The album starts thrashy enough as the drug themed ‘Home Sweet Grow’ kicks off the action with the album’s strongest track, ‘Taker’ following, firmly keeping the metal mood alive. The material here sounds closest to early 90’s MEGADETH with a hint of signature Rampage D.O.A era punk thrown in for good measure. Rampage’s voice throughout switches between the snarling Mustaine style and an Alice Cooper influenced, sleazy tone. The perfect voice for a punk thrash record.

The speed comes down a bit for ‘Slowly‘ (no pun intended!), the album’s punkiest moment particulalry with the lead riff sounding straight from the DEAD KENNEDYS repertiore. However, If you love your metal ANTHRAX style then the two tracks for you are ‘Spare Change’ and ‘Church of TV’ with strong shouted choruses and speedy metal riffery to boot.

‘Brainwarp Mindspin’ also has the occasional slice of humour, check out ‘Pig Farm Willy’, much in the same vein as the GREEN JELLY classic ‘Three Little Pigs’. Also, ‘Suck-Cess’ is an ode to what’s known here in England as a ‘brown-noser’ (if you’ve not heard the phrase before, I’m sure you can work it out!), the chorus simply reading “Who’s ass do ya kiss?”

If you like your old school thrash metal with a strong hint of punk then STRESS FACTOR 9 are the band who provide exactly that on ‘Brainwarp Mindspin’. The riffs are great, the lyrics are well-thought out (and often humourous) and the low budget production gives the album a suitably raw sound. Definitely worth checking out if you can.

Rating 3.6/5.0

James Allman

Release Date : Out now – www.centurymediashop.com

Links : www.stressfactor9.com

UK Dates : (with ARMORED SAINT) June 27th – Sheffield Corporation, June 28th – Belfast Spring & Airbrake, July 1st – London Camden Underworld