Left for Dead

Another band whose albums I was hunting for years, but then it happened to be this latest one I got first. Lääz Rockit's previous full-length album came out in 1991. The band reformed in 2005 with the original line-up (although this album features new drummer). I knew some of their earlier stuff, and thinking how long it took for them to release their next album (almost a 17-year gap there!), it was not a surprise, that 'Left for Dead' is something different.

Their craft back in the day was going from speed/heavy metal to thrash metal. They of course didn't invent it all, but at least were on the first wave of Bay Area thrash metal attack. Forward some 25 years, and in 2008 on 'Left for Dead' the band sounded like they had their other foot in the 1980s and the second in the 1990s. This is more groovier and rocking North American thrash metal, with chugging riffage, heavy beats and hardcore vocals. Many old bands who had this post-thrash era have returned (at least partly) to more vicious battle fields; just think about Testament, Overkill, Megadeth, to give a few bigger names... The list is a LONG one!

Sharp, fast old school riffing is heard from the first second, backed by suitable rabid drum beats. The vocals contain quite a bit of backlash in them. The bass guitar hacks and slaps with its metallic tone. It almost feels like it was 1980s again, except for the production, which indicates more recent origin of this. After a minute, the groovier things get their entrance. This does not venture into nu-metal territory, and that is a huge plus in my books. It shows they revere the old ways. While not sticking to 1982 recipe, 1995 ain't recent either, huh?! How the time flies... Unrelenting thrashing is accompanied with more groovy and rocking stuff. Regarding the latter, this sounds a bit like a mixture of Overkill's 'W.F.O.', Testament's 'Low', and Machine Head's 'Burn My Eyes' (first mentioned the most, last mentioned just a pinch). Heck, everyone of these album came out in 1994! Hardcore elements come with disharmonic guitar playing, which is not heard a lot, plus some drum beats. There are more of them in the vocals, which include straight shouting and gang vocals. 'Delirium World' is a good example of more hardcore-ish approach (think of Biohazard, Pro-Pain, M.O.D.).

There is not a single pure 1980s thrash metal song on offer. What's even further steps way is 'Ghost in the Mirror', which shows calmer, but not any more light side of the band, as it is a moody and dark slow song (no, not a ballad). Non-distorted guitar work and more sung vocals work nicely in this song that gets bigger towards its ending. 'Desolate Oasis' is another one of these gloomy songs on offer, even though it hits a trash-gear at 4-minute mark. While the songs contain some tight shredding as well as more loose riffage, the guitar solos are marvellous; they remind me of Testament's work. Well, Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson aren't the worst guitarists one can retrace, right? One can expect some nimble-fingered fretboard work as well as great melodic solos bits. In all, 'Left for Dead' is a good collection of songs with enough hooks, but nothing legendary.

Worst trait about 'Left for Dead' is its loud production work. The triggered kick drums tend to outshadow everything else, especially when it is time for some fast double kick drumming! The triggering makes this sound a bit too modern, while the guitars sound sharp and ripping, and the bass carries beautifully metallic tone. The cover artwork features photography from churches, headstones and abandoned penitentiary, and might make one think that this is a doom metal album. Yep, gone are those comical yet great cover paintings... Anyway, they follow the lyrical themes of human incarceration, be it religious or habitual, for example.

So, if you like those bands mentioned in the review, or something newer such as Defiance's latest album 'The Prophecy', which came out about a year later as this, you really cannot go wrong by picking this up. Thinking about the band's future; they reformed in 2005 and this is the only new full-length album they've released since... Hopefully we'll be hearing more from these fellas, because this is worth some serious headbanging!

OK, for starters, some people will grape and piss and moan about an album if it doesn't sound exactly like a bands previous album for whatever reason. After reading some of the reviews for this album, I decided that its time a proper review be given, seeing that this album was recorded for the fans and not for any other reason. First off, "groove" is actually a euphemism for the word "Rythm". In other words, to be able to have groove, also confirms that you probably posess a decent sense of rythm. People for whatever reason feel that it is "trendy" to bash a thrash band which includes groove patterns into their music. Not sure why this has become a cliche for the cry-baby's, but I think that quite possbly based on the fact that maybe some of these people are so simple minded and obtuse that they cannot simply handle the diversity of a signature variance in a song structure. These are the same people who feel that technical metal, and great guitar solos are nothing more than...wankery! Well folks, I'm here to tell you all that if this analogy applies to you, then you are simply not understanding the relevance of the genre.

Thrash metal has always been a realm for the more technically proficient musician. Odd time signatures and shred laden guitar players are a dime-a-dozen within this genre. Some of the best drummers to ever strike a tom have also been conceived from Thrash Metal. Anyone who is able to maintain integrity for sticking to this style of music should be commended for their fortitude...and Laaz Rockit definately fit this bill.

Laaz Rockit's newest release...LEFT FOR DEAD, is a great album. It brings back the genesis of the bay area with the a twist of modern day production which makes it sound just as relevant as anything that's being released as of recent. Is it innovative or original, not really, but I don't think that was the intention of this band to release a trendsetting album. What Laaz essentially did is start right where they left off with the Nothing Sacred album and push the envelope in a slightly for extreme direction in every aspect. Better production, better drumming, more GROOVE, and more layers in the vocals. The result is a modern day thrash metal album that in my opinion is just as good if not better than the last Exodus, Death Angel or Overkill recording.

The guitar shredding on this album is stellar and I commend Aaron for persuading Phil to step back into the fold, its obvious that both of these guys have stayed busy with their axe's ever since the last Laaz album, since this is by far their most inspirational playing ever. Perhaps Ken Savich's disgustingly magnificent shred infested performance on Nothings Sacred lit a fire under their asses to maintain some sort of continuation with his brilliance...whatever it may be, its a good thing.

The drumming on this album is absolutely incredible and by far the best to ever be featured on a Laaz Rockit album. Dave Chavari was able to extend their sound slightly with his performance on Nothing Sacred, but on Left For Dead, Sky pretty much steals the show. Great drumming!

Lastly, the production. Well, Juan Ortega has my vote for the next Andy Sneap rival. This album sounds brilliant. I think that the bottom end is perfect, the bass lins are audible and the mix has a perfect balance. It'll be interesting to see what else Juan is coerced into producing and for who, in the next couple of years.

Once again, this is a great thrash album, some songs are certainly better than others, but none the less, this album is relevant and very enjoyable. If you don't get it...then go listen to Trivium or something like that.

The world is not fair for sure! Bands like LAAZ ROCKIT get lost and don’t get the credit they deserve and some young bastards like TRIVIUM become known in the blink of an eye! Anyway, the US thrashers are back for good to show that this time they will not compromise with mediocrity. They have come to claim what is theirs and after having listened to their new album I can say that they don’t have to claim it, you’ll just give it to them while bowing before them.

LAAZ ROCKIT, the band that took its name from a Clint Eastwood movie ("The Enforcer"), has offered some Thrash Metal classic in the past. Albums like "Know Your Enemy" and "Annihilation Principle" injected some pure and aggressive Thrash Metal to the 80’s scene. Unfortunately, the band disbanded, but it was in 2005 when LAAZ ROCKIT would play together again with their original line up. And of course they didn’t keep their promise and they are releasing a new album.

Thrash fucking Metal motherfuckers! I could finish this review with four words. Such bands don’t need many comments. LAAZ ROCKIT return with an album full of shredding guitars, groovy and relentless drumming and slightly different vocals. The US metallers have adapted their sound to the nowadays scene’s requirements and have a slightly more modern attitude, while maintaining their original sound.

The killer riffing and guitar leads by the evil twins Jellum and Kettner are melting your brain, while a huge rock consisted of Lange and Harris is crushing your bones. While your corpse lies smashed, the incredible and aggressive voice of Coons is singing your requiem. Sounds too poetic for a band like LAAZ ROCKIT, huh? If I could put it simpler it would be like... a Thrash fucking Metal band kicking your ass and making you want to mosh!

Satisfied with what you’ve heard until now? If yes, just support the Thrash Metal renaissance and get this album now! If not, then go back to your pussy loving music and try to realize what pure Thrash Metal is. When you do, read this review again and "Left For Dead" will somehow sound like a headbanging hymn to your ears.

Originally written for Metal-Temple.Com
Yiannis D.

Well, after hearing “Brain Wash” I got high hopes for this album. That song was fast and sounded like their “Nothing'$ $acred” days including Michael Coons’vocals.

After that, the album really falls flat on its face. For the remaining part it meanders along in midpace with a lot of chugging guitars. As a whole the album does not sound like a reunion but it sounds like how Laaz Rockit could have sounded in 1995 if they had chosen to play post-thrash groovy metal like most other thrash metal bands (Sacred Reich on “Independent”, Anthrax’ “Stomp 442”, Flotsam & Jetsam on “Cuatro”etc) with some Pantera thrown in.

One would have expected Laaz Rockit to at least play a diversity of styles on a reunion album. Styles they were once famous for. Heavy metal on their first two albums, a mix of speed metal and thrash like on “”Know Your Enemy” and “Annihilation Principle” and even the pure thrash metal assault of “Nothing'$ $acred”. None of that here EXCEPT for the earlier mentioned opening track.

Hell, they at times even sound more like Testament during the days of “Low” than themselves. Nuff said, what a waste. This is a typical album that should have been released under a different name. It cannot pass as a reunion album.

Well this is Laaz Rockit-Phase Four. And it sucks. I hope they won’t be playing too much of these songs live next time I see them. Stick to ‘Euroshima’, ‘Fire in The Hole’ and ‘Most Dangerous’ Game…. please….

The title of this album might have been "another one bites the dust". Except that maybe "one" should be "asshole" and "bites the dust" should be "starts making mediocre nu-groove". You like Slipknot? You gonna love this! But more about that later. In case you didn't catch the subtle hints yet I'll put it plain and simple: Lääz Rockit have decided to throw away their thrash roots and start making groove metal. Unexpected?

Perhaps, but is it really that big of a surprise that a band that never stood out for originality in the first place decided to follow the other sell-outs, much like they simply copied the style of their contemporaries back in the '80s? As opposed to their classic period, where they actually managed to make good thrash (despite not being original in the slightest), this is average even for groove metal standards.

Not bad per se, mind you, just so average it will bore you to death. Most of the songs are built up in the same way, most of the riffs sound extremely similar, etc. You get the point; uninspired groovy stuff you will only stand if you like bastardized metal. The annoyance starts with the vocals: too layered and with too much crappy effects on them. Unfortunately I was reminded of Slipknot's vocals at times, which pretty much sums up Michael Coons' performance.

The rhythm guitar is even worse and it's hard to believe these stupid simple riffs were recorded by the same people who used to gave us awesome thrash riffs. First of all, the guitar is way too downtuned and muddy to be enjoyable. The riffs on themselves aren't strong enough either. Think of a mix between Slipknot's riffs and Pantera riffs and you sort of get an idea. The amount of good riffs on this album can be counted on one hand and there's even a damn metalcore-like breakdown.

Luckily the lead guitar somewhat saves the album from total suckage. Spectacular and awesome are not good words to describe the solos but they are good enough to be interesting. Some middle-eastern scale was used for the most part as far as I can tell, which was probably a good choice. The main reason I gave such a high rating is because of the lead guitar, though I was annoyed to discover it was playing horrible cheap-ass Gothenburg melodies at times.

Anyway, the drums aren't bad either. The drummer obviously has some skills and managed to get a good sound, too. This is where my praise for Sky Harris stops, since overall there's too few "sweet drum!" moments for him to be truly great. Same thing goes for the bass, though I'm fairly certain Willy Lange is a lazy bassist who only played on this album because he has electricity bills to pay. He can do better and we all know it, but oh well.

To sum it all up; there's some interesting ideas, a couple of good riffs, nice solos and a non-sucky drummer. The rest (most of the album) should have never been released. At least they should have had the decency to start a new band for this album and not spoil the name of Lääz Rockit, which in fact stood for quality in names long gone by. But again, if you love nu/groove metal you're going to love this!