I wasn't sure where I was going to land on Think This, Toxik's second album. The CD I purchased includes their debut World Circus, and I struggled with it. The production is very tinny and it seems to have as much in common with punk as it does thrash. The irony there is that it was recorded at Morrisound, the epicenter of the death metal movement. They were just getting rolling with that genre when Toxik arrived, and it just seemed they didn't know what to do with the group's sound.
Think This is much better fortunately. Even though Toxik is one of the more (relatively) known bands in the tech thrash space, they were by no means one of the more radical or heavy. Their sound fits the late 80s style, with herky-jerky rhythms, air raid siren vocals, gang choruses, crazy solos and riffs. It's like a stripped down Realm without the electronics. I also heard a prototype to where Heathen would land on their classic 1991 album Victims of Deception - especially the documentary narratives.
Ownership: CD: 2022 Dissonance. 2xCD with attractive tri-fold digipak. Excellent reissue that includes both of their albums in full. Insightful historical liner notes and additional photos round out this fine collection. If I ever warm more to World Circus, I'll feature it separately.
11/15/22 (new entry)
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