Flotsam & Jetsam

Rediscover a great album that never fully received its due; this triple-disc reissue of Flotsam And Jetsam’s 1986 effort, Doomsday For The Deceiver, is a royal treatment for an overlooked gem. Delivered in a tidy slipcase, the package features the album in its original version, a remixed, remastered take with bonus material culled from 1985’s Metal Shock EP and a bonus DVD. Musically speaking, Doomsday For The Deceiver holds up incredibly well after two decades of relative obscurity. Punchy, dynamic and aggressive, the band’s very Anthrax-centric (circa Spreading The Diseasme) thrash metal influenced by the NWOBHM means one can hear the vigour and excitement many of today’s bands lack. It also proves why Metallica were smart in opting for bassist Jason Newsted to replace Burton. With a strong album such as this under his wing, he was imperative and in their vein. The sharp, searing solos, Bruce Dickinson-style vocals and rampant drumbeats make this a steamroller of an effort that proves the lack of ability in most of today’s modern metal. Aside from pointing out that this revitalisation is sadly overdue, the only other discrepancy is that one has to question the point of including the original untouched version. Its tinny production and overall lo-fi quality make it vastly inferior to the revitalised second disc and therefore pointless, trying the patience of even the most devout mid-’80s, all-mids, no low-end metal fan.