### Agent Steel: Alienigma

#### 27/08/07 || Euthanatos

Agent fucking Steel are one of those awesome Californian thrash metal bands that I spent my teens listening to. Not as famous as some Bay Area acts that gained notoriety, Agent Steel probably kept a lot more true to speed/thrash metal spirit than most. Obviously, since not making the mainstream market, these guys disbanded and with thrash metal getting hype again, obviously they returned, reformed, revamped, repossessed, rekindled, reinforced.

This is the third studio album since the band got back together, without singer John, mind you. And I’ll be honest, although I miss his vocals, Bruce Hall deserves praise, his shit is tight.

I did enjoy “Omega Conspiracy”, “Order of the Illuminati” failed to impress me, but “Alienigma” is certainly the better of the three and really sees Agent Steel going back to it old form. It’s all here; the riffs, the vocals filled with attitude, the eighties backing vocals, this is one perfect trip to the past. And the cool thing about it is that the band sounds really heavy and modern, thanks to a killer production.

Fine, we’re missing something truly memorable, like “Unstoppable Force”, but come on, I’ve said it a million times, we need good thrash these days, since so many trend fuckers are claiming to be something they certainly aren’t. Longing for the days of good Anthrax? Call 1-800-AGENT-STEEL! They sure put a smile on my face.

The cover: Alien shit, as one would expect with Agent Steel. Pretty half-assed, though.

7 illegal aliens out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Mascot Records
- Website: www.agentsteelonline.com
- Band
- Bruce Hall: vocals
- Juan Garcia: guitars
- Bernie Versailles: guitars
- Karlos Medina: bass
- Rigo Amezcua: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Fashioned From Dust
- 02. Wash the Planet Clean
- 03. Hail to the Chief
- 04. Wormwod
- 05. Liberty Lying Bleeding
- 06. Hybridized
- 07. Tiamats Fall
- 08. WPD
- 09. Lamb to the Slaughter
- 10. Extinct