In the early days of Bay Area Thrash Metal there were the likes of Slayer, Metallica, Exodus and Testament, and this was all during the early '80's. In 2007, some 20 plus years later, Metal Blade Records have released the debut record, Spread The Fire, from California based Thrash band Fueled By Fire. Much in the vein of Classic '80's Thrash Metal of back in the day, Fueled By Fire have a very bare bones, low tech CD that actually sounds like it was made back in 1985.
The problem with some of the early bands of Thrash was that a lot of them weren't masters of the instruments and it showed, especially during the guitar solos (i.e. ANY Flotsam & Jetsam solo from their debut). These bands might have created some cool songs and I think that most of those bands had at least one memorable song, but all and all the cream rose to the top and those bands are still around. Fueled By Fire is one of those bands that would have not made the cut. Their 9 song CD, Spread The Fire is a sub par throwback to glory days of when Metal was changed forever. There isn't much on this CD that is all that memorable or that made any impact at all. The songwriting sounds like it was from 1985 and that it never grew or progressed and the actual musicianship is nothing to speak of as well. No awe inspiring guitar prowess or chest pounding double bass drumming here. Weren't those 2 things essential to Thrash Metal? Oh yeah and great screaming vocals! None of that either.
Spread The Fire is for die hards of the Thrash Metal movement only. With it's obvious attempt to sound like the Bay Area Thrashers of the day, Fueled By Fire miss the mark and sound more like a garage band learning to play Thrash than a band deserving to be on one of the pioneering metal labels. This is a disappointing CD, but if you like cheesy Thrash Metal, give it a spin. But you've been warned!
Track Listing
1. Ernest Goes To Hell
2. Thrash Is Back
3. Striking Death
4. Spread The Fire!!!
5. Betrayal
6. Massive Execution
7. Metal Forever
8. Dreams Of Terror
9. Command Of the Beast
10. Chaotic Punishment
11. Put To Death
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