NO RETURN
For me, this album was like the fresh breath of air you inhale after you get out of a filthy public rest room. I say that because I just got done with the unpleasant experience of reviewing the latest piece of garbage by another French band, MERCYLESS. NO RETURN however, haven't cashed it in like their French counterparts. NO RETURN, who have been terrorizing central Europe with their traditional Thrash assault for well over 10 years, have indeed returned after a good showing on Self-Mutilation. It seems that after all these years of releasing slightly better than average material the band have come into their own. Machinery is clearly the band's finest accomplishment to date.Machinery is just a terrific Thrash Metal booty-kickin'. What the Frenchman have done here is to take the core components on Self-Mutilation and expand upon the scant atmospheric qualities existent on that album. If there was one distinct criticism I had with the band's prior release it was in the riff structures that I felt were rehashed remnants from the days of old. This time out however, things are fresh and crafty as ever. Melodic hooks baste the intricate framework of guitar/synthesizer interplay and while we still get the adequate harshness at the microphone, expect to hear some cleaner moments as well. I have to mention the interplay factor more than once because that is the one defining element for me on this album. The band have masterfully balanced it and taken advantage of the vast potential available when you've got two talented guitar players and creative ideas behind the synthesizers. Using these faculties to full effect, NO RETURN create rich, thrashy songs with wide spatial and depth qualities. The addition of a spoken female voice gives the album an eerie aura on a couple of tracks as well. Its the collective imagination of the band and the ability to write good riffs and build strong song structures however, that make Machinery one of the finer Thrash Metal albums to come out of France in years. Take into consideration also that this is the best sounding recording NO RETURN have managed and the recipe is complete. Pop this baby into your cd oven and let it bake! This time it's your player that gets cooked by the scalding Thrash riffage, wild lead muggings and cranium thumping drum fills. Tracks like "Violator", "Disillusion", "Resurrection", and the excellent cover of DEATH's "Secret Face" demonstrate that years of sticking with what they have always done best was the right thing to do. Machinery kicks ass, friends.
German Thrashers DEW-SCENTED now can look over their shoulders and know that French revenge is closing in. The two bands share much in common with NO RETURN having the edge in depth. Now boys and girls, go update your want lists.
John's rating: 6.5
