Artist: Flotsam & Jetsam
Label: Metal Blade
Release Date: 5/22/01
Average Rating: 3.67
Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album
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Title: My God Artist: Flotsam & Jetsam Label: Metal Blade Release Date: 5/22/01 |
There are currently 3 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 3.67 Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album |
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Reviewed by Davey Havoc (3/15/02):
This album was my introduction to Flotsam and Jetsam. I am a fan of 80's era, Bay Area Style Thrash (some of my favourites include Metallica, Exodus, Possessed and Anthrax). So I suppose automatically I am a little bias about My God. I would have to say that this is a very good album, but that says very little for F&J considering they consistently put out good albums, from Doomsday to present day. The vocals remind me very much of Neil Turbin when he sang in Anthrax. Also, clean vocals are a rarity in Thrash these days, as more contemporary Thrash bands such as Witchery and The Haunted use harsh, distorted vocals to no end. The guitarists really have their shit together. The way they trade their leads so flawlessly reminds me very much of Slayer, but due to the age of the band, there's little chance they were inspired by Slayer (if anything, it was probably the other way around, but lets not rule out Judas Priest as big influence). Even during the slower songs, I can pick up some tremelo picking during some of the riffs. But there are two main signs of a good album: is it entertaining, and does it merit repeat rotations? The answer is yes to both. I can't help but sing along during "Killing Time" and "Dig Me Up To Bury Me", and I am constantly compelled to air guitar during those great solos. I am definitely going to track down this bands' back catalogue. Good job Flotsam!
Reviewed by Jon (8/30/01):
Flotsam and Jetsam has created an album that alludes to their past, while breaking new ground. Here, the AK penned lyrics are deeply reflective. Taken as a whole, the songs themselves seem to show a man who is frustrated, despairing, and a bit paranoid. To me, this comes across as someone who has faced Sartre's absurd, and decided that "so what if everything is meaningless, I am going to do this anyway." This definitley is not the 'bang your head against a wall' type of metal that is generally a bit more prominent. Underneath the guitars and drums, the songs are poignant and illustrate a rarely seen side in metal.Going through a few of the songs:
"Dig Me Up to Bury Me" - Awesome Guitars and chorus. Sticks with me for a while afterward. This song strikes me as a mix between both High and Unnatural Selection (their last two albums)."Keep Breathing" - Song about the fact that every day we keep marching toward our death. Great delivery of the lyrics. I sense a bit of Drift along with some Unnatural Selection as well.
"Camera Eye" - This song reminds me of Orwell's 1984. Delivery of lyrics reminds me of No Place for Disgrace. I almost felt the presence of cameras on me.
"Trash" - Amazing song that strikes deep into the despair and sadness that has afflicted the group. The acoustic version is unbelievable.
"Praise" and "My God" - Man has become prey to the desire to believe in something so very much that he would give his money to religion, or even die for it.
Reviewed by Seth Patterson (5/16/01):
I can't help but feel that Flotsam and Jetsam are treading on ground that has been covered thousands of times-- and better, often-- making this album come across as boring and a bit redundant. I guess they realized, after releasing more "experimental" (trend-driven?) albums post-Doomsday..., that commercial success is simply not in the cards for them, and so returned to a trad metal style. Regardless, it's a case of too little, too late-- the guys are all skilled players, so the songs on offer aren't awful, but are dated-sounding and a bit uneventful in the year 2001. AK has an odd voice, and it's his pipes' gritty character that prevents this CD from sounding even worse; thankfully he avoids the testicle-straining wails of yore, for the most part. If trad metal is to survive, methinks it's up to the likes of Nevermore and Iced Earth to get the job done; F & J just aren't cutting it with their plodding sub-thrash anymore...
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