Conductors of Noize

Album review

The fact that Atomkraft's third and final release was a six-song mini-album spoke volumes about the band's state of mind during its recording, having recently welcomed back founding member and chief songwriter Tony Dolan in what was probably a desperate bid to reignite their dwindling career prospects. Sadly, there was little he could do at this stage -- even if the songs he helped pen for 1987's Conductors of Noise did much to bring Atomkraft up to speed with the then prevalent developments in Americanized thrash. Gone were the distinctly Brit-flavored, post-N.W.O.B.H.M. hallmarks typical of the band's salad days, replaced by a far more potent and hyperactive stripe of moshing exemplified in new cuts like "Requiem," "The Cage," and "Vision of Belshazzar" -- all of which at long last recalled Bay Area acts like Exodus and Forbidden instead of Raven or Venom. Alas, the timely improvements arrived too late, and ironically didn't sit very well with Atomkraft's predominantly British fan contingent, only precipitating the now inevitable path toward their demise.

© Eduardo Rivadavia /TiVo