Customer Reviews

Violent Restitution

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Part of the early Canadian thrash movement (that included Exciter, Raven, Sacrifice and Voivod), Razor defiantly stick to there guns and release another brutal thrash disc at a time when the thrash movement was starting to loose its steam. Lyrically based upon revenge and getting even, vocalist Stace "Sheepdog" Mclauren rages with one of the great thrash voices ever and a tribute to that is the opening track. He holds the opening scream for about a good minute and leaves the listener slack jawed. Another Razor trademark is the riptide, wall of noise riffing by guitarist Dave Carlo. ALL of Razor's discs (which are 10 if you count their 1st ep and their compilation double cd) are chock full of intense prototypical thrash riffing. The main songwriter and the heart of the band, Dave Carlo continues to amaze with his dedication to his music and his fans. A great thrash metal disc, with brutal Slayer-like intensity and raw anger, as all of their releases are, the underground and thrash in general are better off with these purveyors of metal plying their trade. As it is, it's amazing that a record company hasn't picked up the rights to their (extremely hard to find)older discs. "Executioner's Songs", "Evil Invaders", "Malicious Intent" and "Custom Killing" are all worthy thrash metal classics and if you're looking for their later releases, they are available on Fringe Records under the band's own Fistfight Record label. Stay true to the underground and support the unacknowledged forefathers of the movement!

This is only like the fourth review I have written here on Amazon, and I feel as though I am doing myself a personal injustice as I enjoy getting long in the tooth with my reviews. Simply put, this (as well as the other Razor albums) RULES!!! I know people will knock this as a Slayer rip off or whatever, and they were definitely "inspired" to understate it. However, they are cool in that they don't have the whole occult thing going on. I mean they resemble Slayer, but they do have their own thing going on as well. This band just conveys a message of attitude. The riffing, drumming, and Sheepdog's vocals (along with punctual grunts and screams) rule. The volume level on this does not allow one to play it at a forcefully offensive volume and that is the sole gripe about this plasticized pleasure. I would give this a 5, but only in the realm of thrash. I admit it is not the most mature of music, but I am not the most mature of people. And to hell with pretentious b.s. anyhow. Opeth are criminally overrated, and conceited, as well as snobby "art-musicians" who pass judgement on their percieved lack of talent in music. That, my friends, I don't need. I can spot suck from a mile away, trust me. So we go with the 4 (because Amazon does nothing halfway).

THRASH OR BE THRASHED!!!

Most thrash enthusiaists who weren't around for the original scene in the mid-80s to early 90s would say if you told them this was a great album, "Who is Razor?" Typically non-U.S. Thrash bands had a difficult time getting noticed in the U.S. market. Voivod broke the barrier, and Exciter was hot for a minute, but few others were noticed.

While Razor albums were (and apparently still are) tough to find, they are definitely worth the effort. Here on this 1988 effort, the band develops their sound even further (which is a lot like Slayer, a touch of Sodom or Kreator, with a little dash of Hardcore flare -almost like how Vio-lence did it at times.)

It's hard to pick up this album with out chuckling because it is loosely a concept album about revenge. Also proudly stated on the inside of the front insert and on the back covers is, "This album is dedicated to Charles Bronson." Ha, must have seen "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" the year before one too many times. But from the first song you know it is going to be awesome because the opening track "The Marshall Arts", yields a 27 second long scream from the frontman! Nothing short of impressive. The vocals are good mid range mostly with the occasional well placed scream here and there. The guitar riffs are the highlight of the album coming up with catchy verses at every turn and some impressive solos that scream and whale yet are also precisely executed. The drumming pounds on and on and is mostly competent. The only thing that is annoyning about it is that the crash cymbals seem to have been poorly recorded and they kinda have a ring to 'em. This album should have been the break out album for this band because it has all the good elements to it (brutal, competent playing, decent overall production), but why this band was not on everyone's map at the time will remain a mystery.

If you like 80s Thrash metal, especially bands that are on the more brutal side, and are tired of playing the same records over and over again, pick this one up. You're sure to love it.

I WANT TO LET THE WORLD KNOW. I FIRST HEARD THIS IN N,Y, WHERE I HAD MOVED TO FROM FLA JUST FOR ONE YEAR AND I LOVED IT AND IT ROCKED.MY FRIEND HAD THE C.D.AND THAT IS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.MY FRIED FAXON AND MYSELF WOULD LISTEN TO IT AND SMOKE ASS KICKING HASH AT THE SAME TIME.WELL I MOVED BACK TO FLA AND FOUND OUT I COULD NOT BUY IN THE USA.TEN YEARS TRYING TO GET IT STILL.NO JOKE...I WENT TO FRIENDS HOUSE WHO HAD A COMPUTER ,I ASKED HIM TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND IT THROUGH A RECORD COMPNY AND HE TURN TO ME WHILE SMOKING SOME GOOD CRIPPY WEED I FELL ON MY ASS CHOKING AND FLIPPED OUT.IT TOOK ME TEN YEARS WHILE IT TOOK HIM TEN SECOUNDS.I COILD NOT BELIEVE IT MAN.TEN YEARS OF LOOKING AND SEARCHING AND HERE IT WAS( WOW ) .NOW I CRANK IT THROUGH 220 WATTS OF PURE POWER WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THROUGH 575 WATTS OF HOME EQPMENT ALSO PURE BALLS AS WELL.I LOVE AND STILL SHOCKED ABOUT IT.MY FRIEND TOM WHO FOUND IT TURNED AND ORDERD IT WITH OUT MY KNOWING IT .CALLED MY UP TO COME OVER AND I DID HE SAID HERE THIS IS YOUR C.D. OF RAZOR .I SAT ALL NIGHT LONG OUTSIDE IN THE BACK DRINKING AND SMOKING WITH IT CRANK UPFULL F*CKING THROTTLE.I HAD TO TELL SOME ONE THIS BECUASE IM STILL TRIPPING OVER IT.I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN A FAN CLUB OF THIS BAND.MY ADDRESS IS THEGRIZZ3@YAHOO.COM ((HIGH CAPS)).SOME CONTACT ME FOR THIS OR ANOTHER FAN AS WELL..RAZOR KICKS ALL ASS......THE GRIZZ!!!!

Violent Restitution is one of the most brutally fastest album's to come outta the late 80's. Every riff is Chainsaw-Razor-Sharp that just diggs right into your ears, and The Bass just right there backing up the guitar with the more heavier distortion sounds. Drums are just perfect classic blast(Bass/Snare/Bass/Snare) with good double-bass at the right moment, crazy fast Tom-Rolls. Vocals are a little more heavier than any razor album before Violent Restitution, Not a deep growl or anything like that just a little more extreme for the razor sound.
Marshall Arts is a classic opening song that is mainly instrumental no vocals except a 27 second long scream let loose by Stace "Sheepdog" Mclauren(By the way this is the last Razor album he performed on). This intro just goes riff to riff with each one getting better.
Behind Bars is a amazing song, No wonder why Cannibal Corpse covered it. A little over 2 mins, just straight speeding past the speed limit all the way through.

This is one of those albums that every song is good not a bad song at all and if you think there's a slow song...NO!! Easily compared to Vio-Lence's "Eternal Nightmare", or Sacrifice's "Forward to termination", or Artillery's "By Inheritance" and lastly Slayer's "Reign in Blood". Get this album before the next thing you know its outta print going for at least $50. Hail to Canadian Thrash!!!!

This band is amazing and this album is one of their best. How this band didn't get the credit it deserved is criminal. They out perform any of the big four even though I love them too and thats a huge statement. But listen to Razor's albums and you will see, I hope these guys come back again soon to kick our a$$e$. This album is worth it for Marshall Arts alone let alone the treasure trove of metal on this cd.

This album came out of nowhere. It's nothing like the other albums before it but it's better and more aggressive. The three albums after this one are all evolutions from this one. This album was picked up by SPV from Razor's independent label, Fist Fight Records. That shows how impressive this album is. The tone on this album and the ones that follow it is kind of like Exodus but not the same. I love it. There are no bad songs on this album and there are 14 songs. This is definitely worth getting, even if it's $20.00

i agree that razor kicks ass.violent restitution is a great cd,the razor cd that really kicks ass i cannot find.in 1985 when i first heard of razor there album "evil invaders"was out.this is the best and hardest razor music.the problem is i have it on cassette and haven't been able to find it on cd.if anyone can help me please email me at face_2002@webtv.net.razor still kicks ass!!!!!!!!!!

Chainsaws long before jackal. And very heavy. Yes downtown Ghulph really makes me want to puke! Disipline is a classic!

This is a fantastic thrash/speed metal album. 16 songs and every one of them kicks ass! this is true thrash metal, with lots of intricate guitar leads and tempo changes. drumming is out of this world! Most of th songs are based on the theme of REVENGE, hence the album title. The liner notes summarize "this album is DEDICATED TO CHARLES BRONSON!" yeah babay YEAH!!!