This album should be in every thrash fans’ collection. How can you go wrong with an album titled Power and Pain released by a band called Whiplash? Power and Pain lives up to the name with 35 minutes of pure thrash/speed metal.
The album kicks off with "Stage Dive". Once the mid-paced intro is thru, the three Tony’s don’t stop kicking ass. With lyrics like, “Thrash to kill! Blood will Spill!” the song really tells you what to expect from this album. Next up is "Red Bomb", which is the least memorable song on Power and Pain. Tony Portaro has a uniquely raspy voice that falls right into place with the music, especially on “Last Man Alive”. It’s also the slowest song you’ll hear on Power and Pain, yet one of the best. After the slowest, we get the heaviest song, "Message in Blood", a non-stop thrasher.
Now, right in the middle of Power and Pain we get "Warmonger". Whiplash, once again, deliver and all out head banger. The following song is a Whiplash classic. Just hearing "Power Thrashing Death"’s main riff will make you want to turn the volume up. Tony Bono has a great bass tone throughout the whole album, but most notably on this song. This song also comes equipped with a, somewhat, sing-a-long chorus. "Stirring the Cauldron" is outshined by the preceding track. It also sounds a bit like the song that proceeds. Power and Pain finishes off with possibly the best song on the album, "Nailed to the Cross".
As I said in the beginning, this is a great thrash album which was, sadly, overlooked. Non-stop thrashing goodness right here folks.
Recommended Tracks:
Nailed to the Cross
Power Thrashing Death
Warmonger
