Review Summary: Good, simple, fun speed metal in the vein of Riot, Sortilege, and Diamond Head.
ADX is pretty typical of the 80s speed metal movement. Featuring
Riot's energy and riffs with a slightly thrashier edge akin to one of the lighter thrash metal bands like
Metallica, they're overall a worthwhile listen when you want more classic metal to check out. Exécution is probably their best recognized album and in general a great little collection of strong speed metal tracks.
In terms of the general instrumentation, everything is extremely strong. The drums are especially strong, with a great use of double bass drumming for its time and a good variety of fills and beats, in general providing a satisfying performance. The guitar is also strong, with great riffs proliferating the tracks consistently and some strong solos shining through most of the album. The bass is fairly standard but highly audible throughout and generally strong, and the vocal performance is quite typical of most New Wave Of British Heavy Metal acts, albeit with French lyrics, with a fairly high pitched delivery with a slightly rough edge that works effectively with the instrumentation. The production is also a strong point, with everything given equal room and a crisp tone.
The tracks themselves are also strong throughout, though few are notably excellent.
Déesse du Crime, the opener, does qualify in several respects, with a blistering riff opening a song with a rather catchy chorus, and some well structured harmonies and solos.
Prisonner De La Nuit is probably the strongest track on the album, exhibiting the effectiveness of some basic thrash riffs extremely well, whilst
L'entranger does an admiral job as the more mid paced rocker, giving a good change of pace. Elsewhere everything is strong, with
Prière de Satan probably being the biggest highlight of the second half, although
Vampire might seem more than a tad derivative of a certain track by Dio. Overall however, the songs are highly varied and consistently great.
Overall, whilst fairly unoriginal, Exécution is thrilling enough to keep the 80s speed metal fan sated quite easily. Whilst never really reaching the heights of
Riot or the legendary
Judas Priest, ADX demonstrated quite clearly that they were the dominant force in the young French metal scene.
