Scanner | Hypertrace and Terminal Earth (reissues)

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor / Senior Columnist –

When you think of the key bands in the early power metal scene, the ones in Germany that totally wrote the playbook for the whole genre, the same bands always come to mind. Helloween, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, and…Scanner? Well, Scanner obviously never got the attention and acclaim those other bands did, but they were just as vital in the early German power metal scene, and their music is just as exciting and worthy of respect as those bands’.

Scanner made their debut in 1988 with Hypertrace, which like Helloween’s Walls of Jericho shows how the speed metal sound was evolving into what we now know as power metal. High speed riffing and powerful melodies were paired with a distinct, high-pitched vocal wail. Michael Knoblich handled the vocals on this album, and he sounds a lot like Axxis frontman Bernhard Weiss. Adding to the vocal power is none other than Ralf Scheepers, who provided some killer backing vocals. Adding to the fun is the fact that Hypertrace is a conceptual album with a futuristic sci-fi story – like a prototype for what Iron Savior would do a decade later.

Scanner followed up Hypertrace a year later with Terminal Earth, an album that marked both a change in vocalists (former Angel Dust frontman S.L. Coe was brought in) and a step away from the conceptual elements of the debut. Stylistically, Terminal Earth carries on the blazing, hyperkinetic power metal sound found on Hypertrace. It also sounds a lot like what Gamma Ray would go on to do with their debut, which probably has a lot to do with how much Coe sounds like Kai Hansen. It’s another very strong power metal album, and even without the conceptual elements it’s every bit as epic as Scanner’s debut.

After decades out of print, Divebomb Records has delivered high quality reissues of both Hypertrace and Terminal Earth. Released to coincide with this year’s Record Store Day event (April 20), these reissues are limited to 1000 units each. They feature digitally remastered audio by Jamie King (who has handled so many other Divebomb reissues) and expanded liner notes that include an in-depth interview with founding guitarist Axel Julius. The Hypertrace reissue features the bonus track “Galactos,” which originally appeared on the 1989 Noise Records sampler Doomsday News Vol. I. They’re great looking, great sounding reissues, and given how hard the originals are to find, they’re likely to go quickly.

Sadly, near-constant lineup changes derailed the trajectory of Scanner’s career, so these two albums are considered cult classics instead of being revered the way Heading for Tomorrow, Tales From the Twilight World and the Keeper of the Seven Keys albums are. Still, if you’re a fan of classic power metal at all, these two albums are as essential as it gets. If you’re one of the few who already knew about Scanner, the remastering alone make these reissues a worthwhile purchase. For the rest of us, they give us the perfect way to discover a band that has been overlooked far too long.

Genre: Power Metal

Band:
Michael Knoblich (v – Hypertrace)
S.L. Coe (v – Terminal Earth)
Wolfgang Kolorz (d)
Martin Bork (b)
Tom Sopha (g)
Axel “A.J.” Julius (g)

Track Listing – Hypertrace

1. Warp 7
2. Terrion
3. Locked Out
4. Across the Universe
5. R.M.U.
6. Grapes of Fear
7. Retaliation Positive
8. Killing Fields
9. Wizard Force
10. Galactos

Track Listing – Terminal Earth

1. The Law
2. Not Alone
3. Wonder
4. Buy or Die
5. Telemania
6. Touch the Light
7. Terminal Earth
8. From the Dust of Ages
9. The Challenge
10. L.A.D.Y.

Label: Divebomb Records

Website: www.scanner4u.de

Hardrock Haven rating: Hypertrace – 9.25/10 | Terminal Earth – 8.75/10

D.A.M. | Human Wreckage and Inside Out (reissues)

by Justin Gaines
- Senior Columnist –

When it comes to the thrash metal scenes in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Bay Area and German scenes tend to garner the most attention, and that’s only appropriate given how influential both scenes were. What is too often overlooked – both then and now – is that the UK had its own thrash metal scene with some very impressive bands. Onslaught comes to mind as one of the leaders of that pack, as do Deathwish and Xentrix. One of the lesser known bands in that already overlooked scene was D.A.M. Short for Destruction and Mayhem, D.A.M. never really broke big, but they did manage to record – with the help of producer Harris Johns (who also produced Coroner, Voivod, Kreator) a pair of very solid albums on the Noise label, both of which have recently been reissued by Divebomb Records.

Originally released in 1989, Human Wreckage was D.A.M’s debut album, and right from the start you can see the band was going for something a bit different from the typical thrash sound. To be sure, speedy riffs and machine-gun rhythms play a big role in the sound here, but the band never really gets over the top with it, and there is just enough melody and accessibility to reach out to the average metal fan. It’s similar to Anthrax’s approach to thrash, and it works really well. You can see how this would have appealed to the British fan still spinning Motorhead, Savage and Atomkraft LPs. “Killing Time,” “Total Destruction” and the title track are standouts, but Human Wreckage is a very solid album from start to finish.

D.A.M’s 1991 follow-up Inside Out saw the departure of lead guitarist “Elly,” who was replaced by Dave Pugh. Pugh brought a higher level of technicality to the band’s sound, and that’s something that wasn’t really there on Human Wreckage. The band sounds tighter and more polished here, and while the music is still accessible they did shift to a more straightforward thrash sound (there’s a Forbidden vibe to some of these songs). The band progressed lyrically as well. The songs on Inside Out are smarter, more introspective and personal than the somewhat clichéd subjects from Human Wreckage. “House of Cards,” “Winter’s Tear” and “My Twisted Mind” are the highlights here, but again D.A.M. delivers another very solid overall album in Inside Out.

Divebomb’s 2012 reissues of Human Wreckage and Inside Out bring these two titles back to life after decades out of print. Both albums have been digitally remastered by Jamie King (who has a very impressive track record when it comes to breathing new life into these old thrash recordings) and feature liner notes loaded with interviews and rare photos. The Human Wreckage reissue also features multimedia content including the promotional video for “Human Wreckage” and a four song live performance from 1989. They’re both really well put-together reissues all-around.

While neither album ever reaches “essential” status and D.A.M. is never going to be considered an A-list thrash band, these reissues are still well worth checking out if you’re a fan of the classic ‘80s and early ‘90s thrash metal era. Fans of the UK thrash sound in particular will not want to miss these albums, especially now that they’ve been reissued. If you’re one of the few who picked them up the first time around, the remastering alone makes the new versions of Human Wreckage and Inside Out a worthwhile upgrade.

Genre: Thrash Metal

Band:
Elly (g, Human Wreckage)
Dave Pugh (g, Inside Out)
John Bury (g)
Jason McLaughlin (v)
Phil Bury (d)
Andy Elliott (b)

Track Listing (Human Wreckage)
1. M.A.D.
2. Death Warmed Up
3. Killing Time
4. Left to Rot
5. Prophets of Doom
6. Terror Squad
7. Total Destruction
8. Infernal Torment
9. Vendetta
10. Human Wreckage
11. Aliens
12. F.O.D

Track Listing (Inside Out):
1. Man of Violence
2. House of Cards
3. Appointment With Fear
4. Thought for the Day
5. Winter’s Tear
6. The Innocent One
7. My Twisted Mind
8. Circles
9. No Escape
10. Beneath Closed Eyes
11. Inside Outro

Label: Divebomb

Website: www.facebook.com/DAMmetal

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10