Ultimatum - Into The Pit
Retroactive Records

file under Speed / Thrash metal

Nima: When I received this album, my first thought was: “This looks rather familiar!”. After digging deep in my worn-out memory I realised I was dealing with the same American Ultimatum that released the debut album ‘Symphonic Extremities’ in 1995. The last sign of life from these thrashers was their ‘Til The End’ EP, and then we’re talking about seven years ago.

Last year the band finally released a new album. I use the word “finally” because the thrash metal these guys produce is the kind that applies to me perfectly. They don’t concentrate on the (unwritten) rules of the traditional Bay Area thrash and are one of the few bands that actually add something to the genre with their own interpretation. Ultimatum picks the chaotich elements of a band like Dark Angel, mixes it with the more neat sound of a band like Testament and adds the groove of a band like Pantera to the whole. What you get is a fistful of thrashers that make you realise once again why you call yourself a metal head. The rough and almost dirty, to Darren Travis reminding, vocals of Scott Waters fits perfectly to the whole and makes you put the evil look back on your face, with the fitting devil horns and ballistic movements. And that’s the exact feeling that makes me say “Yeah! This is METAL!”

However, not all the songs on this album are new. The CD contains the complete ‘Til The End’ EP and they have also re-recorded the fantastic headbanger ‘Blink’ from the debut album. Also on this record is represented a rather successful version of the Iron Maiden classic ‘Wrathchild’. So what remains are five brand new songs, but of course that is no reason for less pleasure, because the sound and production of the re-recorded songs is ten times better than the originals. And besides, mixing the old songs with the new ones proves that the band hasn’t changed it’s original course and that is, to me, only positive. This album also shows that Ultimatum is back and that’s the most important. Being a real thrasher, you can purchase this album without hesitation.

Rating: 85/100 (details)

http://www.ultimatum.net