Audio Pain – Contagious / 1986
Contagious/1986
Vendulus Records have re-mastered and re-released 2 of Audiopain’s self released demo’s for a wider base of people to hear the greatness lurking in this Norwegian band’s catalog. Having never heard them before, I’m pleased to report that this band isn’t ashamed to look to metals past and focus their entire sound on a very German influenced thrash attack. Where other more modern bands or super groups out there get together for a romp through nostalgia and make a thrash album, you can’t help but notice a lighthearted camp existing in the music as found on albums by Nocturnal Breed or ever Aura Noir from time to time (even though I do like the latter band). I don’t get that feeling when listening to both of these Audiopain albums. This group takes what they’re doing very seriously and come off sounding like they have older and wiser blood as every note screams conviction.
Contagious – of the 2 albums, this is by far my favorite. Audiopain never use blast beats to keep their thrash pure and I find it very amazing how much skill and awareness went into the riff ideas on this album… you can tell they wanted to create something that did will the listeners thoughts back to the mid to late 80’s, but they wanted their own sound and ideas to dominate rather than borrowing a style or plagiarizing riffs from the classic bands from this era. “Contagious” is paced really well, effortlessly moving between fast and more mid-paced tracks where the guitar lines center around mighty hooks and technical, though never confusing guitar work. When the power chords set the foundation, one can’t help but notice a very minor punk influence in which Audiopain take great care in layering over vibrant strands of intensity to give each track a worthy edge/bite. Add a razorwire sharp, higher register scream to the mix and Audiopain could have easily sat quite comfortably on a Kreator tour during the “Terrible Certainty” era.
1986 – I haven’t researched this band close enough to determine which of these demos came first, but spinning “1986” 2nd, the same formula found on “Contagious” is apparent, but this album/demo contains more of a roomy production and considerably less mid-paced music breaks. “1986” is indeed a barnburner where tight palm muted speed picking inspires heads to bang and fists to fly in earnest appreciation along to the beat. You can really tell this material would go over amazingly well in the live medium. Vocally, less of that black metal snarl is in the screams but the delivery comes off as more shouted and agonized to me. When the speed subsides, the punk vibe really stands out on tracks like “Mechanic Commando” and “The Hunt.” As previously stated, Audiopain unleash some of the best thrash I’ve heard in ages and I will be hunting down this bands normal full-lengths. Fans of Kreator and other gifted bands from that area; Audiopain will re-open your eyes to the greatness of a genre that I thought was long lost/forgotten. – Marty
VENDULUS RECORDS
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