Words by Daryl Daryl
Out 28 August 2026
Via Napalm Records
Flotsam and Jetsam arrive on a tide that is raising classic thrash to prominence alongside a wave of reborn metal acts. Choosing the path of modern production rather than returning to the muted tones of their ’80s tracks, the band have found a unique voice. The guitars have an upper-mid fizzle absent in other productions that helps the riffs cut through and leaves space for the bass, which is played so well it is almost part of the drums, potentially misleading you into thinking it received that infamous Metallica mix.
Where the album benefits most from modern production is in the vocals. Stadium-ready chants and ascending and descending runs are delivered with a natural, effortless-sounding rasp that surpasses A.K.’s previous efforts. The hooks stand out and pull you in, regardless of who is delivering them, guitar or vocals. Precision harmonies abound as the classic thrash masters prove their worth once again in the modern era.
The album starts competently enough, but it doesn’t really take off until Rats in the Temple induces that pursed-lip nod of appreciation. Uncontrollable head-banging quickly follows, reminding long-standing fans why Flotsam and Jetsam command a permanent spot in their hearts. This title track is a guaranteed winner for anyone not yet convinced. Followed immediately by The Ghost Behind My Door, the album truly locks in and starts cooking.
Harvesting the Hate and Damnation are two tracks that essentially function like a pair of groundworkers prepping the land for the precise guitar work on Absolution and beyond. Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley deliver a performance on this album that is tight, melodic, and technically excellent.
The record peaks with Last Rites, easily one of the finest moments on the entire album, before A Taste for War locks the drums and bass together with the brutal, mechanical precision of a Challenger tank. By the time Not Going Down That Way arrives, the band have proved they are still a wrecking ball in the crammed marketplace of this millennium’s thrash metal masters.
UPCOMING AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Tickets and info available at:
churchesofsteel.com
Wednesday, Sept 30 – Brisbane – Crowbar
Thursday, Oct 1 – Adelaide – Lion Arts Factory
Friday, Oct 2 – Melbourne – Max Watt’s
Saturday, Oct 3 – Sydney – Crowbar
