Airdash - Hospital Hallucinations Take One
Diablo
1990
I was astonished to discover that Gloomy Grim vocalist Agathon was in fact Ykä, the drummer for old-school Finnish thrash act Airdash. Now, I'm no expert on Airdash; I stumbled across this CD in a used record store. When you see that telltale font and the bright colors only '80s albums had - and the back shows the band in white hi-tops - you buy that shit.
This album is solid '80s thrash, no more and no less. Anthrax is the closest reference point, not only in the vocals but also the riffs, gang vocals, and snares-on-downbeats grooves. The vocals also recall Death Angel (though if you think about it, that also sort of points back to Anthrax). The production is good, and the performances are tight and occasionally shredding. Great riffs abound, and as a genre exercise, the album is quite good.
I've also found Airdash's third and final album, Both Ends of the Path. However, it's an absolute piece of shit, so much so that I am tempted to ring up Ykä and ask for my two euro back. Airdash's first album is available as Real Audio files at Vibrations of Doom. Hospital Hallucinations is long out-of-print, so happy hunting!
Labels: clee, finland, thrash metal
7 Comments:
Like Realm, another thrash gem from the eighties that you can't find anymore. Thank God a buddy saved my original album that I sold him so I can still listen.
Realm, Toxic, Stone all cross over to technothrash, really. This is kinda ok kinda shamey bay area worship. I can see why the drummer didn't carry on drumming, for though he has solid meter, the lack of fill or embellishment reminds of a certain Dane, only *worse*.
Oranges, check out Rosicrucian - No Cause for Celebration for one of the best flashy thrash metal (not really techno although the guitarists could certainly pull it off if they so desired) albums seemingly nobody talks about.
You know, I've heard that Rosicrucian name tossed around by others in the know - I'll have to check 'em out! Thanks for the tip.
Ahhh, how I love old school thrash. Not too shabby. Not great, but I'd buy it for damn sure. Certainly an obscure gem...
o yeah, i like this. i mos def hear the Anthrax in it. the Belladonna vocals are totally there also. good pick.....
Thank you for this post! I just realised it've been at least 13-15 years since I've listened to Airdash.
You know, I was too young at the time the Finnish speed/thrash metal scene was blooming (1988-1991, perhaps), but still, when I got into metal in early 1990s there where not that many other bands coming from Finland than Stone, Airdash, Prestige, National Napalm Syndicate and A.R.G.
Honestly Airdash sounds pretty weak now, especially compared to Stone (and even Prestige) that have aged way much better, but still - that was a band I prefered back then.
Ah, the mighty Stone! If only more people knew the Stone/Children of Bodom connection. It's a strange story, if you think about it.
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