CRO-MAGS — Best Wishes (review)

CRO-MAGS — Best Wishes album cover Album · 1989 · Crossover Thrash Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Best Wishes" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, New York based hardcore/crossover thrash metal act Cro-Mags. The album was released through Profile Records in April 1989. It´s the successor to "The Age of Quarrel" from 1986 and features two lineup changes since the predecessor as lead vocalist John Joseph Bloodclot has left and bassist Harley Flanagan has taken up the vocal duties in addition to playing bass. Drummer Mackie has been replaced by Pete Hines.

Stylistically "Best Wishes" is quite different to the powerful hardcore style of "The Age of Quarrel (1986)". I´m often reminded of contemporary Suicidal Tendencies and at times contemporary Megadeth, although Cro-Mags are still obviously a New York hardcore act playing thrash metal. Flanagan has a personal delivery, but not the strongest or most interesting voice, but the instrumental part of the music is generally very strong, featuring powerful thrashy riffs (and quite a few which are more traditional heavy metal styled), blistering melodic guitar solos and motifs (at times it sounds like Rocky George makes a guest appearance), and a well playing rhythm section. The latter still often play hardcore tinged beats, so it´s one of the elements of the music which points backwards to the band´s hardcore past.

The songwriting is strong and relatively varied for the genre. "The Only One" is a sort of power ballad (...not really but I don´t know how else to describe it), and a track like "Crush the Demoniac" is pretty much tradtional heavy metal through and through, while other tracks are more hard edged and thrashy. The real winner here though is the sound production, which to my ears is quite brillant. Powerful, clear, and sharp, featuring a very well sounding guitar tone and great bass bottom. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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