The best part of being a reviewer is that you end up discovering bands and albums that you would never have checked out otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I end up with a lot of stuff I don't like, but that's to be expected when one dredges the depths of the metal release schedule.

BEZERKER is yet another old school Thrash Metal band that I had never heard of. "Lost" was written and recorded in 1988/89, and initially released in December 89, but not released on Vinyl until October of 90. Now 30 years later we get a proper digital re-release. I must admit I ended up enjoying this more than I thought I would.

Thrash Metal is extremely hit and miss with my tastes, I don't care for the sounds of METALLICA, ANTHRAX, EXODUS, OVERKILL, etc. It all seems to revolve around the vocals, Thrash Metal loves this in between harsh and clean sound that ends up not working for me. However, this album definitely falls in line with the kind of stuff I actually like; ie REALM and DUNGEON (though come to think of it, that doesn't really count does it?). Regardless, I really appreciate the vocals on this album making my Thrash Metal actually enjoyable for once.

I love when I see these late 80s, early 90s bands described as Progressive, it usually means you're in for something a little different than your typical Progressive music, but at the same time you know the music is going to be more complex and offer a little more to sink your teeth into, which is especially important with Thrash, because another thing that annoys me about usual Thrash Metal is the simplicity. In songwriting, and in instrumentation, the genre needs more complexity for my tastes and boy does this album deliver.

The bass is thick and heavy throughout, it doesn't seem like Keith Stevens has done much since this band which is a shame because he kicks ass on this. The guitar riffs are wild and varied, Michael Heslop tries not to linger on one riff for too long, and generally the guitar stays interesting throughout. Everything is perfectly balanced in the mix, obviously this is a reissue, but on a broader level the sounds just blend perfectly and the production is fantastic, I can hear every layer of sound, it's actually really impressive.

One of the more standout moments is the very beginning of the entire album; Take All starts with a really intense riff, but add on top of that the metal shrieks of Patrick Cummins and it makes for a memorable start. Yours Subliminally has a great acoustic intro that makes for a nice slow burn, and when the riffs start they don't stop. Most impressively though Against The Grain has an incredible bass line in the bridge, followed by the best solo on the album. Unfortunately, there aren't many hooks in the traditional metal chorus style, but there are some refrains here and there that end up sticking to my brain more than I expect. Really what I listen for more is the pace and groove of the individual tracks. The guitar riffs really take you on a journey here and the vocals are solid enough that I never actually get sick of his voice.

All in all, even though this isn't necessarily my type of music, I really enjoyed this album quite a bit. I don't know if I'll ever revisit it, but I guess I've been due for a 80s/90s technical thrash binge at some point, I've been finding more and more obscure bands from that era that I actually like lately.