Viking: Man Of Straw Re Issue 2024 | The Return of a Thrash Metal Legend
(2024 – Brutal Planet Records/Metal Blade Records)
There is a certain parallel between the history of Viking, as a band, and that of V8 here in Argentina. Not exactly in terms of music or the overall impact of both bands, but rather in terms of extra-musical issues, particularly those related to the Christian faith. In fact, just as the members of V8 decided to turn their lives over to Christianity, something similar happened with some members of Viking. Having clarified this issue (there will always be the usual prejudices), it should be noted that Viking never declared themselves to be a Christian band, far from it, but their lyrics do stand out for this event, which occurred precisely with the release of this album entitled “Man Of Straw,” originally released in 1989 and now reissued, coinciding in a way with the band’s return to activity.
Let’s say that Viking comes from the Old School Thrash Metal side, or rather, Thrash with roots in the 80s, or even better; its origin has to do with that style generated among the bands of the bay, as the genre born in the San Francisco, California area is commonly referred to. In that case, names such as early Metallica, Exodus, Testament, etc. are commonplace in Viking’s music. After a first album, which was not very well received, in 1989 Viking released “Man Of Straw”, their second album, where, with the details adjusted, the band showed that they were capable of more than just being another band in the crowd. Their sound, superior in every way, and their overwhelming force, showed at that time that Viking had what it took to be considered one of the most interesting bands in the genre.
“White Death” is the first track on the album; with a changing and powerful intro, Viking goes all out from the very beginning. Its violent and cutting riffs make it one of the best songs on the album. Next up is “They Raped The Land,” another blow hard enough to raise the thrash metal temperature, very much in the style of Slayer. In “Twilight Fate,” the band stays on the same track they set out on from the beginning. At this point, it’s clear that Viking makes use and abuse of all the characteristic elements of thrash metal, without too much originality but maintaining the essence of the genre, which is no less important.
The case of “The Trial” is curious. According to the information on the inner sleeve, prior to recording, it had completely different lyrics, due to the Christian faith of Ron Eriksen, Viking’s guitarist and vocalist. Beyond that circumstance, it’s another killer track, with enough acceleration thanks to the blast beat that accompanies each guitar riff.
“Case Of The Stubborns” follows in the same vein as everything we’ve heard so far, but with some changes in the bass lines and riffs, which give the album a different feel. Thus, we arrive at “Winter,” a mid-tempo song that continues with the different orientation of everything that came before. Confirming the band’s versatility, we find “Hell Is For The Children,” a kind of dark ballad that shows Viking’s heavier side.
In “Creative Divorce” we find another fast-paced song, with some very interesting riffs and tempo changes that are suggestive enough to set it apart from the rest. The finale, “Man Of Straw,” the song that gives the album its title, shows Viking’s more complex and technical side. It’s a good way to close a decent album, but one that, at the time it was released, may not have been all that surprising.
The sound of this work, in addition to being completely remastered by Rob Colvell, was the work of Bill Metoyer (amusingly referred to as “Gordon Shumway”), the famous Thrash Metal producer who has worked with Tourniquet, Dark Angel, D.R.I, Deliverance, Hirax, etc., which adds value to the album, making Viking sound rough, hard, and with overloaded guitars.
This reissue does not feature any bonus tracks, resulting in the same “Man Of Straw” that was released in 1989, no more, no less. The same goes for the cover, which remains intact, essentially maintaining the original graphic design. The inner sleeve, on the other hand, in addition to the lyrics, includes a brief reflection on the origin of each song, as well as period photographs. Graphically, it’s very good, and while we’re at it, it’s worth mentioning that it has also been released on vinyl, which is excellent news.
Viking has had its ups and downs, and they are currently active again. Fortunately, their first albums have been reissued, and what would be even cooler is if the band didn’t rest solely on what has already been released (their last studio album dates back to 2015!), so a new album would be more than welcome. In any case, having a gem like “Man Of Straw” available again in physical format is something to celebrate and, incidentally, to remember the old glory days of thrash metal. Fans of the genre will not be disappointed, and for those who are not used to walking those paths, it is a good opportunity to get closer to the material of a cult band like Viking.
In the absence of official video clips for this album, we leave you with the “video” for the song “Winter,” obviously made by a fan, so you can judge for yourselves (even though, as you know, we don’t believe in the digital format). We also provide you with the coordinates of their social networks so you can follow them and find out the latest news about the band…
https://www.vikingthrashmetal.com
https://www.facebook.com/vikingband
