Onslaught Origins of Aggression CD Review

Forty years deep into the thrash trenches, Onslaught emerges not with a whimper but a war cry. Origins of Aggression isn't just a retrospective; it's a 2 disc defibrillator jolt to the genre's chest, reminding us that the UK's thrash titans still wield their instruments like weapons of mass disruption.
 
The first disc revisits ten classics from their early arsenal, re-recorded with a ferocity that suggests these tracks were merely biding their time, waiting for this moment to strike anew. "Thermonuclear Devastation of the Planet Earth" and "Let There Be Death" don't just echo their past; they detonate it, with modern production amplifying their raw power without sterilizing their grit.
 
Dave Garnett's vocals are a revelation, channeling the spirit of the originals while injecting a venom that's entirely his own. The guitars slice with surgical precision, and the rhythm section pounds with the relentless drive of a battalion on the march.



The second disc is a curated collection of covers, paying tribute to the punk and metal forebears who lit the fuse for Onslaught's explosive career. Their rendition of Motörhead's "Iron Fist" is less a cover and more a resurrection, roaring with the unbridled energy Lemmy would undoubtedly salute.

Diving into punk's gritty underbelly, Onslaught tackles Dead Kennedys' "Holiday in Cambodia" and Discharge's "Drunk with Power" with a zeal that bridges the gap between genres, proving that aggression knows no boundaries. Even Judas Priest's "Freewheel Burning" gets the Onslaught treatment, transformed into a thrash anthem that pays respect while staking its own claim.

Origins of Aggression is more than a double album; it's a declaration. Onslaught isn't content to rest on their laurels or fade into the annals of metal history. Instead, they confront their legacy head-on, reimagining it with the same fire that ignited their inception.

For longtime fans, it's a visceral reminder of why they fell in love with the band. For newcomers, it's an unfiltered introduction to the unrelenting force that is Onslaught. Either way, it's clear: the band's aggression isn't just a relic of the past—it's a living, breathing entity, as potent now as it was four decades ago.

~Rev