UMUR
"Say Uncle" is the debut full-length studio album by US crossover thrash metal act Uncle Slam. The album was released through Caroline Records in February 1988. Uncle Slam was formed in 1987 and featured, in it´s earliest incarnation, former Suicical Tendencies bassist Louiche Mayorga. "Say Uncle" was recorded by the trio of Todd Moyer (guitars, vocals), Simon Oliver (bass) and Amery Smith (drums).
...the link to Suicical Tendencies is undeniable though, as Uncle Slam play a somewhat similar styled crossover thrash metal as Suicical Tendencies did in the mid-eighties. It´s charming and humourous but also loaded with social/political commentary. The playing is tight, aggressive and energetic and there are enough variation between tracks to easily tell them apart. A track like the funky "Micro Logic" does stand out as out of the ordinary though. One of the things I noticed and want to mention as an asset to the album is the lead guitar work. Todd Moyer is actually quite a skilled guitarist and the fact that he occasionally plays solos and other melodic themes are a great contributor to the variation on the album. His vocals are delivered with attitude and conviction too, but the other guys in the band are also really well playing and contribute a lot to the sound too. Especially drummer Amery Smith has a really great delivery and drumming style.
In addition to the above "Say Uncle" features a really well sounding and powerful sound production that suits the music perfectly. As a representation of "classic" US croosover on the thrashy side I think "Say Uncle" is a good example. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.