And the hits keep on coming. It continues to baffle me just how many creative American metal bands were in existence from the late 80 through to the early 90s. I was still paying attention real time for acts such as this, though I wasn't really focused on the cassette culture. And I should have been, because that's how many of these albums were released in the first place. And many used the full length, allowing them to release that much more music than an LP, or a cheaper alternative to the still-too-expensive new medium called CDs. Thank goodness for the reissue label - or in many cases - the archival labels. Many of these labels aren't even here in the States, but in Europe, especially Germany, Greece, and Italy.
As noted, the cassette tape afforded bands a chance to release a lot of music. And that certainly was the case with Ignorance of Man, where there are a whopping 17 tracks here, including a 10 minute epic closer. From what I understand, but is poorly documented, this tape itself was a compilation of the band's recorded (or written) music throughout the 1980s. While it certainly all belongs to thrash metal, there are variations in both sound and structure, that indicates the band had flourishes of progressive mindedness along with more traditional approaches. Fortunately, most of the material on Ignorance of Man is fascinating, and well worth hearing. There are a few tracks where galloping guitars and gang vocals define the music. These are pretty ordinary, and would have been for the 80s as well. But the majority have passages that we used to call technical metal. And the kicker is the instrumentation. Even though Blackkout are only a 3 piece (with dubbed guitars to make it sound like a quartet), the leader of the group brings along not only a flute, but also an electric violin! The former immediately draws comparisons to one of progressive thrash's greatest groups in Psychotic Waltz. Electric violin on top of that? That's highly unique. While I wouldn't say these instruments are predominant in any way, they do add flourish to many of the tracks. As noted, the album closes with a 10 minute epic, which is one for the ages. 'The Talisman' goes through all sorts of twists and turns, similar in some ways to Manilla Road, but more thrash oriented. All in all, a must for fans of late 80s adventurous metal.
Blackkout were from America's richest metal talent area of Tampa / St. Pete, though they weren't part of the death metal wave that the region became most famous for. The CD also (remarkably) includes their 1985 single, which is similar in construct to the album proper.
Ownership: CD: 2010 Arkeyn Steel (Greece). Recent online acquisition. Numbered edition (mine is #584) jewel case with a full booklet containing recording details (though no specific dates), photos, and lyrics. Excellent in every way, except it's missing a history, which I think would have helped provide context.
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