Flotsam and Jetsam – Blood in the Water (2021)

Reviewed by: Chris Hammond (Digital Download)

Flotsam And Jetsam -Blood in the Water
Label: AFM Records
Style: Heavy Metal/Thrash

Tracklist

1. Blood In The Water (4:17)
2. Burn The Sky (4:27)
3. Brace For Impact (4:33)
4. A Place To Die (4:22)
5. The Walls (4:41)
6. Cry For The Dead (4:36)
7. The Wicked Hour (4:56)
8. Too Many Lives (4:49)
9. Grey Dragon (4:27)
10. Reaggression (4:11)
11. Undone (3:19)
12. Seven Seconds ‘Til The End Of The World (4:53)
    
    Current band Members
    Eric AK / Vocals
    Michael Gilbert / Guitars
    Steve Conley / Guitars
    Ken Mary / Drums
    William Bodily / Bass
    
    

Flotsam and Jetsam have been in the metal game for 35 years now. They formed in Phoenix, Arizona, and first released the full album “Doomsday For The Deceiver” to rave reviews, especially from the magazine Kerrang!. The band’s bassist Jason Newsted would leave the band to join Metallica. Flotsam and Jetsam would go on and release 14 studio albums including the newest offering “Blood in the Water”.

Blood in the water starts with what should be a future classic “Blood in the Water”. Listeners will be treated to a crash course in Thrash. Eric AK’s vocals are strong, defiant, and perfectly fitted for the musical massacre that this song deploys. The bass, guitars, and Drums tell the story without words, only using Heavy Metal as its compass.

“Burn the Sky” picks up where the opening song leaves off. Ken Mary’s drum onslaught is relentless, this man has to be more machine than human. Gilbert and Conley steer the ship through the bloody water with ease and extreme shredding talent. William Bodily’s bass playing wipes the memories that Jason Newsted used to be in the band away. He is Flotsam and Jetsam’s bass and that is evident with every song on this no filler album.

Ak’s vocals are very strong and Halford-esque on the song “Brace for impact”. Dueling guitar shredding solos smack listeners in the face with glee as the song powers on. “A Place to Die” and “The Walls” carry on the gambit of the aforementioned songs never missing a beat.

The slowest song on the album “Cry for the Dead” starts slow but takes waves of aggression as Eric AK ” growls the lyrics “I can’t live without the ones I love”. This is a rollercoaster of ups and downs, tempo changes, and guitar solos. A beautifully orchestrated arrangement.

The very progressive “Undone” showcases bass and drums with Ak’s spoken-like vocals let the band show off their talents in glorious fashion.

Flotsam and Jetsam have crafted a very strong album from top to bottom in Blood in the Water. They top their previous offering in “The End of Chaos” and have congealed into a cohesive Thrash Metal group to be mentioned in the same being as Metallica, Megadeth, and more. Blood in the Water is a strong album musically, vocally, and honestly in every shape and form. It shows Flotsam and Jetsam are still hungry and have many things to offer their fans and Metal. The band has matured over the years and stays relevant to this day. Long live the legacy of a band that can still mold a masterpiece in this day and age. Flotsam and Jetsam’s legacy stays intact and leaves listeners wanting more.
Rating 5 out of 5
Available June 4/2021 Digital, Compact Disc, LP
Official Flotsam and Jetsam Website