Kirk Hammett meets K.K. Downing) or the heavily active bass work of Brian Thoryk (who makes a point of breaking out of the Ian Hill box at virtually every opportunity, including the mellow power ballad that closes the album off) this album hits with the same fire and pizzazz that many would have expected out of Twisted Sister or W.A.S.P. had they been possessed to further explore the quicker side of Judas Priest's trailblazing sound. This is 80s metal that is both uncompromisingly 80s while also being heavy enough to avoid the sappiness that often comes along for the ride. Play fast or go home!