Album & EP Reviews

Xentrix – Shattered Existence (Re-Issue)

Shattered Existence Album Cover Art

Xentrix – Shattered Existence (Re-Issue)
Cherry Red Records
Release Date: 11/03/2022
Running Time: 53:15
Review by Simon Black
8.5/10

There is a reason why Xentrix were grouped in the ‘Big Four’ of British Thrash back in the day, and were rapidly snapped up by the once credible Roadrunner label for a run of three quite frankly seminal slabs of epic Thrash and that’s because their song-writing was really something else, and indeed still is. The band’s fourth album “Scourge” appeared on a different label in 1996, bombed – like so much of established Metal of any flavour in the face of changing tastes (Grunge – like that lasted as long as Thrash) and labels ditching anything that didn’t have flannel shirts on their publicity photos at that time, and the band disappeared for a while. After a brief wave to the new century in 2005, they are now back with a vengeance and fronted by Bullriff Stampede’s Jay Walsh. But that’s a tale for another time, as right here those lovely folks at Cherry Red have got hold of the back catalogue and have given this debut record a much needed dust-down, polish and re-issue.

The polish is what strikes you first and foremost, as like so many debut records of the genre at the time the original release suffered from not having the strongest treatment in the studio, but this remix has been spectacularly well done, sounding many orders of magnitude richer and stronger than my somewhat straggly old vinyl copy from the old days. This really gives you a chance to hear the technical depth of the interplay of that original four piece line up. They got a hard time in the music press at the time and often got accusations of being a knock off of Metallica, but I don’t (and never have) heard that at all. When I listen to this I hear Motörhead splicing Iron Maiden guitar harmonics, so despite sharing NWOBHM influences with the Bay Area demi-gods, they are flying in a completely different direction as the out and out yet still laid back Thrash suddenly switches to some subtly yet technically brilliant melodic guitar work, and on overall sense of catchiness that some of the more po-faced contemporary proponents of the genre lacked. That sense of Melody, song-writing rigour and accessibility (along with some absolutely spectacular live shows) earned them their place, and although this record to some extent still finds them finding their feet (which by the time you get to 1990’s “For Whose Advantage?” they absolutely have). That said, the brutal opener ‘No Compromise’ still remains one of the strongest starts to a Thrash album and a track I’ve had in playlists since forever (yeah, I’m old enough to have made mix tapes for the car), so it’s really nice to hear it given such a lovingly apt remix. 

One thing Xentrix always had in their favour was a sense of humour, which is why I was delighted to find that the 3 track “Ghost Busters EP” is also included in this reissue. They got into a bit of bother for this if I recall, mainly for the admittedly ironically distorted use of the Ghostbusters movie logo, despite attempting to get away with copyright infringement by splitting the title into two words, but their jaunty cover of the title track is so much fun that it was delightful to be reunited with it after many years of absence. It’s a record that keeps its pace largely too with those first 43 minutes of the original album generally holding the attention unrelentingly throughout. Brutal when it needs to be, but never letting go of the catchiness in the arrangements and a sense of melody that was often lacking elsewhere. Where it was slightly weaker than later albums was Chris Astley’s vocal arrangements tended to very tightly follow the riff’s, which is probably not surprising as it’s quite challenge to break the time link when you’re chugging the rhythm riffs at the same time, but that came with time and overall it does not affect the enjoyment of the record one jot. Thoroughly recommended.

‘Ghostbusters’ Music Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. No Compromise
02. Balance Of Power
03. Crimes
04. Back In The Real World
05. Dark Enemy
06. Bad Blood
07. Reasons For Destruction
08. Position of Security
09. Heaven Cent Bonus tracks
10. Ghostbusters
11. Nobody’s Perfect
12. Interrogate

LINE-UP:
Chris Astley – Vocals, Rhythm Guitars
Kristian “Stan” Havard – Guitars (lead), Backing Vocals
Paul “Macka” MacKenzie – Bass, Backing Vocals
Dennis Gasser – Drums, Backing Vocals

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Simon Black and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

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