Torn Flesh
Thrashin'
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
This thrash punk band from Ohio has released a four-song preview of an upcoming album (due out this summer). They describe their music as a mix of blues, surf, metal and ballad, all cemented with a fast, hard-driving punk/clash sound. The band elaborates: "We are sick of the candy-coated crucifixion sermons and watered-down lyrics from other groups. Our music and lyrics come right to the point about what Jesus suffered - all the pain, torment and anguish He went through for us. Christ loves us so much, it killed Him. Jesus also wants to kill our carnal hearts and make us a new creature in Christ." Their music is aggressive and punky. It has a real garage sound, production-wise, but it's listenable. The song titles are: "Living Active"; "Dead to the World"; "No Surfin' in Hell"; and "Love Kills." They do mix an upfront, thrashing, in-your-face style of music with a real radical, self-denying message of commitment to Jesus. "Living Active" starts off the tape with a take-off of Rez's debut album, Awaiting Your Reply. A soft-spoken deejay comes on to introduce an "interesting new group" and then looks at the title and introduces it in shock, "Torn Flesh?" If you'd like to have this four-song EP, send $5.50 to SackCloth And Ashes Music, Rt. 1 Box 612, Chesapeake OH 45619. 75 cents of the money you send will go to mailing you the tape, and the other $4.75 will go towards the studio expenses for their upcoming 10-song LP.