Tankard - Beast Of Bourbon
AFM Records, 2004
8.5/10

Ever since the release of their legendary debut album "Zombie Attack" back in 1986 Germany's beer metal kings Tankard have been one of the leading thrash metal bands in Europe. Their extreme skills as musicians coupled with their humorous attitude have attracted many a thousand fans throughout the years.
Holding the past in memory an album like "Beast Of Bourbon" doesn't really come as a surprise. In a time where metal is on the rise once again an album like this one couldn't be more appropriate. This is fast, intense, fun and full of good old thrash metal riffing from start to end. The opening of "Slipping From Reality" (my favorite song on the album) just breathes with energy and it feels like you were back in the late 80s when the European (= German) thrash metal was in its prime. The only difference is that this album comes with a stellar production that makes Tankard sound better than ever before. It is almost hard to believe that a band that started out in the early 80s can still produce such powerful and intense music but I for one couldn't be happier that the Tankard boys decided to stick around even though the interested for metal was waning. "The Beast Of Bourbon" is definitely one of the strongest releases from the band and also one of the best European metal releases so far this year.

Vincent Eldefors

Song listing:

1. Under Friendly Fire
2. Slipping From Reality
3. Genetic Overkill
4. Die With A Beer In Your Hand
5. The Horde
6. Endless Pleasure
7. Dead Men Drinking
8. Alien Revenge
9. Fistful Of Love
10. Beyond The Pubyard
11. We’re Coming Back

Playing time: 53.26