Black Clouds

I have to admit that I had never heard a japanese band before, let alone a thrash band. Having not heard any other bands from this particular scene I cannot state is it's the best band Japan has produced, but I'm sure it can't get much better than this!

One of the biggest influences I could detect from this band was Megadeth, in fact, some part from the title track sound a lot like Megadeth's "In my Darkest Hour" but, since both albums were released in the same year, I can't accuse neither band from ripoff. I call this band one of Japan's responses to Bay Area thrash so fans of this particular movement will find a lot to like in this album.

This album kicks off with an awesome opener "Curtain of History" and it is probably the best track in this entire album. Much like the rest of the album this song has great riffs and the chorus section is just so catchy.

The rest of the album continues to maintain the high quality level of great riffs and structure sounding like true 1988 Bay Area thrash, fitting right in with classics such as So far, So good...So what! from Megadeth and Slayer's South of Heaven.

A few more standout moments are the title track which is a really good ballad (those who enjoyed "In my Darkest Hour" are bound to enjoy this song) which features a very simple, but good and melodic, solo. Eos is a nice 1 minute track which is an acoustic solo not very impressing but really sets a melodic ambient for "Edge of Death's" brutality.

This album does have some flaws like sometimes being a bit repetitive but nothing detrimental.

"Black Clouds" is definitely a record that should be in every thrashers play list so if you ever feel curious for some new thrash metal but sure to keep this band in mind.