Assault - “A Blind Eye”
Assault - “A Blind Eye” Available July 15th, 2022
Rustbelt Rock Reviews
By: Z.M. Delgado
Zackolantern.com
Volume #20: Assault – “A Blind Eye”
Release Date: July 15, 2022
Independent Artist
And so, Rustbelt, it has come to pass. The hour is finally upon us. I have the distinct pleasure of writing this: the first review of Cleveland’s own Assault and their debut full length album, “A Blind Eye.” This is an article I have wanted to be able to pen since I first began the RbRR, and it is an album I have wanted to listen to for much longer. 6 years to be precise, as I first encountered Assault back in 2016. They were playing Motorhead covers back then, but they nailed them and I was impressed. After all at that point, they were literally just kids. Since then they have grown considerably and I say this meaning, as musicians. For those of you who have kept up on your homework, you’ll be familiar with my general opinion on Assault (Rbrr #7, #12, #16 and #17) For those of you hearing about them for the first time, I have two things to say to you: One, pay attention and Two, you’re welcome.
Assault’s “A Blind Eye” is 8 songs and clocks in at about 35 minutes. It opens much like their live set typically does, with a little ditty called “Death Solution.” To be honest, I could sum up the entire album with just my description of this fundamentally savage Thrash Metal song. From Owen’s opening drum roll the song grabs you and throws you into the heart of the Mosh Pit. Whether you want to be there or not, Assault doesn’t give a good god damn. They are “coming after you,” as the song so bluntly puts it. It is hard, fast, relentless in its attack and technically impressive on all fronts. Dylan’s vocals are rough and filled with bile, yet remain articulate to the seasoned fan. They are perfectly complimented by the chorus of backing vocals provided by his band mates, giving the album a riotous mob sensation. It’s as if Assault just stepped off stage and is leading their fans down Main Street of your home town, wreaking havoc with every step.
The title track to the album is up next. This is a slower number, by Assault’s standards. What it may lack in speed it makes up for with a very heavy riff. It also has a chorus that is more melodic than most of their other material. Don’t get me wrong though, this is no ballad. As Crowbar puts it, “slower is heavier,” and “A Blind Eye” is no exception. I particularly like the start and stop action the guitarists utilize during the verse, that adds a nice accent to the rhythm. Third in line, and probably my favorite, is the record’s first single: “Antebellum.” It opens with a riff so fast it’d make Barry Allen say “Damn, son!” This song uses the mob vocals again, but in a much more effective manner. The call and response in the verse is absolutely powerful and the lyrical pattern used by Dylan is nothing short of sonic violence. The rapid fire delivery intermixed with a shouting horde of miscreants makes me want to… I don’t even know. Scream. Smash something. Try to jump a ravine in my Civic. I don’t even know… It’s undeniably maddening; undeniably Thrash. This is the shortest song on the album, and also the only one that doesn’t boast one of Assault’s trademark shredder guitar solos. The thing is, “Antebellum” doesn’t need one. It hits you so hard, so unapologetically and with such intensity, that a solo would only kill the momentum. Something about this song simply blows me away, and to be honest there is no description I could create that would do it justice.
“The Second Head of the Snake” emerges next. Possibly Assault’s most well known song; “Second Head” is a beast. The guitar work in this song is really impressive and there is a reason the kids absolutely lose their minds when they announce it at a show. The drum build up leading to the song’s epic climax is one of the albums showcase moments. “Obey/Decay” is the only serious competition “Antebellum” has for my favorite song on this album. The two complimenting solos crafted by Dylan and Dom here are the best in the bands arsenal. I never get tired of hearing them, and seeing them performed live is like watching open heart surgery on TV: A feat so complicated it is beyond my comprehension, and one that always leaves a bloody mess.
“Leech” is the most melodic song in the track list; opening with a haunting progression, overlaid with some big time lead licks. It quickly picks up into a chugging riff, which pauses periodically; creating breaks where ringing chords leave space for Dylan’s snarling soliloquies. The song builds to another intricate solo, before a poignant political spoken word piece, which could easily have be plucked from some of Dave Mustaine’s better works. The beat picks up again and the song finishes strong; closing out with the line: “Leech, suck the life from me.” “Obliviate,” the second single released, is Assault’s heaviest song by far. (A fact, which the band always points out at shows… almost as a warning.) The opening guitar riff is every bit as bone breaking as Slayer’s “Disciple” or the climax of Metallica’s “One.” While I draw those comparisons, there is something very “Dimebag Darrell” about this song’s riff. I’m not a guitarist, so I can’t explain to you why, yet I just get that vibe off of this track. It has a touch of Texas Groove Metal and it is perfect Heavy Metal magnificence.
The album closes out with “Let it Burn,” a smooth Bass driven romp that showcases Dave “Rolling Thunder” McJunkins and his freakish acuity upon the four string. There is no other way to put it: this kid is the real deal. When I listen to him play, I hear the greats: Ellefson, Burton, Kilmister, Bello and Araya. He holds down the low end with unfathomable precision and groove. For a Bassist it can be hard to find the balance between the two, but Rolling Thunder does so with ease. “Let it Burn” is hard, fast and apocalyptic. In my mind, I once again imagine that mob of Thrashers, storming suburbia shaking the complacent masses awake and demanding action. Let it burn; all of it. Leave no structure standing.
That is exactly how “A Blind Eye” makes me feel: Powerful, dangerous and unstoppable. It makes me feel like we are an army of darkness, rising out of the clubs and taking back our cities in the name of Thrash Metal. This is an album for madness and revolution; for broken glass and flames rising in the night. The album is a bludgeon pushing the barrier of sound, more or less the entire way through. Even the songs that I sited as “slower,” are slow only in comparison to their album mates. Despite this, the record never gets boring, or the tracks redundant. Assault showcases complex and intricate song structures, varying from song to song. As I have said in my prior reviews, the guitar solos from Dylan and Dom are the best I have ever seen live in an underground act. This is flawlessly captured in the recording. That being said, Owen’s drumming and Dave’s Bass are the equal to their guitarists in every task. The album shows a brilliant balance, highlighting each of the band member’s talents and contributions.
So, as prophesized in the long, long ago, I do proclaim:“This album kicks ass!” That’s right. Official assessment reads as follows: Assault has done it. The engineers at Mercenary Studios did a really clean and professional job. The sound quality is on par with any album I have heard produced by a major label. It is mixed and mastered well. Specifically, I like how well defined the individual instruments are. Each musician has their space in the mix, and it allows the fans to appreciate how technically proficient this band really is.
So where do we go from here? We go to the album release party, Rustbelt!
Assault with Atomic Witch & Necroprophecy
July 23rd, 2022 at the Grog Shop
Unreleased Assault Promo reel for Level Up Cleveland.
Here we are, my Metal Family. It has been a long road and we are nearly to the finish line. No one is more ready for this than the four guys in Assault. These musicians have worked tirelessly to bring this album to fruition and now that it’s here I have to say, on behalf of Thrash Metal fans everywhere: Congratulations! “A Blind Eye” is an absolute triumph. As a debut Thrash album, possibly the MOST challenging of Metal subgenres, it is one of the strongest I have ever heard. If you really want to be on the cutting edge of modern Metal and the Thrash resurgence, this is what it is all about. Come to the party. Get this album… and make sure you say “Hello” when you see me. You know I’ll be there, getting the story and celebrating this incredible moment in Cleveland Metal history.
Until July 23rd, Rock on, Rustbelt!
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Zackolantern.com
7/10/2022
(Assault – “A Blind Eye” A must own album for Cleveland Headbangers and all fans of old school Metal, and Bay Area Thrash. Horns to sky, pointed to the Metal Gods. CERTIFIED THRASHTERPIECE!!!)
ASSAULTCLE.COM
