Reign of Terror is the kind of classic barrage of electrifying sound that ought to put a big goofy smile on the faces of all heavy metal fans. And although it’s the debut release by Rabid Flesh Eaters (from Arlington, Texas), it’s clearly the product of people who’ve got metal in their veins instead of blood and a deep knowledge, experience, and affection for full-throttle mayhem. You’ll have a chance to hear what I mean through our premiere stream of the whole album — which is being released today.

On this date five years ago, the late Mike Scaccia (of Rigor Mortis and Ministry fame) agreed to record the album, and he also contributed a scintillating solo on its opening track, “Lycanthrope”. The production quality will be one of the first things you notice about the album — the sound is so powerful, so sharp, and so immediate that it’s as if you’re right inside a room with the band — a room whose walls are being blasted outward by the explosiveness of the sound. And although Scaccia‘s solo is a thing of beauty, there are white-hot solos salted all the way through the album that will make you want to raise your clawed hands to the sky (check out the one in “B.T.K.”, for example, if you want to really get bug-eyed by the shred). Continue reading »