Virgin Snatch - Act Of Grace
2008
By Ryan M
The average person would scoff at a name like Virgin Snatch, and unfourtanetly for them, they have. There's really no doubt that their 'offensive' name scars their reputation, and leaves many missing out on the unique approach to modern - and new age thrash alike, that Virgin Snatch have established as their own. With three previous releases under their belt, S.U.C.K, The Art of Lying, and In The Name of Blood, the band has proved that they are amongst the better bands this millenium has to offer, in terms of thrash. Act of Grace does nothing but solidify that belief, and prove to skeptics that, once you learn to look past the name, this is a band with something unique and fresh to bring to the table.
Tracklisting
01. Act Of Grace [4:41]
02. Horn Of Plenty [5:05]
03. Slap In The Face [3:24]
04. Through Fight We Grow [4:56]
05. Walk The Line [4:49]
06. Daniel The Jack [4:32]
07. M.A.D. (Make A Donation) [4:34]
08. Don't Get Left Behind [5:07]
09. It's Time [5:56]
Total Run Time: 43:08
Act of Grace picks up where In The Name of Blood left off, intense rhythmic guitar work, with beautiful melodies delivered by either the lead guitar, or Zielony's improved clean vocals. To those who are unfirmiliar with Virgin Snatch, they incorporate powerful, and heavy guitar work with complimentary drumwork and basslines, with melodic hooks and alternating vocal styles between a soothing clean and a harsh snarl. The production and mixing is just as one would hope for, everything is mixed flawlessly. Vocals are loud enough to not be drowned out in the mix, but not overpowering. The tone of the drums feels like taking a jackhammer to the chest, and the guitar tone is no exception to this, either. At first glance, this album is everything In The Name of Blood is, but that is certainly incorrect.
Granted, this album does share some shocking similarities to the release before it, but that's merely the band recognizing their unique style, and capturing it to use to their advantage. Unlike many bands who tend to milk their original styles and tend to grow old and predictable over time, V.S. have learnt to utilize their clever approach to a classic genre without growing stale. Infact, noticable improvements are at every turn - from Zielony's stronger clean vocals, to vocals that don't reek of broken english and lack of depth. Of course, hailing from Poland, one would be foolish to expect the band to speak fluent english, and that a heavy accent should be expected, but it seems far less prominent than past releases.
Virgin Snatch continue to show off their diversity on this album, with yet another mellow track titled It's Time. Past mellower songs from the band have lost their emotion through poorly written lyrics, and while the instrumentation and concepts were powerful and thought-provoking, they didn't always hit home quite like one would expect. The closing track is where they showcase their improvement the most, as the vocal delivery is much stronger on this track than past slow tracks. The instrumentation is more powerful, and the lyrics are intelligently strung together, leaving one's doubts (if they could possibly have any) that this band doesn't deserve recognition, in the dust. This album is the furthest thing from a clone of In The Name of Blood. Instead, it's a giant step forward as a band, towards a more defined and captivating sound and style.
My Rating?
9.5/10
In conclusion, this album is easily the best release of 2008 that I have heard. I had high hopes for this album, but it was hard to get an idea of what was to come. I can sincerely say that this album not only met my expectations, but it surpassed them by a landslide. If you are a fan of melodic, and technical thrash metal, I recommend you check out this album. You will not be disappointed.
Credits
Zielony - Vocals
Hiro - Guitar
Grysik - Guitar
Novy - Bass
Jacko - Drums
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