This is the first time that I am actually listening to a release that was both produced, managed and released by the well known Phil Anselmo (For those who don't know, ex-PANTERA and DOWN vocalist). WARBEAST, once known as TEXAS METAL ALLIANCE, is the baby of members of older American Thrash bands as RIGOR MORTIS and GAMMACIDE. I remember RIGOR MORTIS's hard attitude and roughness pretty well and some of it shows on the band's debut, via Housecore Records, "Krush The Enemy". The one thing that is certain about this album is that if you wished for something old school without a touch of modernity, you just got your wish.

In general, "Krush The Enemy" sounded to me like what commonly existed in American Thrash albums back between the mid to late 80s, yet less Bay Area and rather more in boarders of SACRED REICH and RIGOR MORTIS, added by a shrapnel of groove as enhancer but not to the extent of the up to date kind. "Krush The Enemy" didn't sound that sophisticated in comparison to the Bay Area stuff like EXODUS or TESTAMENT, the riffages were simple and banal in the manner of MOTORHEAD spreading also by a slower pace while the lead fretwork had several of triumphs. However, that was a part of the beauty of it all. Along with Anselmo's well suited production, the band's crunchy, old school sound orientation and the fronting style of Bruce Corbitt, this album was just what the doctor ordered and he ordered a raw form of war.

What in a way saddened me was that it took me seven songs' length to reach the album's strongest crackers. The straightforward menace of "The Controller" and the heavy weight psycho of "Stalker" are true Thrash Metal gems in the name of the old school. "We Are The Vultures", "Krush The Enemy" and "Guardian Angel" are abundant Thrash songs laid out with a punching attitude but practically ordinary.

The large sum of the "Krush The Enemy" didn't reveal any surprises and was more of a tight cling to the older times. Nonetheless, the material is enjoyable and a moshpit treat.