| Terror And Submission | 1987 |
| Mind Wars | 1988 |
| Terror And Submission/Mind Wars | 1999 |
Holy Terror is a talented speed metal band from the good old USA. I only have Mind Wars, but that is half of their career, and from what I can tell it was a solid two album run for them. It's next to impossible to find these albums individually anymore, but in 1999 both albums were released on a single CD version, so there music is still available for those interested.
--Robert Grazer
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COMMENTS
holy terror was by far one of the best speed metal bands to ever come out. original as all hell and to be that catchy and that brutal was something rare and special indeed...people of this generation of hard music truely missed out on one of the greats!!
(reviewed by Robert Grazer)
Holy Terror's second and last album is an unfortunately unknown release in the world of thrash, with a title that strongly suggests a conceptual theme. Honestly now, there are some albums that just have titles that make them sound like they're concept albums. This is one of them. When I first heard the title I thought it would be about two crazy Vulcans competing with each other in an attempt to take over the universe. It isn't a concept album, but it is a near-perfect example of all of the strengths of speed metal, executed in an exciting and entertaining manner, with all of the ingredients of a thrash classic.
In other words, this album rules. Period. I'll admit, speed metal has never really been my thing, but this album is certainly an exception. The shred on here is spectacular (possibly the best shred guitar on any speed metal album), the music has mood, even a little melody, and the singer is the perfect speed metal singer. Except for maybe Matt Barlow. I love it when he makes his voice all low on "Judas Reward" and "No Resurrection," and his screams are awesome two, like at the end of "Debt of Pain" when he just lets it all out. And the vocal melodies are light-years beyond that of most speed metal. Instead of something dull like "Hit the lights!" we get stuff like: "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMNED BY JUDG-ES!!!" Yeah, he's awesome.
Oh yeah, the songs on here rule too. Sure it isn't the most diverse set of songs, but this is still speed metal we're talking about. There are still plenty of slower moments so this album doesn't get stuck in the "fast for the sake of being fast" trap that a lot of thrash falls into. Though there are some full all out speed tracks like "Do Unto Others" and "No Resurrection" that pound away, but even those settle down in parts. You also get a taste of some atmosphere in "Debt of Pain" (which starts out with one best shred solos) with the line "Walk in the streets of night alone" sung with Deen's voice to help create a very effective dark mood. It's one of my absolute favorites on the album, and while only two and a half minutes, it doesn't seem underlong in the least.
The intro to "The Immoral Wasteland" is possibly the most powerful found on any thrash album (rivaled only by "A Fool's Gold"), and the courtroom scene opening "Damned By Judges" is quite haunting. It doesn't really mean to be, since nothing scary is really said, but it reminds me of this picture I once saw in an Edgar Allen Poe collection of these really evil looking judges with these candles to illustrate the beginning of The Pit and the Pendulum. There's some great bass work in this song, buried beneath the guitar and drums, but if you can hear it you'll definitely be impressed.
"A Fool's Gold" begins an eight minute three-song stretch ("A Fool's Gold," "Terminal Humor," and "Mind Wars") that plays out like it's just one piece. There are so many great solos in these songs, and even a short bass solo in the beginning of "Terminal Humor," a perfect instrumental connecting song before the fury of the title track breaks through, with yet another awesome solo. It's just another great example of the thrash/speed metal genre at its absolute best. A neat set of drum rolls open "No Resurrection," which has the best all around drum work on the album.
Finishing things off is "Christian Resistance," another possibility for my favorite song on the album. It certainly has the best chorus on the album, and, well, more of everything great that the band has displayed throughout the other songs. If you're a speed metal fan GET THIS NOW. Heck, if you're not a speed metal fan get this now, or soon at least. It will definitely make you like the genre more. This is better than Kill 'Em All, Reign In Blood, or Rust In Peace. I was planning to give this just an eight, since, like all speed metal, the lack of diversity hurts the album, but listening to it now I can't see how this deserves any less than a near-perfect score.
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COMMENTS
Howdy!
Totally agree to your comments on this album. I have a few things to mention, though. First of all, the production. It isn't all that wonderful. Speed/thrash metal seesm to be difficult to produce and this album proves it. The furious guitar parts would sound so much better with a more explicit production. Still, the album is good enough without it.
Secondly, you mention 'Debt of pain' as one of your favourites. Then you have to listen to Agent Steel's first album. 'Back to reign' is the original version of the song. Ten times slower, mind you, but it is the same. The perfect way to compare Holy Terror to Agent Steel comes by way of this song. I like Agent Steel, but when you put on Debt of pain after listening to Back to reign, you just stand amazed. It's like getting into a Ferrari after having driven in a Mazda!
Lastly, you don't mention the lyrics. I think that Holy Terror was one of the bands that made a complete difference by putting intelligent lyrics to their melodies. You compare their sound to Metallica and Slayer. Hit the lights or Evil has no boundaries are (lyrically) far beneath 'The Immoral Wasteland' or 'Damned by Judges'. It is what lifts the album to a higher level that not many have reached since this album came out.
A goddamn motherfuckin' shame that they are no longer around! We all pay the debt of pain.
Absolutely! Still one of my favs to this day. Just got done listening to it again. On the original cass. Time to get a cd. Wish for a reunion.
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