Retro Raunch Revisit

The band's standout crushing 4th album and the first to feature both guitarist Marty and drummer Nick whose predecessors were fired ahead of the 1988 Australian tour. Dimebag Darrell of PANTERA had been invited to join but declined after requesting his brother Vinnie be asked also which was turned down. Original guitarist Chris had been asked to rejoin and was nearly a lock but the move was turned down by management. With a formidable lineup (that would go on to be the band's most celebrated & accomplished for their chemistry), RIP's snarling nihilistic lyrical themes (considered some of singer Dave's finest writing) tackle politics, religion, conspiracy, war, and Dave's battle with substance abuse, while the music is steeped in melody, great crystal clear production, and impeccable dual trade-off shredding guitars in a complimentary barrage of surgical precision riffs & solos that skillfully don't fall into the trap of being boringly formulaic. RIP raised the thrash bar to a new level of boundary-bending maturity & complexity mixed with punkish rage in never a dull moment. Regardless of present controversial opinions on Dave, the album is an unconventional winning recipe viewed by many as a stepping stone, was nominated for a 1991 Best Metal Performance Grammy, featured 2 hit singles (each also videos that saw heavy video rotation), and is considered one of the genre's pinnacle best albums of the 90's having received numerous accolades & gold certification. Happy 35th Anniversary and R.I.P. Nick Menza.