Register Forgot login?

© 2002-2024
Encyclopaedia Metallum

Privacy Policy

I.N.C. > Razorback > Reviews
I.N.C. - Razorback

MOST UNDERRATED THRASH ALBUM EVER!!!! - 100%

ThrashFanatic, February 7th, 2018
Written based on this version: 2015, CD, Dark Symphonies (Reissue)

New England was quite the uncommon place for metal acts to originate from in the 80's, especially thrash bands. One band from Bridgeport, Connecticut however was about to drop one of the forgotten gems of the 80's. That band was I.N.C. (Indestructible Noise Command). I.N.C. played a hyper, riff driven form of thrash with some seriously impressive guitar work. They signed to New York based label Giant Records and released their debut "Razorback" in 1987. Let's take a look at this gem of thrash!

The record opens with "I.N.C.", a 8 minute thrashing riff fest. Tony Fabrizi is an amazing rhythm guitarist, his hyper riffs are plentiful throughout the album. Each riff is captivating, not a single one is boring. I like the crunchy guitar production, it gives the guitars a distinct sound, which adds to the uniqueness of the record. Lead guitarist Erik Barath is CRIMINALLY underrated! His amazing solos are insane, especially his solos on "The Grip Of Death", "War Not Words", and "Anarchy". He gives Gary Holt, Alex Skolnick, Josh Christian, and Chris Lykins a run for their money! Dennis Gergely handles both vocals and bass duties, and he has some of the most recognizable vocals in thrash! He has a aggressive edge to his vocals, and his screams are ear piercing! His bass is HIGHLY audible, probably the most audible bass in thrash metal history along with Doug Keyser's bass on Watchtower's "Control And Resistance"! His bass is top notch, it is perfect. Drummer Gary Duguay does a wonderful job on this record. His drumming fits well in I.N.C. and his drums compliment the guitars and bass very well.

The songs here are just amazing. There isn't a single wasted moment to be found. "The Grip Of Death" has a sublime bass intro which sounds like something Cliff Burton would play. It sounds incredible, and it is a very creative intro. The title track is epic. I love the main riff, it sounds like impending doom that is about to devour anything in it's path! The demented laugh at the end of the track is the icing on the cake for me. "Fear" is about pollution of the environment, and the clean guitar sections which lead into a distorted riff sound excellent. The riffs here are among the best on the entire record. This is a killer track! Lastly, I'd like to mention "Passageway Through Purgatory" which contains one of the best intros in a thrash song ever. The melodic fret work from Fabrizi is flawless, and the lyrics are killer...

"I know now where i am, my death bed has been laid,
Visions of my past life now begin to fade
Now begins to fade... "

This record is a must have for all die-hard thrashers out there. The melodic guitar work, unique bass lines, vocals, and the band's knack for creative songwriting skill is what sets apart I.N.C. from the rest of the thrash metal crowd. If you are looking for some good obscure thrash, then look no further. I highly recommend this to fans of Lääz Rockit, Wargasm, Atrophy, and Nuclear Assault.

Highlights: EVERYTHING!!!

You don't know when you'll ignite - 70%

autothrall, December 18th, 2009

I.N.C., also known as Indestructible Noise Command, are one of the few Connecticut metal bands to ever make a name for themselves, though not a name to be spoken as loud as Liege Lord, or even a fraction as loud as Fates Warning. They also are responsible for two of the worst examples of cover art to appear during the thrash explosion of the 80s, and for this they must be hunted down and reprimanded, for I do believe they have shaken off responsibility to this day. Razorback was their debut, and unlike those other, better known kinetic-cunt bands, I.N.C. played an egregious brand of thrash metal. But a sense for dynamic, fairly unique riffing, and a humorous, dorky flavor helped land them a deal with Giant records.

This is not the better of their two albums, and the quality does feel inconsistent; but there are still quite a few memorable moments driven home by the twin, chugging axe mayhem. Yes, I.N.C. had one of the thicker, punchier guitar tones of the day, and they have a tendency to make the material sound fresh, even today. Erik Barath and Tony Fabrizi used bands like Metallica and Anthrax as a base, then got rather playful, with some cutting lead work and an infestation of 'fun' into every rhythm, like fleas that have found an oasis in your armpits. Dennis Gergely has a bipolar vocal range, which bounces from a laissez-faire tone to a sharp, nasal aggression. I can forgive him this, as he is also playing the bass and doing a decent job, not afraid to offset the guitars with a fill here or a popping there. Drummer Gary Duguay anchors the quartet with some solid, energetic skin bashing.

Like most thrash bands, a song title featuring your own namesake was mandatory, and "Indestructible Noise Command" christens the debut with over 8 minutes of frivolous, chunky thrash. The riffs tend towards quality, though I feel a few moments could have been shorn off for a more consistent experience. Likewise, "The Grip of Death" also runs for too long, almost 8 minutes itself, and there are simply not enough good riffs to support its framework, nor even a song half the length. You get an S.O.D. mosh slugfest and a cool thrust behind the leads late in the song, otherwise it's one of the worst on the album. "War Not Words" is an improvement, trotting along with some fun rhythms straight from the Master of Puppets school, though Gergely does not sound enthusiastic enough in the chorus. But at least it's shorter and tighter fare. "Anarchy (The Pursuit of Happiness)" has a pretty fanciful melodic rhythm after :30 which showcases the band's creativity within the thrash realm, and some good leads, though once more the vocals could be better.

Let's go do some shopping
Let's go out tonight
We'd better wear our asbestos suits
Cause you don't know when you'll ignite

At this point, I.N.C. revisits the epic song structure, with title track "Razorback". But unlike its predecessors, the 7+ minutes of the song does not feature much in the way of filler. A tight song throughout, with lyrics celebrating the bad horror movies of the 80s, but if I had one complaint it would again be that the lyrics sound rather bored these many years later. "Fists of the Mighty" is another briefer cut with some puncturing riffs that belong on Master of Puppets' little sister, and "Fear" is your typical anti-pollution anthem, though there is some good bass in this one and some interesting if inconsistent riff quality. The band saves the best for last, as the melodic mutes of "Passageway to Purgatory" lead into some excellent momentum, and the lead flurries kick some serious ass as they flutter above the best rhythm guitar work on the album.

Razorback shows that I.N.C. could have been a contender, if not for a few glaring flaws. The vocal performance is average at best, and 'blah' for the remainder of the album. This may have a lot to do with his bass playing, which is rock solid, so they didn't want to mislead you as to how the live performances were going to sound...but a better foot forward in this department would have drastically improved the album quality. The lyrics are not as silly here as on the follow-up The Visitor, or it might have been worse. The writing for the guitars is very positive throughout, though a few of the earlier songs could have done with an edit in length. Not a bad album for nostalgic purposes, or for moshing in your bedroom with a beer.

Highlights: Razorback, Fists of the Mighty, Passageway to Purgatory

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

clean, listenable thrash, albeit too slow - 78%

captain_blade, October 18th, 2005

Indestructible Noise Commands Razorback does not sound like other northeastern metal bands, circa 1987. At first listen you may think your listening to bay area thrash with a hint of crossover (mostly in the vocals). The production is very clean and every track is crystal clear. The music itself has a modern technical sound, further separating it, in my opinion, from bands like Anthrax, Overkill, and Nuclear Assault due to their less technical nature.

Anyways, the singer has a distinct voice...It's cool at times...weird at others. You can definately listen to it though, it's good overall. The songs are decently written and most of the singing discernable. The riffing is technical and flawlessly played. The solos are long enough and tend to experiment, mostly in the melodic department. The drumming is proficient, and the bass is fine.

My only complaint would be the lack of speed. It's as if the band is so concerned about making everything sound so crystal clear and clean and perfect that they must hold back on any real fast paced thrashing. The downside of course is a slower beats per minute rating than most thrashers are yearning for. This virtually eliminates any real headbang inducing musical passages yet still leaves a thrash album with good listenability and great production.