SUFFERING HOUR

"Suffering Hour" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Missouri based thrash metal act Anacrusis. The album was released through Axis Records in 1988. Anacrusis formed in 1984 and released the "Annihilation Complete" demo in 1986. Four of the seven tracks from the demo were re-recorded and included on "Suffering Hour".

Not surprisingly then "Suffering Hour" continues the raw and aggressive thrash metal style from the "Annihilation Complete" demo. Anacrusis are however a technically well playing band and while I wouldn´t call this pure tech thrash there are certainly tech thrash elements and moments here and there (opening track "Present Tense" is for example a pretty technical thrash metal song) and "Suffering Hour" is an album often travelling the border between raw and aggressive thrash metal and technical thrash metal. Not completely unlike a band like Coroner or maybe Realm.

Sharp thrashy riffs are complimented by blistering lead guitar work, and Kenn Nardi´s rough shouting/screaming vocals (when Nardi hits the high screams I´m reminded of Vektor) and his occasional clean singing parts, while the rhythm section drive the music forward with great energy and skill. The structures of the tracks are pretty anarchistic, which make the songs less accessible but provide them with longivity. You have to work a little to understand and appreciate these tracks. Anacrusis are obviously a band who do things their own way and on their conditions.

"Suffering Hour" doesn´t exactly feature pristine production values, but it´s not as bad as it may sound and the raw and unpolished sound production even provides the music with some grit and atmosphere it may not have had, if the album had featured more clear and professional sound production values. Upon conclusion "Suffering Hour" is a good quality debut album and fans of thrash metal which is on the border to technical thrash metal and sounds a bit unconventional are advised to investigate. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).