The band is formed by Newsted and Smith in Arizona in 1984 and immediately becomes a leading part of the metal scene along with Sacred Reich thanks to intense underground promotion. Two demos are issued in 1985 (Metal Shock and self-titled) and the band appears on the Metal Massacre VII sampler.
The debut is consequently released to acclaim via Metal Blade and convinces the public to take note of a new speed metal band from the USA. When Newsted is recruited by Metallica, the band replaces him first with Phil Rind of Sacred Reich and then Sentinel Beast's Mike Spencer. The band opens for Megadeth and Troy Gregory is in.
At this time the band signs with Elektra which, of course, is the label of Metallica. Weak sales figures mean the band is dropped and is now on MCA. This being the early nineties the band responds with a grungier sound. When in late 1999 Gregory defected to Prong, original guitarist Gilbert is welcomed back. The band, now back on Metal Blade, undergoes more line-up changes with Simpson declaring his future solely as a song writer. On the eve of a US tour in the summer of 2001 long time vocalist Eric AK decides to leave the fold as "the metal industry, has beaten me" and after twenty years he needs to make some money. AK's last show was, reportedly, the Thrash Of The Titans benefit concert for Chuck Billy where the band replaced Laaz Rockit at the last minute. Interestingly he had formed a country band earlier in the year.
In the autumn of 2001 the band, who has recruited live singer James Rivera of Helstar and Destiny's End, calls a stop to its US tour due to a lack of audience. Rarely had a band chosen a moniker so appropriately.
The act regrouped for 2004 and signed a two-album contract with Crash Music. Later that summer the band, Testament, Overkill and Death Angel were announced as part of the Thrash Domination 04 Japanese tour in September. The band began writing material and entered the studio in August for an early 2005 release. The new material was described by drummer Craig Nielsen as "leaps and bounds heavier than the last four records combined, definitely a return to the bands roots but still with some ambient surprises that break up all the speed riffing. There seems to be an inspired vibe going on in the writing process that is taking on a life of its own." Soon thereafter, an apparent infighting ensued and was partly waged via the band's own web forum. The group's album Dreams Of Death was issued on July 26th, 2005 through Crash Music. Crash Music also announced the release date of February 21st, 2006 for a DVD entitled Live In Japan. The DVD was filmed over three shows in Japan in January of 2005. Some of the songs included were No Place For Disgrace, Doomsday For The Deceiver, Hard On You, Nothing To Say, Hammerhead and more. Following guitarist Ed Carlson’s decision not to play with the band at the Bang Your Head Festival in 2006 original member Mike Gilbert was temporarily re-drafted into the fold.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - DREAMS OF DEATH - CRASH
Despite the rumours, feuding and lack of success Flotsam And Jetsam has managed to stay together and even record a new album for a new record company. Dreams Of Death is apparently a concept album, but seeing that no one knows what the story is or particularly cares we can safely skip explanation and move on to the music.
Past a boring and wholly redundant intro the band's sound is a mixture of thrash metal, heavy metal and slow and subdued moments. The disc kicks off with some thrashing harmonic riffing in the vein of Nevermore or Heathen. A shabby production and muffled sound make the songs sound further disjointed. There is some disconnect between the vocals and music and the sound, yet the effort is clearly intended to be a pure metal effort with a lot of guitar. The vocals are in the mid-range and generally suitable, yet occasionally come across as listless. One wonders why. Overall, imagine the band circa the Cuatro album plus additional melody.
On a song by song basis the albums has too many restrained moments. In fact, the last three songs, Bathing In Red, Nascentes Morimar and Out Of Mind, are all de facto ballads. Even Childhood Hero is slow, except the tune benefits from a genuinely heavy riff. Look In His Eyes is simple in construct and rudimentary. It is mostly the first half of the album that propels the proceedings with fast and heavy thrashing and heavier rhythms.
Improve the sound, admit your limitations and ditch concept albums, get thrashing metal mad (or rocking or hard rocking or whatever you want to be) and we will talk business. In the meanwhile, there are both better albums and worse albums out there. - Ali "The Metallian"