Rivet - Rivet

August 13, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Release Date: February 15, 2010
Label: Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING

1.  Total War
2.  Day of Infamy
3.  Arachnophobia
4.  Wrath and Ruin
5.  Flames of Death
6.  The Limits
7.  Time Kills
8.  Jezebel
9.  Poseidon
10.  Overdrive

Total playing time:  53:26

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*Comments:

What is severely lacking in thrash metal music in the current day is lack of the ‘easy-going’ thrash attack. That is, the thrash bands of today seem to always be ‘going for it’, racing against the invisible metal clock to be the fastest, “thrashiest”, most showcased band in the genre, competing with no less than a few thousand ghosts of yesterday. In short I suppose they lack that stripped-down element with which to handle the music. There’s something to be said for just doing what comes naturally without artificial flavoring.

Minnesota’s Rivet issues its first full-length CD of very old-school thrash metal that has that all-but-forgotten laid-back element to it. Vocalist/Guitarist Kevin Alter offers a heavy, powerful delivery with relative ease without relying on high-pitched screams or silly guttural belching; the natural simplicity of his voice is his best weapon. The best comparisons are early Fistful of Metal-era Anthrax, a bit of Metallica’s early days, the first Metal Church album, all with varying degrees of influence. The speedy thrash efforts most often diluted to the point of criminality these days seems to have been shunned appropriately by these St. Paul natives.

There’s certainly a lack of the polished product as evident in early thrash albums such as Ride the Lightning or the aforementioned Metal Church, but the true design of the medium was always based on that raw approach and Rivet rises to a very elevated peak. With songs like “Arachnophobia” and “Flames of Death” that call upon the days of old, Rivet is in line with Montana’s Judgment Hammer for reclaiming this thrash throne here in the States. “The Limits” has some great guitar work, also evident throughout the CD, which shows some true respect and belief in the project at hand. I really enjoy “Time Kills” where Alter’s vocals are so effortless to dig that the untrained ear might think he’s not in time with the melody, which I assure you he is. This warm, under-developed feel is precisely what the genre has been missing. 

There is nothing on this debut that’s going to rattle the cages of the thrash elitists among us, but for those of us that enjoy the occasional foray back in time to such a great period Rivet is worth a listen.