Stephen
"Nothing To Fear" is the second album by the Chicago-based thrash act. Released in 1987, this album was cited as their best of their entire career and while many compared them to Forbidden because of the high-pitch voice and technical playing, I think that Wrath is inferior in terms of musicality, songwriting, and vocally.
Gary Golwitzer has a very unique singing style, combining a shrilling voice and low-register growl, made himself sounding like the demonic gargoyle in a horror movie. However, I'm not a fan of this vocal style and most of the times, I think that Golwitzer is like delivering a speech, or even just wickedly laughing, rather than singing, and this is the catastrophic factor that made me didn't like Wrath.
Musically, the band has an interesting offering by combining progressive element and classic thrash hooks. Most of their songs here have a dynamic tempo with technical sweeps, even though in my opinion, many still lacks of memorable riffs and chorus, if compared to band like Forbidden.
Several notable tracks that's worth to try is "R.I.P" - which has a nice groove and a blasting opener, "Sudden Death" - a straight forward heartripping thrash with fearsome riffs onslaught, and "When Worlds Collide" - featured killer intro and stunning twin guitar carnage. "Fear Itself" has a complex composition and started with a big noisy drumbeat like an incoming hurricane, this is also one hell of a track, but probably the best of em all is "Incineration/Caustic Sleep", began with an acoustical intro, this track is stretched to 7 minutes with a lot of great instrumental fill-in and furious rhythm.
I still consider "Nothing To Fear" as an acceptable thrash classic but nothing's really outstanding to make this album essential and it was even burdened with an infuriating vocal performance. This record is probably only for thrash hardcore and 2.5 stars is the best I can give.