Join the Dead

It seems that when some product or publication gets a huge amount of hype, there's usually a huge amount of letdown.  Take, for instance, the New Coke.  Or Chevy Chase's talk show.  Or the McDonald's Arch Deluxe. Or Jimmy Dean's Chocolate-Chip-Pancake-Wrapped-Sausage-on-a-Stick (why did that fail, I wonder...).

But occasionally, something gets get a lot of hype that pays off.  Like, for instance, Join the Dead's debut EP on Roxx Records.

Being a Christian metal fan, I heard about this record for months before it came out.  I heard how great it was going to be and how I should go buy it as soon as it came out.  I didn't, for two reasons.  First, I'm not a big thrash fan and second, the hype.

But a month or so ago when the oppurtunity arose to write some album reviews for Untombed Webzine, (untombed.com) I thought I'd email a few record companies and see if they wanted the free publicity.  The first album to land in my email box? Join the Dead's self titled EP.

Join the Dead consists of Michael Phillips (Deliverance, The Sacrificed, Fasedown) Paul White (Decadence) and Tim Kronyak (Deliverance).  For those of you also into Christian metal, those names are legendary in thrash circles.

When I put the album on my mp3 player to listen to, I figured I would listen to it once, write a quick review, email Bill the link and be done with it.  But every time I went to write this, I didn't know what to say.

The album is classic thrash.  There are 4 songs, yet the EP clocks in at almost 30 minutes.  The vocals are rough and shouted, but you can still pick up a melodic structure.  The guitars are cruncy and heavy, and Mike Phillips shines in every song.  The drums pound and I don't know how someone with only two legs can play double bass that fast.  The lyrics are excellent and in your face.

All in all, this is an excellent debut. I'm definately looking forward to a full length from these guys in the future.  This album absolutely lived up to the hype.

Check 'em out here.