TORNADO – Amsterdamn, Hellsinki
- Posted on 18-08-2011
For all of the people who take thrash seriously, you may want to run for cover at this European/American trans-Atlantic outfit. To the others who love a keen, sharp sense of humor lyrically when being pummeled with their speed riffs, stops and starts and gang vocals – Tornado are your next mandatory listening with their first record “Amsterdamn, Hellsinki”. Vocalist Superstar Joey Severance may be the newest Billy Milano for 2011 – his delivery crossing the boundaries of sleaze hard rock and punk induced thrash.
Exodus, Slayer, M.O.D., Anthrax and Nuclear Assault come to mind easily when repeated exposure to “3 Of 8”, “Eugenics” and “Blue” whirl from your speakers. The laugh out loud lyric factor plays out on “Diva” – possibly a distant cousin to “The Toxic Waltz” for the female admiration society – definitely not politically correct with their ‘harem of people all across the world’ but sometimes males just need to blurt their thoughts in a brutally honest fashion. Expect lead guitar play from Michiel Rutten and Daddy B that makes your ears bleed on “Tunisia Uprising” with finger tapping, note bending and whammy bar antics that are sorely underutilized in today’s scene.
Joey has this Johnny Rotten-like sarcastic nature as many of the lyrics just roll of the tongue in rapid fire twister mannerisms, especially the closer “Rise Disciples, Rise”. Just as you need a Metallica or Kreator, you certainly need the antithesis who can produce potent material and have a sense of humor about life. Appropriately named, Tornado unfurls a fun record that reminds people that thrash can be entertaining without always taking itself too seriously.