LUDICHRIST
Powertrip (Combat/Relativity)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

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The late 80's was a great time for speed-metal/thrash. It gave Metallica their first taste of success (back when they still had long hair, zits, and torn levis). It also, if only for a short while, belched forth the likes of Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Dark Angel, Possessed (who's guitarist eventually joined Primus), Testament, Forbidden, Vio-lence, Nuclear Assault, and Exodus (whose drummer also played with White Zombie). These bands sold a few records, toured everywhere, banged their heads a lot (only faster because of the frenetic tempo), and dissolved. A few, like Metallica, are still around, but tried in vain to stay musically with the times. One band, Scatterbrain, were all over the funky-white-guy-who-can-kinda-rap vibe that the Red Hot Chili Peppers made fashionable for about ten minutes. Prior to writing songs like "Don't Call Me Dude", 3/5 of Scatterbrain were in an obscure-even-by-the-thrash's-standards band Ludichrist. They were more or less infamous for blinding tempos, expert musicianship, jazz moments, and Tommy Christ's witty lyrics, as evidenced on their most well known song "Most People Are Dicks". This album, their second and last, hallmarks the even more twisty-turny chord progressions, humorous lyric subjects: "without Rock & Roll there was no more: premarital sex, crimes or drugs, fighting or foul language", and the stereotypical polka-style drum tempo that typifies the whole era, in which Slayer proudly said "Praise hail Satan!". Ludichrist's songs are typically more political, possibly because they had New York Hardcore origins, and at least one guy who ended up in NYHC band Leeway, before he was unfortunately stabbed to death. This record was just as good in it's re-issued format (the spine reads "Re-masters of Metal") than I remembered it when I had the original on vinyl.

© 2000 - Jason Thornberry