Viking - Man of Straw (1989)

Man of Straw is an interesting album with some clear changes and concessions from the blitz of Viking's debut Do or Die. For one, the production is far superior, with a great clear guitar tone that sounds good even after a few decades. Ron Daniels is also better on this album, though he loses little in the way of his angered edge (perhaps sounding a little closer to Araya here). Daniels had also become a born again Christian, so a lot of the lyrics to this album would quality the band as a Christian thrash act, though not all of them. This can be distracting if you are one to actually sit and read through while you listen, provided you belong to the metal majority that believes Jesus should have nothing to do with certain forms of metal (well, not in a positive, inspiring light).

But really, though I thought some of the lyrics were crap myself, they in no way hinder the real strength of Man of Straw, which is the improved capacity for catchy guitar riffs. Sure, they may not evoke the speedway disaster of Do or Die's endless, storming rhythms, but they stand out through a number of tracks. "White Death" begins with an epic mosh sequence, reminiscent of something Anthrax might write, and it evolves into a Destruction-like, rolling rhythm which makes it one of the most memorable pieces on the album. "They Raped the Land" follows a similar pattern, and "Twilight Fate" offers yet another big mosh/crunch sequence, though it quickly morphs into a faster, thrashing gait. "The Trial" is the most Jesus-centric of the album's compositions, with a fine bass-driven intro and riffs that would not have sounded out of place on an earlier Slayer album. "Case of the Stubborns" is one of the best songs I've heard from Viking, with a catchy stop/start in between its flowing speed metal mutes, melodies, and great breakdowns that will have you tearing up the pit (or your couch, whichever is closest).

Expiration date is spent and blood in veins turned sour
Many days ago we passed, supposed final hours
Unused organs start to swell, limbs begin to stiffen
Though life continues, death advances, avoidance of oblivion

"Winter" builds a slowly thrashing rhythm, huge crunch and tone propelling Daniel's vocals, and when it kicks on the speed after the 3:00 mark, you are sucked right back into the style of riff that dominated the debut. The choice to cover Pat Benatar's "Hell is For Children" may seem uncanny on the surface, but Viking do a surprisingly good job with it, and it's more interesting than a lot of metal band covers of other metal bands. "Creative Divorce" is another of Viking's best, with a steady flow of rhythms which recalls their earlier energy, emboldened with the more brazen production of Man of Straw. Good song, and a nice lead-in to the bass-fueled intro to the title track, which also features some strong riffs, like the one that breaks out at 1:40.

Man of Straw was a step forward for this band, whether or not you agree with the appearance of the few Christian-themed lyrics. They still sounded close enough to their peers (Dark Angel, Slayer, Sadus, Hexx, etc) to create a nice overlap of fans, but not too much like any one single band that you'd consider them derivative. Of course, Man of Straw would mark the end for the Californians, so we are left in the dark as to whether lightning could have struck again. But surely there is a great potential here and this is a good album, which has only lost a smidgeon of appeal in the decades since. Fittingly, guitarist Brett Sarachek would go to join Dark Angel for a few years, including the Time Does Not Heal album.

Highlights: White Death, Case of the Stubborns, Creative Divorce, Man of Straw

Verdict: Win [7.75/10] (dissolution, a parting of the ways)

http://rondaniel.com/viking/viking.html

Viking - Do or Die (1988)

Viking was a Californian band formerly known as Tracer, who generated some buzz from Metal Blade records that resulted in their signing and the release of the debut Do or Die. This is a pretty fast and intense record, with an unrelenting streak that survives through the majority of its tracks. For comparisons, think of other extreme Californian acts like Dark Angel, Slayer, Sadus (sans the loud bass), Vio-Lence and perhaps later Hexx (when they switched to thrash metal), and you'll get a pretty fair idea of what Viking were pushing. Although this is a fair effort with a lot of unbridled, raw energy, only a few of the tracks manage to provoke some memorable riffing; the remainder are simply torn through, but at the very least I promise you will be headbanging for almost the entire 32 minutes.

Ron Daniel has a pissed off vocal profile not unlike a mix of Don Doty and Tom Araya, and he spits all over these 9 tracks with a very natural balance of aggression...they don't really clip any of the expression from his barking, so while it may often feel monotone (ala Dark Angel), it can occasionally become wild and charismatic. The guitars just don't stop...they are cruising and thrashing and such maximum velocity that it's hard to imagine these guys (Daniel and Brett Sarachek) getting some lock up in their hands. But then, this is going to be the appeal of Do or Die, it's savage thrusting. Matt Jordan (drums) and James Lareau (bass) are certainly up to the task of keeping pace, the drums are like a storm of slapping sticks and skins which maintain the tempos with precision.

This album blows on by at 90 mph; first with the aggressive "Warlord", and then "Hellbound", with a speed equal to what you'd heard on Eternal Nightmare by Vio-Lence, though the riffs are somewhat less distinct, and Daniel's vocals do not stick out quite like Sean Killian. It's hard to imagine a fan of Darkness Descends not becoming excited here, because very few of the Bay Area/California thrashers were performing so relentlessly and recklessly. "Militia of Death" also bursts on by, as does "Prelude/Scavenger". "Valhalla" actually slows things down to a normal street thrash level, first banging rhythms in full effect, and "Burning from Within" begins with a creepier, slow-paced churning reminiscent of old Pestilence, though it picks up into one of the more intense tracks on the recording. "Berserker" is awesome indeed, a blast of excitement that delivers in both its riffing and speed. "Killer Unleashed" opens with some rolling bass rhythm and descending dual leads, creating a horror-like atmosphere before the forceful thrashing begins. "Do or Die" is another of the better tracks, with more of the band's exciting, unforgiving riffs below some of Daniel's more sporadic vocals and motivational lyrics.

Make it or break it - that's our battle call
That's the way you've got to live your time
If you won't do it now, don't do it at all
Wasting days is a moral crime

Do or Die seems such a fitting title for this album, because the band walks into the studio and blows their way through the playlength with abandon. The following album, Man of Straw, is quite reserved by comparison, but makes up for it in other ways. The mix here is somewhat muddled, with guitars that churn like butter, but not much of a setback since you will be focusing in on the endless stream of riffing. And to that extent, there are just enough quality guitar lines here to break the bank. Even when forgettable, the sheer force of the delivery is enough to ensure that any fan of extreme California thrash and speed of the 80s will appreciate this.

Highlights: Burning from Within, Berserker, Do or Die

Verdict: Win [7/10] (no time to catch your breath tonight)

http://rondaniel.com/viking/viking.html