RAZOR - Violent Restitution LP 180g BLACK (Pre-Order)

Stace “Sheepdog” McLaren - vocals
Dave Carlo - guitars
Adam Carlo - bass
Rob Mills - drums

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 Discipline
13 Fed up
14 Soldier of Fortune

»Violent Restitution« is Razor’s fifth full-length album, bridging the gap between »Custom Killing« (1987) and »Shotgun Justice« (1990). It was originally released on German SPV Records in 1988, containing 14 tracks altogether, many of them under three minutes long (such as the lethal “Behind Bars” or “Below The Belt”). The album was recorded at Phase One Studios in Toronto, Canada. »Violent Restitution« is dedicated to action movie actor Charles Bronson. It is the first Razor album to feature new drummer Rob Mills, who does a fantastic job. Adam Carlo, Dave Carlo’s brother, had joined the band on bass. »Violent Restitution« is also the last record to feature original vocalist Stace McLaren and is therefore loved by die-hard Razor fans and described as the final “authentic album” of the band. 1988 was probably the year in which thrash metal had reached its commercial peak. Razor have always remained true to their raw and aggressive thrash roots. Whereas bands like Heathen, Blind Illusion, Meliah Rage, Toxik or Agent Steel, to name just a few, brought an increasingly technical flavour to the genre, Dave Carlo’s bunch remained as unpolished and straight as on their fantastic debut »Armend And Dangerous« (which still awaits an official re-issue). In fan circles, »Violent Restitution« has become some kind of a cult album, for many it even marks Razor’s finest hour. Even if that seems like a bit of an exaggeration one thing is for certain: the 14 tracks perfectly sum up Dave Carlo’s unwavering vision of true blue uncompromising thrash metal with that tiny punk edge (just listen to “Fed up”).

Matthias Mader