SSS – The Dividing Line

Thursday, November 13, 2008

While crossover thrash became big in the US during the mid-1980s, the British had their impact in the growing popularity of the genre, with Discharge and The Exploited being just a few of the bands with a powerful influence. Short Sharp Shock, or SSS for short, is a young band out of Liverpool, England looking to spread their own version of crossover thrash to a worldwide audience with their sophomore album, The Dividing Line.

SSS packs 20 tracks into a brisk 32 minutes, and not a second is wasted. With the majority of the tracks not reaching the two minute mark, the pace is swift and relentless. When SSS goes for the stars and passes two minutes on a handful of tracks, the thrash influences overshadow the punk ones, which the band does a fine job of working with. Just don’t expect any moments of tranquility. With the exception of closer “Unrest In The Northwest,” not a clean guitar or melodic moment is in sight. It’s not the most original sound, but SSS displays energy and humor that made bands like Stormtroopers of Death famous. “Thrash With A Small Mustache,” “Bored,” and Ride The Best-Fuck The Rest” will not only make you laugh, but cave your skull in with speedy riffing and steady rhythm work.

If a recipe for a metal band asked for a pound of Suicidal Tendencies, a hint of Slayer, and a few teaspoons of S.O.D, SSS would be the final result. The Dividing Line is a fast-paced, enjoyable romp that fans of the genre should be pleased with. SSS has a long way to go before being mentioned in the breath as some of the band’s mentioned above, but The Dividing Line is a good start and a solid follow-up to their 2006 debut Short Sharp Shock.