The Hepatocytes Disorder
Since the
releasing “Two-Faced” album back in 1994, Tankard simply kicks my thrash ass
without any mercy. Even if they recorded one average album “The Tankard”, I
praise them a lot, especially when Andy Gutjahr joined the team with his
guitar. I decided to review this thrashing piece called “The Beauty and the
Beer”, because it is the top performance of the band. But the quality of this
music didn’t come from nothingness, their previous record “Beast of Bourbon” is
a solid base to create such a great album as “The Beauty and the Beer” is.
The man
called Andy Classen responsible for sound realization did a really great job. And
when I read some interviews with band members, one thing was declared: once
again Andy helped the band to create destructive album yet there is no place to
hear any tunes of artificiality, everything is maintained in good proportions,
even I can admire rhythm section that effectively supports the guitars. So what
about the songs? The musicians prepared plenty of delicious delicacies, each
song seems to be a thrash highlight, and it is very hard to choose the best
one. For sure, after first meetings with this, the song called “We Still Drink
the Old Ways” (nota bene, what a great title!) was reigning in my head. Though
the beginning may lead into error due to calmer bass parts and lazy Gutjahr
guitars, after thirty seconds the track enters the proper way of demolishing:
based on superb yet very memorable riffs with excellent solo leads. Now I can
assure you that the rest is in the same vein. Let’s take for example
“Metaltometal” which I treat as another classic thrash live killer. The song
has a really thrilling opening, not so fast, I can even say that is written in
balladic way, it seems to be rooted deeply in the mighty eighties, it doesn’t
last so long, only forty seconds, but I can’t simply forget it! Then the hard
massive riffs strike the reverie with quite fast guitar work and mordant Gerre
vocals. The chorus is the next thing to remember and we have a formula for
excellent thrashing shot. Tankard doesn’t propose the broken musical structure,
I can say the song is rather simple yet my thrash heart gets new portion of metal
blood to pump. But when I write about ‘simple’ killers, the best confirmation
of my words is the last one “Shaken Not Stirred” – a real avalanche of furious
riffs, the chorus with Gerre screams “it’s all you can drink” for sure isn’t
forgettable just like crazy guitar lead with galloping rhythm section in the
background.
For me this
album is the evidence that Tankard still has something to say. They are still
active, moreover, in 2012 they recorded another album which is their fifteenth
performance. I have an impression that they don’t look on the present fashion
or trends, they don’t care about the competition or modern ratrace. Aside from
being musicians, they are natural metal supporters. I saw them live only once
in my life and they crushed my senses: totally on the loose, to give some fun
to the thirsty thrash maniacs, with excellent musical performance, mixing old
and new lethal hits… What did I want more??? In a perfect way they smuggles
specific sense of humor into their front covers and lyrics. This humor isn’t stupid,
just look, from funny Disney-like picture with beast that lusts for two
tankards full of cold beer brought by full-breasted blonde, to well written
lyrics not only concerning drinking beer and its aspects, but also metal life
and personal issues. I didn’t find here any symptoms of boredom (yes, that’s
important!), the songs are varied with plenty of memorable guitar works, from
fast shots (“Rockstars No. 1”, “Shaken Not Stirred”), to rather in slow tempo
(“Ice-olation”, “Dirty Digger”) or with combined tempo (title song, “Frankfurt:
We Need More Beer”), but I think my proposition is just a simplification. You
won’t find here any filler song or casual moment that softens the entirety,
Tankard is well-oiled thrash machine that destroys the silence, each chorus has
its own killing melody (it is easy to remember). So, open your refrigerator,
take the cold beer and play this incredible piece of metal absolutely loud. And
scream with Gerre: the power of metal will always survive!!! Let your neighbors
know this elemental truth.
97/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on December, 2012, now modified a bit)
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