In the 80’s and early 90’s, many underground metal bands gained popularity though tape trading. This method of distribution was fueled by numerous fans mailing copies of demo recordings to other like-minded metalheads. As a result, fans would often end up receiving a copy of a copy of the original demo. Needless to say, many fans most likely became familiar with a band through a very poor quality version of their original demo. But, the point of tape trading was sharing in the excitement of discovering new bands that were carrying the torch for heavy metal. Face the Evil, the debut album from Belgian thrash metal quintet Bliksem, has the sound quality of an original recording. However, the music is the equivalent of a copy of a copy of the original.
As a basic thrash metal album, Face the Evil has its enjoyable moments. The dual guitar attack of Toon Huet and Jeroen De Vriese is reminiscent of some of the greatest thrash metal pairings. A few of the album’s best riffs would sit comfortably alongside those of classic bands like Forbidden or Death Angel. The rest of the album, however, is so derivative that it makes the entire thrash metal subgenre seem almost antiquated. Bliksem are so obsessed with cautiously coloring inside the lines that their songs never really get a chance to gain momentum.
While each member of Bliksem delivers a solid and energetic performance, the culmination of their efforts leaves little to be excited about. The raspy vocals of Peggy Meeussen give the songs a small amount of character, but are encumbered by uninspired and frequently inane lyrics. Also to blame is the stale, overly compressed production style that stifles any intensity and results in a sound that could easily be termed as “thrash lite.” But even an immaculate production job could not mask the recycled essence of this album. After all, carrying the torch for heavy metal seems pointless when you are simply running in place.
Aside from the occasional divergence, Face the Evil is conventional to a fault. Playing it safe with a musical style that is characterized by speed and aggression seems to defeat the purpose. It’s possible that I am over romanticizing classic thrash metal, but I feel like there was an inherent sense of danger that has somehow been left behind. Bliksem may not be desecrating the subgenre, but they are certainly not doing it any favors. For an album that relies so heavily on its inspirations, it seems like the ultimate failure that Face the Evil may not even inspire a second listen.
