Band dazzles the mind with ear-bleeding music
Thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam have been raging havoc since 1981, and recently, the band has released their record Blood in the Water. Eric “A.K.” Knutson’s vocals are strong and authoritative on each track; the guitar playing from Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley lights up the atmosphere with vein-shaking riffs. Bill Bodily’s bass guitar playing shakes the background with deep, vibrating notes, and Ken Mary’s drumming impacts each tune with fast-paced drum beats. Blood in the Water showcases powerful instrumentation and vocals from the band.
The title track, “Blood in the Water,” kicks the record off with an incredible vocal performance from A.K. The thrilling sound of A.K.’s vocals gives this piece a sense of what classic thrash metal sounds like, and he manages to keep his voice on a higher vocal range while giving this composition energy with his high pitch vocals. “Blood in the Water” is a soul shaker, and listeners will be blown away with A.K.’s vocal performance.
The ever relentless “Brace for Impact” is a catchy tune that can cause people to relate to the lyrics. The words, “I just need a place where I can die/ A place where I can be who I see in mind/ Searching for a place where I can live/ Live with my demons and the terror they give,” gives an insight into how sometimes in life, darkness shows up and all we can do about it is preparing for the worst. “Brace for Impact” is a dark and well-written song that gives an insight into how hard life can be for those who are trying to be in the light.
“Cry For the Dead” is a meaningful composition showcasing electrifying guitar playing from Gilbert and Conley. Throughout the entire tune, they do a great job of creating hard-hitting riffs. These riffs contribute to high-strung emotions reverberating through this piece. Both guitarists bring their best guitar skills to “Cry For the Dead,” and fans can appreciate the amount of work both Gilbert and Conley bring to the composition.
The heart-shaking track “Wicked Hour” is a booming piece containing soul-jolting bass guitar playing from Bodily. Right at the beginning of this composition, deep vibrations rumble in the background, and the sound is welcoming to hear because each note creates a solid vibe that stays attuned with the rest of the music. In some ways, it does feel like Bodily wants listeners to know who he is as a musician because each riff brings a powerful punch to this tune. “Wicked Hour” has great bass guitar playing from Bodily, and it is one of the best pieces because it shows what Bodily is capable of.
The ever thunderous track “Reaggression” has a smashing drum playing from Mary. While listening, Mary’s drum beats are being played on a faster musical tempo, and the sound of his drum sticks hitting the drum heads and cymbals contributes to the non-stop insanity the rest of the band is playing on. As a result, beware of the noise of Mary’s drumming, as it may cause some of the band’s fan base to headbang while listening. “Reaggression” is filled with musical madness, and Mary is not afraid to show people his talent while playing mind-blowing music.
Flotsam and Jetsam have been in the music scene for decades, and with Blood in The Water, the music points out how the band’s musical journey continues to grow with bold instrumentation and vocals.
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