When you listen to AT WAR, you know what you gonna get: straightforward, no-bullshit old school Thrash, always with martial and sometimes with controversial lyrics. The band that introduced a female Nazi concentration camp guard into Heavy Metal on their first album (‘Ilsa – She-Wolf Of The S. S.’ from their debut “Ordered To Kill”, released in 1986) struck again two years later, with another bunch of military-themed and political songs. Certainly excelled by other American Thrash bands of the time as far as their instrumental performance is concerned, AT WAR managed to find their own niche. Sounding a lot more unevenly, with simpler guitar work than, for example, SLAYER or METALLICA, AT WAR did not produce another “South Of Heaven” or “… And Justice For All” (to name just two Thrash albums released around the same time as “Retaliatory Strike”) but did have their moments. Whereas the cover art looks very clichéd and simple, the songs strongly reflect the political situation of the 1980s, especially the aggressive US foreign policy of the time. ‘Covert Sins’ criticises the aggressive undermining of countries feared of falling to the Communists (particularly in South America), whereas ‘The Example’ seems to speak for just that approach. A year later, SACRED REICH used the same ideas and reached Thrash Metal perfection with their classic ‘Surf Nicaragua’. However, AT WAR, too, did a great job in songs like ‘Church And State’, an attack on the influence of religion on American policy. Unsurpassed is the punch packed by the band and the sheer power of the songs, features that, together with their sound, already appeared on their first demo “Eat Lead” and earned them the accolade of being “America’s answer to MOTÖRHEAD” (Spin magazine). The German label High Roller Records now reissued the angry piece of music that is “Retaliatory Strike” with an additional slipcase and a one-sided album cover poster. The new edition was mastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony Studios in Germany. www.facebook.com/atwartheband, www.facebook.com/hrrecords