Warrick - Beyond Diplomacy - review

Warrick - Beyond Diplomacy - review

Cover image of the reviewed item
Band
Warrick
Style
Thrash metal
Release date
March 01, 2012
Reviewer
8.2
7.0
Tracklist
01. Deprivation
02. Death Before Dishonor
03. The Scourge
04. Martyr
05. State Of Aggression
06. Human Made
07. Mouth Full Of Shit
08. Metal Or Die
09. For Those Once Loyal
A review by
Lemski
May 16, 2012
When tapping the thrash keg of the 80s, it seems most modern bands merely manage to hiss and sputter out a cup of unsatisfying foam. Then along come the Floridian 5-piece Warrick, who tilt the barrel to pour out the freshest remnants: not sufficient to fill a pint mind you, but enough to wet the proverbial whistle.

Beyond Diplomacy shows instant promise with the acoustic prologue of "Devestation". Visions of solemn destitution give way to the hopeful revolt of ringing distortion, almost akin to Children's "Hard Times Hangin At The End Of The World". However, the mood is nearly trampled by overeager thrash archetypes: Monotonic chugging triplets and angst-ridden lyrics. The redemption sought by the song's final minutes projects a pattern of ups and downs, (though mostly ups), throughout the release.

In other words, there's a lot of energetic, dare I say creative sections on Beyond Diplomacy, segued with traditional, but often tedious riffage. Some better guitar fills even bare resemblance to the discordant trills of Evil Dead or Overkill. The more attention-killing riffs are still saved by the relentless and ever-enthusiastic drum tracks?see the drum fills in "The Scourge".

The ability for band members to support one another during segments of lackluster songwriting gives Warrick an advantage over other bands attempting to resurrect an overplayed genre.

In terms of vocal quality, frontman Slipo infuses a hardcore/crossover style with a Phil Anselmo homage which meshes perfectly with Warrick's groovy delivery of anti-social themes. And just when you think his gravelly croons are beginning to sound self-important, the inhumanly long screech at the end of "State Of Aggression" followed by the laughter of band mates reminds the listener that thrash is meant to be light-hearted.

All individual elements aside, the definitive aspect that makes Warrick so refreshing is the intellectually organic song structure. If a riff is sounding tired, rest assured that another is on the way. Feel like a song is sinking into redundancy and either the drum pattern changes, or, as a last case escape, Juan Blanco bursts into the mix with a half second bass exclamation.

In a word, Warrick is the product of a Municipal Waste field trip to late 80s. Excusing the tryhardiness of certain overly epic sequences, as well as the ridiculous faux-newscast into to "The Scourge" Beyond Diplomacy is one of the better new thrash efforts out there.
Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 9
Originality: 6
Production: 9
Written by Lemski | May 16, 2012

Comments

Comments: 7 Visited by 102 users
Paz
Djöflasýra
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Posts: 4289


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17.05.2012 - 21:25
Paz
Djöflasýra
Elite

Posts: 4289


Congrats for your first front page review! I'm not interested in this album at all.
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Troy Killjoy
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17.05.2012 - 21:29
Troy Killjoy
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Posts: 21306


Written by Paz on 17.05.2012 at 21:25
Congrats for your first front page review! I'm not interested in this album at all.

It's actually his third...
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Paz
Djöflasýra
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17.05.2012 - 21:32
Paz
Djöflasýra
Elite

Posts: 4289


Written by Troy Killjoy on 17.05.2012 at 21:29

It's actually his third...

I didn't know him... My mistake.
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Permalink
18.05.2012 - 00:50

Posts: 1941


OMG, vocals are awful.
----
They shake your hand and they smile and they buy you a drink
They say we'll be your friends we'll stick with you till the end
But everybody's only looking out for themselves
And you say who can you trust I'll tell you nobody
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Void Eater
Account deleted
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18.05.2012 - 01:47
Void Eater
Account deleted
Old school styled thrash? Municipal Waste referenced in the review? A song called Metal Or Die? Ravenking not liking it? This must be tailor made for me!
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Cynic Metalhead
Ambrish Saxena

Posts: 7959


Permalink
18.05.2012 - 10:51
Rating: 8
Cynic Metalhead
Ambrish Saxena

Posts: 7959


Lets see....if this gives a justice. Thrash releases are intrigued or either bashed. Anyone heard "Metal as Fuck" will know how these young chaps can superbly implicate their resources. Definitely will check it out.
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Maxx666
Meshuggahian

Posts: 376


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20.05.2012 - 22:01
Maxx666
Meshuggahian

Posts: 376


Awesome release indeed, very addictive i have to say.. 9 from me
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