Back in 1987, Thrash Metal was at its peak all over the globe. And although the subgenre had its similar characteristics, it seemed every band putting out records had a different sound. And in between this huge wave of new bands, MEKONG DELTA went one step further. For me, their debut album was criminally underrated. My only guess is that its technical and progressive sides made it less appealing to the regular Thrash Metal fan of the time. Aside from the obvious Speed Metal stepping stone, the band experimented with dissonance, complex arrangements and even their own version of a classical music piece written by Russian romantic period composer Modest Mussorgki. When I first listened to this album in 1990, it immediately went up there next to WATCHTOWER’S “Control And Resistance” and TOXIK’s “Think This”. As they say, “the devil is in the details”, but in this case, the devil was showing off. The surgical yet groovy drum performance, the never ending riffs, the intertwining bass guitar lines and the constantly shifting melodic vocals made up an stellar album that never has ceased to amaze me. The intensity present here is also a very welcomed highlight, since the band keeps the pedal to the metal, even in their slow mode, as in ‘Heroes Grief’, where the ambient keyboard pads play yet another role adding to the overall heavy atmosphere. The vocal delivery from Wolfgang (RIP) fits perfectly, going from low almost baritone range to some really nice high notes with some weird melodies that just add another level of the band’s unconventional approach. Björn’s bass is highlighted in almost every song, not only keeping up with Gordon’s drums but also solidifying the rhythm section. Last but not least, Rolf’s and Vincent’s guitars are not only intricate but also they deliver some brilliant and memorable leads. Production wise, the album stood the test of time and now it has been remastered in the famous Temple Of Disharmony by Patrick W. Engel, giving it a clearer yet heavier sound. In their impressive 40+ year career MEKONG DELTA has been constantly pushing the boundaries. My fave, “The Music Of Erich Zann” would even push those boundaries further and then some. But their debut album is still a statement of things (and amazing albums) to come. I recommend picking this one up and any of their other albums. Any Metal fan that likes an unorthodox perspective to Thrash Metal should find in MEKONG DELTA a band that it’s never boring and that is always experimenting and finding new ways to level up their style. Support the band at www.facebook.com/mekongdeltagermany and get the album from www.facebook.com/hrrecords