ALCOHOLATOR – Escape From Reality
- Posted on 26-05-2015
Hailing from Montreal, Canada it’s obvious that these gents love all types of alcohol based on their name alone. Nothing wrong with that- we all know that liquids such as beer, wine, whiskey, and vodka certainly liven up any party, and metal can fuel libations to an even higher degree. "Escape from Reality" is the quartet’s second album, and my first exposure to their speedy thrash metal sound. Do not expect prim and proper polished riffing here – a lot of these 11 tracks are from the gut and punch in a crossover manner. Acts like Slayer, Tankard, and Kreator come to mind – along with the deeper bass flow that you think of from S.O.D. or Suicidal Tendencies.
Lyrically "Punch Drunk" and "Molotov Cocktail" are pretty obvious, but you also get subject matter relating to politics/ government for "Dictator" and the dangers of artificial modification in "Plastic Surgery". A number of stop/ start segments keep these songs loose and the mid-tempo changes are sure to send the hordes circling and crashing into one another. Lead guitarist Matt Butcher also handles the vocals, and his strong roar brings up a lot of Araya meets Zetro comparisons, especially on the bees nest swarming title track and the slamming "Human" where he spits out the words in rapid fire succession against the relentless riffs. The middle of the album features a couple of quick hitters in "The Bleeder" and "Out of Control" that showcase more of their crossover punk appeal amidst the definite thrash base Alcoholator patrols.
I feel like these Canadians would be the type of band running rampant in the audience when other bands performed on stage- 100% dedicated to the cause, with no egos or ‘us against them’ blocking their appeal. Crack open your favorite beverage and swing your head to and fro – "Escape from Reality" provides 39 minutes of head banging thrash to savor.