Unitron
"Thrash, to kill! Blood, will spill!"
Forming back in 1983 under the name Jackhammer, the New Jersey thrash/speed metal act renamed to Whiplash only a year later, although both names fit well with their sound. They electrified thrashers in 1985 with the release of their debut studio album, whose name of Power and Pain describes what these guys are coming to deliver. Despite being from the US, Whiplash has a lot more in common with the early material from German Teutonic thrash bands like Kreator and Destruction than most US acts, although Kill 'em All-era Metallica should be noted as a valid reference point.
Whiplash you will get after thrashing to the band's incredibly rapid attack. Rivaling Razor when it comes to pure aggression and speed, frontman Tony Portaro's riffs pierce the skin and speed through your veins like motorcycle gangs on the highway. Portaro fills the vocal spot also, viciously barking out mosh pit calls. Amongst all the ripping solos and shredding, there's a tight rhythm section to keep it all together. The whole album will spit through your skull, but highlights definitely include "Stage Dive", "War Monger", "Spit on Your Grave", and the colossal "Red Bomb" which punches you in the gut with it's opening riff.
If you want a classic thrashing from one of the more underrated bands of the US thrash scene, check out Whiplash's Power and Pain. It's a pure, raw, all-out, no-bullshit romp through the pit. Who needs to dive in the pool, when you can Stage Dive? Hope you found this review helpful, feel free to comment!