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Class 6(66)

Flotsam And Jetsam: No place for disgrace

25/05/13  ||  InquisitorGeneralis

Introduction

There is nothing better than discovering an amazing record by a band you have never given a shit about before. It’s like Christmas and the first time you fucked all rolled into one. This (not the sex part, sadly) has been happening to me quite a bit lately, and I must thank my evergrowing thirst for vinyl for this. Bands like Prong, Sacred Reich, and Krokus all flew under my radar until being recently purchased in some of Baltimore’s finest record shops. Shit, I really didn’t even give a shit about Dio’s solo albums until I got them on wax! Now, you can add Flotsam and Jetsam to that list.

Lord Kayfabe didn’t take a liking to Flotsam and Jetsam’s newest effort, and I personally don’t blame him. Shit is weak. However, Big Baby Jesus did get something wrong; the band is more than just the stepping stone for Jason Newsted on his path to Metallica. Sure, the one record he’s on is pretty damn good. But, “No Place for Disgrace” is by far the best album Flotsam and Jetsam has, and clearly will ever, do. Read on to learn why…

Songwriting

9. Flotsam and Jetsam really mix things up well. The title track, “Misguided fortune”, “I live, you die”, and “Dreams of death” are all intense thrashers while “N.E. terror” and “P.A.AB” show some progressive tendencies. “Hard on you” even sounds a bit like Pantera and/or Exhorder with it’s emphasis on groove and catchy choruses. Even better, the songs are well-placed in the album’s order. You get a nice flow from track to track which helps keep your metal mind interested. Here is the strongest song from the album, listen and enjoy.

Production

9. For late 80’s thrash, you can not ask for a much better sound except for maybe some heavier hitting kicks. Aric A.K.‘s vocals are clear and distinct but not too loud while Carlson and Gilbert’s guitars definitely take center stage…as they fucking should be the guitar work on this puppy shreds. Overall, a really nice production is the name of the game here.

Guitars

9. A little too much of a good thing keeps the score here one notch below perfection. Ed Carlson and Micheal Gilbert tear this mutha sucka out. From the melodic intro of the title track, to the rippin’ dual leads of “I live, you die”, and on to the monster riffs of “Misguided fortune” and “P.A.A.B” the guitar work on here is top notch from end to end. The problem is that Flotsam and Jetsam know they shred on here and maybe, just maybe go for the money riff/solo one too many times. Melodic breakdowns with extended, trading off solos can become a tad routine. At least these two fucking kill it and use sheer talent and massive arsenal of riffs to make the routine stay enjoyable.

Bass

10. So, I just talked about how being too fucking awesome keeps the guitars from getting a perfect score and than drop a big one oh on the bass? What up with that playa?

LSD flashback maybe? Not quite.

Ze bass is perfect on here because Mr. Troy Gergory does exactly what a thrash bassist is supposed to do (in my stupid fucking opinion); he rumbles along perfectly with the drums created an awesome rhythm section while choosing a few specific moments to shine and take over the rockin’ and rippin’ for just long enough to make your dumb ass notice.

Drums

8. Kelly Kapowski David Smith handles drum duties with precision and skill on “No Place for Disgrace”. While he does not stand out like his 80’s thrash temporaries like Lombardo, Benante, Ulrich (he was good back then, suck it) or Hoglan his playing is pretty fucking good. Lots of double bass helps add a heavy factor to the album’s more hard-hitting tracks. He really stands out on “I live, you die” with lots of tempo changes and frenetic footwork. Overall, Smith puts out a solid performance.

Vocals

7. AK-47’s vocals are not the strongest aspect of Flotsam and Jetsam, but they are definitely adequate and appropriate for the epic-leaning thrash the band pumps out. His more melodic parts, like the breakdown to the title track, seem a bit forced. However, a few well-placed screams like the piercing _HARA-KIRIIIIII!!!!!!!!!_that kicks back into the faster end of said title track, help balance those out. Overall, the vocal performance here is solid but Eric A.K is not in the same league of the top-tier thrash wailers of his generation.

One huge spot I have to point out is at the end of “I live, you die”. After shredding through the entirety of the song, Eric calls out AGAIN! for one more last refrain. It’s a minor thing, and a bit cheesy, but I love it. It reminds me of our own Swedish lovebird Jorgen Sandstrom belting out LET’S GO!!! in the middle of the Grave classic “I need you”. I like when my metal masters tell me what is going on, I feel well informed.

Lyrics

7. Here is why this record only get a seven in the lyrics department.

Some of the lyrics on here totally fucking rule…

Far to the east ruled the Samurai, mystic warrior class
Honorable brave, bark armoured man, donning hideous mask
700 years of reigning Japan, the masters of attack
Dominators of the isle of dragons, fearsome military caste

Hell FUCKING yeah!!! I even played “No place for disgrace” to my history student when we studied feudal Japan. Any thrash metal that can be used to supplement the instruction of World History kicks ass. Oh, and don’t forget about the rockin’ lyrics to “I live, you die” which is about Gladiators…

Entry of the gladiators, 264 B.C.
The emperors and nobles have made a pawn of me
I battle slaves end free men and wild blood thirsty beasts
The red sand surrounds me, so they can’t see them bleed

Bitchin’.

However, you will also find crap like this on “Hard on you”, a song about the censorship of music in the 80’s…

Can’t you see, you’re ripping away our independence
No one cares but you
There’s never a way to stop the music
If you’re hard on us, we’re gonna be hard on you, H.O.Y!

Stick with the history themes fellas, and leave social commentary on the shelf. HOY!!!

Logo

5. Nothing special here; the name written in a somewhat medieval looking font. Meh.

Cover art

6. There is nothing cheesy about super-buff, almost Nordic looking Samurai drawn by a dude named Boris about to commit ritual suicide. Nothing cheesy at all.

However, the cover art to the band’s first record is fucking awesome. Who doesn’t love a cartoon monster killing the shit out of satan??? Now that is primo stuff. Poor Jesus gets worked over pretty hard in the world ov metal album covers, it is nice to see the devil get his due…zing.

Booklet

N/A I have this puppy on vinyl and it is a promo release so the sleeve is just a plain sheet with ELEKTRA on it.

Overall and ending rant

Is it divine providence that I started liking this band just as they are making a return to touring and releasing new music? Clearly. But, I doubt they will put out anything that even comes close to the awesomeness of “I live, you die” or “Misguided fortune”. Flotsam and Jetsam brought the total package on “No Place for Disgrace”. It is an extremely catchy, diverse, and hard-hitting piece of late 80’s thrash. It you dig many of the classic thrash bands that didn’t make it to Big 4 status like Sacred Reich, Whiplash, Razor, and Violence you should check this record out. For a brief while, Flotsam and Jetsam were on top of their game and “No Place for Disgrace” is definitely the strongest album they have ever put out.

9

  • Information
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: Elektra
  • Website: Flotsam and Jetsam Official
  • Band
  • Eric A.K.: vocals
  • Edward Carlson: guitars
  • Michael Gilbert: guitars
  • Troy Gregory: bass
  • Kelly David Smith: drums
  • Tracklist
  • 01. No Place for Disgrace
  • 02. Dreams of Death
  • 03. N.E. Terror
  • 04. Escape from Within
  • 05. Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting (Elton John cover)
  • 06. Hard on You
  • 07. I Live You Die
  • 08. Misguided Fortune
  • 09. P.A.A.B.
  • 10. The Jones

Class 6(66) -reviews

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