For Whose Advantage?

Xentrix returned with "For Whose Advantage?" after a strong debut and a shitty EP. It was nice to see that the "Ghost Busters" disaster did not work as an omen for the here presented vinyl which holds nine tracks. (It does not contain the cover version and after their glorious execution of "Ghost Busters", I am really happy about this fact.) "For Whose Advantage?" does not want to entertain the audience with comical songs. It spreads serious, slightly dark vibes due to a great number of typical yet crisp riffs.

Xentrix enter the stage with intelligently designed, robust thrash tunes. The title track finds the perfect balance between complexity and accessibility and the playtime of more than six minutes is definitely not too long for this very interesting piece. Xentrix still play Testament-like thrash, not with ferocious power, but with methodical precision. Although the album was already released in 1990, the songs still sound lively and any form of rancidity is missing. This does not mean that each and every piece will take your breath away. "Bitter End", for example, does not reach out for the stars in the thrash metal firmament. One listens to a solid number, no more no less, which is followed by a soft and dubious intermezzo, that does not add value to the album.

But the majority of the tunes is just great. "Kept in the Dark" builds up tension right from the beginning with a brisk bass and sawing guitars. Its dynamic tempo changes and the catchy chorus are further reasons why this song stands out. But even the closer provides an adequate degree of combativeness and musicality. Moreover, the rapid and sharp beginning of "Desperate Remedies" is trying to pretend that one listens to a song of Holy Moses which was mysteriously not taken into consideration for the final version of "Finished with the Dogs" or "The New Machine of Liechtenstein". Generally speaking, Xentrix do not offer fast food, they have carefully cooked a delicate meal. Aggressive sections dominate, but a few less harsh moments give the guitars room to develop their full effect. "False Ideals", for instance, starts with a pretty restrained yet very memorable part. Afterwards the band starts a proper riff orgy, And, as almost always, the band has an eye on the chorus. It possesses a brilliant melody and structures the entire track very well.

Just like the aforementioned Testament, the guys from the United Kingdom do not present songs that suffer from a substandard production. "For Whose Advantage?" convinces with a warm, well defined sound that puts the guitars in the spotlight. It is a typical (great) mix that tells each and everybody in a matter of seconds that he or she is listening to a thrash album. Maybe one can say that the vinyl would have benefitted from a pinch of additional aggression, but this is only an irrelevant detail at the end. No doubt, Xentrix consolidated their position with their second full-length.