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DELIRIUM TREMENS
Read My Fist

Iron Shield (2014)
Rating: 3.5/10

Taking their name from a term which literally means “shaking frenzy” – which comes from alcohol withdrawal – this German thrash quintet are one of many to adopt such a moniker, but this bunch of beer-fuelled moshers have in fact been swigging, gigging and rocking since the mid-90s, releasing debut opus Violent Mosh Ground back in 1999.

Delirium Tremens followed up that rather mediocre slab with 2004’s Thrashing Warthogs, but again have taken an age to churn out their third record, this being Read My Fist – a rather drunken, stumblin’, mumblin’ thrash ’n’ roll record that does literally everything it says on the bottle and nothing more.

This is generic thrash metal with dull lyrics, spitting vocals and formulaic clanking riffs, but for all of its fun and frolicking, it just doesn’t have the ability to stand out from the crowd. There are thousands of bands creating similar soundscapes since the thrash revival, but these guys have been churning out this rather bland style since 1996.

This album just speeds by without effect – hinting at the usual 80s thrash icons Kreator and Destruction – and what is very clear is that the band have made no progression whatsoever from their 2004 release. Why is it that so many bands of this ilk not only all sound the same, but in their stubbornness / stupidity just cannot write a decent song to catch the ear?

Whether it’s the title track, the idiotic ‘We’ll Be Drunk Forever’, ‘Thrash And Be Trashed’ or the goofy ‘Backyard Wrestling’, the humour is not welcome amid those speedy riffs, clanging drums and the typical spitting sneers of frontman Rowdy Mütze Piper (aka Christian Lindner), who clearly thinks it’s amusing to share his first and last name with a famous wrestler. When one considers that the other four members also have adopted Rowdy into their name, however, the joke tends to wear thin, just like the appeal of the music.

Delirium Tremens are the final nail in the coffin when it comes to hearing revival thrash. I’m not sure I can take any more of this tiresome brand of predictable metal, which seems to spend all of its life in the worship of alcohol and silly humour. Having never been a fan of humour-drenched thrash metal, it’s still safe to say that 80s thrash heroes Acid Reign, Re-Animator and the likes were nonetheless responsible for some good solid albums. On this showing, however, there’s nothing rowdy, responsible or riveting about Read My Fist, which is just another bog-standard face in the crowd and one worth ignoring.

Neil Arnold

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