Thrash aficionados may recall a band emerging from the West Virginia mountains in the mid-Eighties called Sonick Plague. These guys played their first-ever gig as an opening act for Anthrax, one of the thrash-metal's so-called "Big Four" and released a debut album in 1988 called What's the Purpose. Fast-forward almost 30 years past lineup changes, breakups and death, and Sonick Plague have reconvened to re-record that long-lost debut, give it some modern-day production and release it as a self-titled disc.
This is pretty brutal stuff, with violent lyrics and admirable aggression. The three remaining members of Sonick Plague (plus new guitarist Matt Dupre) pummel their instruments as if they were 30 years younger and sound as if they're ready to record some new material. Vocalist and bass player Sean Donnelly speak-sings like Dave Mustaine, and authentic gang vocals and sharp riffs inject the album with an old-school rawness that's hard to believe comes from the middle-aged guys pictured on the back cover of (and inside) this CD's digipak.
Sonick Plague deserves kudos for resurrecting itself — and for doing so in a way that pays homage to the past while looking ambitiously toward the future.
Track Listing:
1. Street Wars
2. My Gun
3. A.A.
4. I Don't Wanna Relax
5. A View of Death
6. One Swift Kick
7. Misc. Bullshit
8. NRG
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