The
second (and unfortunately the last) album
of the remarkable thrash formation from LA – HOLY TERROR, is
called „Mind Wars“ (1988). One of the
original members of these classicists – the guitar player Mike Alvord
deletes twenty six years from the time line and continues the work with the
help of Italian plotters. As HOLY TERROR had at least three
attempts for reformation, the project MINDWARS till now is their
most vital inheritor.
The
original voice of the band- prototype could not fulfill its duties (R.I.P. Keith!), and
that is why Mr. Alvord had occupied the microphone. It has been a
difficult decision, because the vocals in the album are
supported of too much hard studio work, and definitely are sung at the level
of a layman. This adds an archaic sound to the recording. The more melodic
decisions in the guitars as well as in the singing relate MINDWARS to
melodic thrash metal of the late WHIPLASH, LAAZ ROCKIT, FORTE or BELIEVER. The concept of
the album has also a taste of the 80es with a tiny note of selfishness. The
demonstration of acoustic virtuosity is presented in the introduction and in
the remarkable thrash ballad „Lost“. The quotes from
the news are also in the style of the 80es and the 90es but we missed them
for a long time to replace the interactive noise of pseudo-sensations.
„The Enemy Within“, although it contains retrospections, is a
very serious hit in the melodic thrash metal style. The remarkable thing in
it is the unique and mature approach toward riffs and music, with which Mike Alvord
bursts out after the times of silence. If the unified rap-core screams bother
you, and the contemporary revivals of the full of quotes blackened thrash/speed are too dirty for you, MINDWARS is a band for you!
They are unique, musical, and social. They bring back to us values that we
are preparing to leave behind.
