Swedish thrashers F.K.U. return with another set of horror inspired thrash metal tracks in the form of “1981”, a bloodbath of speed metal that pays homage to the year of classic horror movies, 1981. With iconic films such as Halloween II, Friday the 13th part 2 and The Evil Dead covered, this was bound to be filled with some classic sounding stuff and sure enough it is.
The goal with the new album, inspired by Corpse Mania, Night School as well as the timeless classics Halloween II and Friday the 13th Part 2 was to take the listener back to the old days. Back when you and your friends went to the local video store to rent video cassettes and weren’t even able to download your movies from the internet.
That’s the mantra of this album as stated by the band’s press release and while thrash metal generally tends to stay in touch with it’s roots even after 30 years of mayhem, “1981” is a true homage to old school entertainment in the way of horror inspired metal. From the opening title track straight out of the gates from hell, to the blood curdling bonus ender “Evil Dead“, F.K.U. are relentless in getting their roots out to the listener and seeing if horror fans pick up on the various throwbacks to what’s considered by many to be the golden age of horror films.Tributes to horror films is nothing new to F.K.U. though if you know their history, it’s a recurring theme that combines their passion for the gory and the fast music.
While nothing amazingly new will be found here as it’s pretty much old school thrash from start to finish, it’s the aggressive nature of the songs and the way F.K.U. approach the songs and the results of it that really stand out here. Musically each track does share the common theme of speed, unrelentless and unadulterated without question so if consistency is your thing then you will certainly love this album. Occasionally it does deviate slightly to a mid-tempo groove like in the break halfway in the aggressively heavy “Friday The 13th part 2” or the simplistic circus-like “The Funhouse” but it’s a mere breather from the onslaught that takes place for the majority of the album.
Even if you are not a horror fan, this is still a great thrash metal album but the fact that F.K.U. incorporate such a perfectly fitting genre in a way that retains that classic sense of both the film and metal world makes “1981” feel both nostalgic and fun to listen to as long as you don’t take any of it seriously. After all, heavy metal and horror films are supposed to be enjoyed with a sense of humour and desensitivity to reality and what better way to clash than in a good old fashioned thrash metal record.
TRACKLIST
1981
Nightmares in a Damaged Brain
Hell Night
Corpse Mania
Friday the 13th Part 2
The Burning
The Funhouse
The House by the Cemetery
Burial Ground
The Prowler
The Beyond
Halloween II
Night School
Ms 45
Evil Dead (Bonus Track)
