Razor – Violent Restitution / Shotgun Justice / Open Hostility (re-issues)

24th May 2015 0 By Suzie Rottencrotch

I’ve a confession to make. Prior to getting my hands on these 3 re-issues, I’d never heard anything by Canadian speed / thrash metal band Razor. For some reason these guys just passed me by – probably because back in the day I was spending all my money on albums by the bigger more well known bands. Thankfully, Relapse Records have reissued these 3 long out of print albums, giving myself and others a chance to hear these “classic” albums and make up for missing out all those years ago.

First up is 1988’s Violent Restitution. This album is a full speed aggressive thrash fest that perfectly combines early Slayer with a crossover / punk sound – the end result is an album that despite being 27 years old (!) actually sounds like it’s offering something a little different. The riffs on this album are amazing, and if you’re going to try and headbang along to this make sure you’ve booked yourself an appointment with a neck specialist because the album is fast as fuck from start to finish.

1990’s Shotgun Justice is the Razor first album with vocalist Bob Reid (replacing Stace McLaren) and is more of a straightforward thrash album. The speed and energy are still there, along with the impressive riffs, but the crossover sound has disappeared. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it sounds like a natural progression for the band, and the album still delivers everything a thrash fan would want with no filler or pauses to let you catch your breath.

1991’s Open Hostility continues in the same vein as Shotgun Justice, but has a more polished sound. Again, the tracks on this album are all relentless 100 mile an hour thrash fests, with no sound of mellowness creeping in. Interestingly, due to the band’s drummer, Rob Mills, being injured in a traffic accident, the album was recorded using a drum machine – and for the most part that works, but there are a couple of places in the album where it does jar slightly.

If you’re a fan of old school thrash metal then you really need to get yourself these albums – all 3 are full of first class thrash metal and worthy of the label “classic”. Not only that, but all 3 have been completely remastered, come with super deluxe packaging, and include a whole bunch of previously unreleased bonus tracks. Check out the links below and order your copies today !!

Score: 9 out of 10

ALBUMS INFO

Violent Restitution

01 The Marshall Arts
02 Hypertension
03 Taste the Floor
04 Behind Bars
05 Below the Belt
06 I’ll Only Say it Once
07 Enforcer
08 Violent Restitution
09 Out of the Game
10 Edge of the Razor
11 Eve of the Storm
12 Roll out The Barrel – Hidden Track
13 Discipline
14 Fed Up
15 Soldier of Fortune
16 (BONUS TRACK) Shootout Live Feb 1988 Toronto, Canada
17 (BONUS TRACK) Snake Eyes Live Feb 1988 Toronto, Canada
18 (BONUS TRACK) The Marshall Acts / Hypertension Live Feb 1988 Toronto, Canada

Shotgun Justice

01 Miami
02 United by Hatred
03 Violence Condoned
04 Electric Torture
05 Meaning of Pain
06 Stabbed in the Back
06 Shotgun Justice
08 Parricide
09 American Luck
10 Brass Knuckles
11 Burning the Bridges
12 Concussion
13 Cranial Stomp
14 The Pugilist
15 (BONUS TRACK) Meaning Of Pain – Show Opening Somewhere Shotgun Justice Tour
16 (BONUS TRACK) Violence Condoned – Live August 1989
17 (BONUS TRACK) Learning and Refining Cranial Stomp
18 (BONUS TRACK) Miami – Original Mix
19 (BONUS TRACK) Electric Torture – Alternate Version
20 (BONUS TRACK) Brass Knuckles – Alternate Version

Open Hostility

01 In Protest
02 Sucker For Punishment
03 Bad Vibrations
04 Road Gunner
05 Cheers
06 Red Money
07 Free Lunch
08 Iron Legions
09 Mental Torture
10 Psychopath
11 I Disagree
12 End of the War
13 (BONUS TRACK) Tow The Line – Unreleased Track Late 1990
14  (BONUS TRACK) Taking The Strain – Unreleased Track Late 1990
15  (BONUS TRACK) Violent Propensity – Unreleased Track Late 1990
16  (BONUS TRACK) Taking The Strain (Instrumental Version) – Unreleased Track Late 1990
17  (BONUS TRACK) End Of The War – Rehearsal With Rob Mills
18  (BONUS TRACK) Tow The Line – Instrumental Demo With Programmed Drums
19  (BONUS TRACK) Red Money – Instrumental Demo
20  (BONUS TRACK) Iron Legions – Instrumental Demo