Fifteen years and a dozen bandmembers later,
Flotsam & Jetsam continued their consistently punishing
metal assault in 2001 with
My God. After the group's stunning 1986
Metal Blade debut,
Doomsday for the Deceiver launched the Phoenix band into the highest ranks of the second-wave
thrash artists. Several major-label releases followed that, while successful within the ranks of the
metal underground, never elevated the band above cult status. On
My God, original members
Eric Knutson (vocals) and
Ed Carlson (guitars) are joined by drummer
Craig Nielson, guitarist
Mark Simpson, and bassist
Jason Ward. Each member displays fine musicianship with the guitar duo of
Carlson and
Simpson laying down some exceptionally heavy riffs and tight harmony solos. Standout tracks include ferocious numbers like
"Dig Me up to Bury Me" and
"Frustrate," and even slightly mellower numbers like
"Trash" maintain a fierceness that young and old
metal fans should enjoy. Perhaps one of the best
Flotsam & Jetsam offerings in over a decade,
My God deserves a strong recommendation, especially for the group's longtime fans. ~ Vincent Jeffries
