CD review, Apr 07. Realm – Endless War

Reviewed - 08.04.07

Oooh, what can I say about this?! Realm and I go back. Many moons ago a fellow school kid told me about this band, that he had this album and later brought in the vinyl for me to check out. I’d never heard of them and was surprised he had, every kid was a metaller circa ’87 cos it was cool, but I fancied myself as the real deal. So I nabbed it, got it home and checked it out… Bang! Shit, it was fast, thrashy as fuck and the singer high pitch punked his way throughout, peppering the tracks with some insane shrieking that stood up there with King Diamond and Flotsam’s Erik AK! I thought it was awesome! I never did convince my school chum to sell me the record, even though like most kids he didn’t really bother with Metal much after that. None of that growing up shit for me!

I have to be honest, since those heady days, and aside from a couple of dozen listens to my tape copy, I haven’t heard this album in years. Question is, does this album still deliver, twenty years later? Well I’m happy to say yes, in spades! Endless War is a fine late 80’s thrash album; it has all those great fast thrashing sections, nice breakdowns and frenetic yet tasteful guitar solos. The opener and title track pretty much sets the tone with a straight speed section and Mark Antoni’s pretty much trademark high pitched vocals stating Realm’s case for thrash classic status. Now I don’t know if he used some clever but subtle delay or double tracking but I kind of doubt it, this guy just has a great voice. Luckily while I find some of that high pitched screeching a bit irritating, Antoni comes through with lower register vocals in similar fine fettle. Endless War is also a very inventive record, throwing caution to the wind, forgoing the average 16 bar and change thrash-isms for some almost progressive, 70’s rock style workouts that space out the meatier sections nicely. It’s a very musical album, like some thrashing King Crimson at times.

The great thing about this album is, even though it’s often up-tempo and regularly switches gears, it flows really well. Insane guitar solos come in at just the right time uping the tempo, choruses hit the spot. Who doesn’t want to scream Slaaaay The Oppressooor at full metal tilt?? The tracks flow pretty nicely too, new sections layer over each other giving a real sense of purpose and by track three Eminence we’re into a more open music workout before getting back to business. Later All Heads Will Turn To The Hunt brings the groove with a cool lumbering chorus wrapped around some great riffing and arrangements. Yet while the pace may occasionally drop, the energy doesn’t and a bizarre highlight comes in the form of a pretty blistering cover of The Beatles Eleanor Rigby!

I can’t really think of any thrash bands I’d compare this to that would do Endless War justice. To me it just feels a little more leftfield and mature. It has what I’d feel is some early Queensryche or Toxic type vibe yet the sound has almost a whiff of Pink Floyd on (lots of) speed, and there’s plenty of early USA style Kreator or maybe Whiplash overriding any mellow or sub-par possibilities. This is a little known must have for anyone that fancies themselves a Thrasher or Thrash-Progressive freak. Endless War really does stand the test of time, 20 years later, and to me sounds even better than my lucky young self thought the first time. Liner notes include a nice history and a thoughtful write-up by guitarist Takis Kinis. Classic.