FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
“THE END OF CHAOS”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Flotsam And Jetsam are a thrash metal band from the USA formed in 1984 who released their debut album in 1986. The band have always been a major force in the thrash metal arena, releasing twelve more albums in their lengthy career, releasing ‘Demolition Man’ as a single from the bands fourteenth studio album, ‘The End Of Chaos’, released in 2019.

Has it really been three years since the last Flotsam And Jetsam album? Sadly yes, but gladly, the band have just released their next offering, ‘The End Of Chaos’. As you would expect from these thrash metal titans, the album is packed with breath taking and exhilarating songs that will remind you just how fucking brilliant a band Flotsam And Jetsam are. A long way from ‘Doomsday For The Deceiver’, the band has not disappointed for thirty three thrashing years and they are not about to start either. Album opener ‘Prisoner Of Time’ hits the ground hard, racing off at break neck speed, with heads immediately banging and a smile a mile wide appearing on fans faces everywhere as Flotsam And Jetsam signal their return to the metal scene. Twelve songs across a fifty minute play time is great on numbers, ‘Control’ picking up the pace and setting a scorching pace, leaving only burn marks in its wake. ‘Control’ is fierce, furious and aggressive thrash metal, exactly how it’s meant to be, yet amazingly Flotsam And Jetsam deliver just the right amount of melody into their music, keeping it one step away from the brutal style of thrash metal.

Heavy hitting and rumbling like a distant thunderstorm, ‘Recover’ is all bluff and bluster as it strides on by. Add a sing a long style chorus and ‘Recover’ is a catchy and infectious thrash come heavy metal romp. Flotsam And Jetsam are one of the best melodic thrash metal exponents ever, and have been since their inception in the mid eighties. They have been an inspiration to many and are idols to many more. ‘Prepare For Chaos’ is an intense and thundering thrash metal tirade of ferocity. Vocalist Eric A.K. is sounding great, and has not lost one ounce of his fire over the years, the same that can be said about other singers such as Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (Overkill), Chuck Billy (Testament) and the iconic legend Dee Snider. Electrifying pace takes over the album with the staggering ‘Slowly Insane’ setting new records for speed as it hurtles on by. Fast and furious, ‘Slowly Insane’ is a head bangers dream. ‘Architects Of Hate’ may be an attitude laden and aggressive title for a song, which is actually mirrored by the music. Fast paced and highly energetic, ‘Architects Of Hate’ is an in your face savage romp.

‘Demolition Man’ is mid to high paced, with the brash nature of thrash fused with the classic and melodic heavy metal sound of the NWOBHM. ‘Unwelcome Surprise’ is anything but unwelcome, it’s a blistering speed metal come thrash metal cacophony. Head banging of the violent and vigorous nature will accompany every single second of this savage rampage. And the savagery doesn’t relent either, storming on with ‘Snake Eye’ racing on at high velocity. Flotsam And Jetsam are delivering exactly what the (proverbial) doctor ordered…no prescription needed, freely available… ‘Survive’ is melodic thrash metal at its finest. Blending traditional heavy metal with the heavy thrash metal sound, ‘Survive’ is a “foot on the monitor” moment of happy mood inducing metal. ‘Good Or Bad’ is a mid tempo swagger of savagery, hitting hard and kicking harder, a unique blend of fast paced head banging and mid tempo stomping. Closing the album in a furiously frenetic and fiery fashion is ‘The End’. The fastest song on offer by a massive margin, ‘The End’ is high velocity speed metal infused thrash and a glorious end to a glorious album.

Overall, fast paced and head bangingly infectious thrash metal from long standing masters of the genre.

TRACKLIST

Prisoner Of Time
Control
Recover
Prepare For Chaos
Slowly Insane
Architects Of Hate
Demolition Man
Unwelcome Surprise
Snake Eye
Survive
Good Or Bad
The End

http://www.flotsam-and-jetsam.com/
https://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsam.official

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