TEARABYTE - GLOOM FACTORY - SCREAMING FERRET
Dallas-based trio's third release is a collection of songs that wouldn't be out of place in the late '80s and indeed would have had a much greater impact then. Following an intro the first full song, Doom Gloom, is a good example of that style incorporating Forbidden, Vio-lence, Demolition Hammer and maybe even a bit of Autopsy. The vocals and chorus on Technophobic are not unlike those of Overkill and other bands of the same era. Shred The Misery follows and brings back memories of Massacre. This reviewer gets the impression that some effort has been made to write more modern sounding songs, but the album has more roots in the '80s thrash metal scene and not only in the song writing but perhaps even more so in the lyrics with titles like Insanity and Romper Stomper. Tearabyte's style shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering how Al Mead, the frontman, has been around for many years. The CD also includes a 31 minute twelfth 'song' consisting of a collection of live recordings and various other music and covers. - Anna Tergel