GARAGEDAYS
- Dark and Cold (2011)
Massacre Records
Few bands have left a mark on heavy metal as deep as
METALLICA, and GARAGEDAYS make no attempt to hide how much they owe to them.
The Austrian quartet, formed in 2005 by guitarist and vocalist Marco Kern, play
a heavy/thrash style that follows closely in the footsteps of that great band,
and the result is far from unconvincing. “Dark and Cold,” their debut for
Massacre Records, released in 2011, does not bring anything new to the genre, but
it is sincere, and its compositions hold the listener’s attention from the
first second to the last.
The influences do not end with METALLICA. Throughout
the album the band calls to mind other names from the genre’s history, such as
OVERKILL (the song “Blown Away” is a good example), METAL CHURCH, ICED EARTH
and even the good old MORGANA LEFAY. This mix of thrash, heavy and power metal
is no accident, and the band themselves describe their sound as a blend of 80s
influences with a modern production. That production was handled by Andy La
Rocque of KING DIAMOND, who mixed and mastered the record at Sonic Train
Studios in Sweden. The musicians clearly know their craft, and they play with
confidence and technical ability.
Anyone looking for originality will not find it here.
Those who simply want a well-played, honest record of heavy/thrash metal will
have a pleasant time with it. In an era when so many bands sound alike, it was
a welcome change to hear a group that does not pretend to be anything other than
what it is.
This is a good start for GARAGEDAYS. The next step
will be to find a more personal voice, and the talent is evidently there. Until
then, “Dark and Cold” is a release worth checking out, especially for fans of
the heavy/thrash metal scene.
Nick Parastatidis
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