Scumripper For a Few Fixes More CD Review

I've been on a blackened thrash spree lately and the party continues with Scumripper. This Finnish three-piece is relatively new to the game, but one would think otherwise when running through their sophomore album 'For a Few Fixes More'. I couldn't help but find influences of everyone from Iron Reagan and Hellripper to Toxic Holocaust and Dismember. This really shines through in each track as nothing sounds "too samey" and the songs and styles progress through the album.

I have a lot of respect for a band when there's no wasted motion or time and that's the case here as 'For a Few Fixes More' is nine tracks clocking in at a lean 28 minutes. The first couple of tracks - "I Am the Trash of Evil Men" and "Early Embittered Twilight" start things off in a furious manner and showcase some of the best thrash elements of the album. Then comes along "The Slime" which starts off with some great thrash riffs and ultimately turns into something sludge metal fans will appreciate. "Knights of Summer" is somewhat similar with its fluctuating tempos and doomy atmosphere. My favorite offering here is "Exhume the Body and Disturb the Peace" which is truly remarkable as it goes from straight to jugular aggression to melodic Arch Enemy-style riffs in the bridges which caught me completely off guard. Another standout is "I Cum Pain". And while my brain immediately went to Cannibal Corpse for the song title ("I Cum Blood"), it's the music that caught my attention because, for some weird reason, it reminded me of a Danzig and Sabbath doom orgy.

If you're looking for a unique thrash experience that incorporates elements of death, sludge and doom metal, you'll be happier than Homer Simpson with a box of donuts with Scumripper's latest effort. I'm really looking forward to seeing where these guys go in the future with their breadth of different influences and their ability to weave this tapestry together so seamlessly.

~TJ