Onslaught – Origins Of Aggression
Onslaught – Origins Of Aggression
Reigning Phoenix Music
Release Date: 23/05/2025
Review by Victor Augusto
10/10
What makes a band become legendary? There are probably tons of things I could mention here, aside from the number of albums released (or the number of plays in this streaming era). For me, there is one specific point that grabs my attention and makes me respect a band. It’s when a famous band is still able to surprise us after more than 2 decades on the road. In this case, we are in front of 4 decades of pure Thrash Metal coming from the British legends of Onslaught.
It was enough listening until the 6th track to be 100% sure it’s one of the best albums of the year. As fans will likely already know, it consists of a double album divided into one part with re-recorded songs from their first three albums and the second part having covers from bands that deserve all respect from any Metal head or Punk Rocker. So far, everything I described could sound like more of the same from any band, right? Absolutely not!
Onslaught not only made a tribute to bands they like, or who inspired them. They also made the best tribute to themselves. The re-recorded songs earn a new energy that makes me feel as if they are something alive, having a beating heart. Maybe the main reason was the arrangements chosen. Just a straightforward sound, as they are live on stage. Not many layers of instruments, or exacerbated production. Just the pure and powerful sound coming from musicians who know how to sound aggressive.
‘Let There Be Death’ is the best example for me. It strongly hit me. I couldn’t stop listening, even after repeating the track 4 or 5 times. Even the most famous songs, such as ‘Power from Hell’ and ‘Metal Forces’, that already had a strong identity in their original versions, sound amazing here. Probably the band’s solid line-up was a strong part of this result.
The second part of the album shows more than just a bunch of good bands chosen to be covered. It shows the Onslaught inspiration and how they also can offer a new life for songs coming from names that are not exactly Thrash Metal, but were seeds for this style. ‘War Pigs’ is a great example of that, having Onslaught putting on their identity, and the same happens with ‘Freewheel Burning’ from Judas Priest.
The highlight of this cover section is the great number of old and classic Punk Rock bands being played. GBH, The Exploited, and Discharge are examples of what I am saying. It carries the same spirit of Slayer’s “Undisputed Attitude”, released in 1996, when they also covered important Punk bands. The difference is Onslaught focus mostly on the UK bands that had a history for Onslaught. The Thrash dressing for all those songs sounds killer, and it’s a Punk Rock masterclass for anyone who is not into this style.
One part shows their roots to become what they are; the other part shows the seed of their style. “Origins Of Aggression” is like having material that best defines Onslaught, in their purest essence! It reinforces how legendary they are, releasing something that hit me like when I was a young teenager, hearing the bands that made me love this style for the first time !
Thanks for that, Onslaught!
‘In Search of Sanity’ Official Music Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Thermonuclear Devastation of the Planet Earth
02. Black Horse of Famine
03. Angels of Death
04. Power from Hell
05. Metal Forces
06. Let There Be Death
07. Fight with the Beast
08.Thrash Till the Death
09. In Search of Sanity
10. Shellshock
11. Iron Fist (Motörhead cover)
12. Holiday in Cambodia (Dead Kennedys cover)
13. A Look at Tomorrow (Discharge cover)
14. U.K.82 (The Exploited cover)
15. Freewheel Burning (Judas Priest cover)
16. Wardance (Killing Joke cover)
17. Give Me Fire (G.B.H cover)
18. State Violence State Control (Discharge cover)
19. Holidays in the Sun (Sex Pistols cover)
20. Emotional Blackmail (U.K. Subs cover)
21. War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover)
22. Drunk with Power (Discharge cover)
LINE-UP:
Dave Garnet – Vocals
Nige Rockett – Guitars
Wayne Dorman – Guitars
Jeff Williams – Bass
James Perry – Drums
LINKS:
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