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Toxik - one of the most underrated thrash metal bands - to be re-discovered on the 15th January! Metal Mind Productions presents re-edition of classic material from Roadrunner Records' archives. "World Circus" & "Think This" - in a new digipack edition on golden discs, digitally remastered using 24-Bit process, limited to hand numerated 2000 copies. Each title includes 2 bonus tracks! Thrash metal fans worldwide have the unique opportunity to experience both of Toxik's brilliant releases, showing how true speed/thrash/power metal collaboration should sound like!
Toxik
"World Circus"
Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MASS CD DG 0994
Barcode: 5907785028791
Format: CD Digipack (limited edition of 2000 hand numerated copies)
Genre: thrash metal
Release date: 15.01.2007, 16/01/2007 (US)
Tracklist:
01. Heart Attack
02. Social Overload
03. Pain And Misery
04. Voices
05. Door To Hell
06. World Circus
07. 47 Seconds of Sanity / Count your Blessings
08. False Prophets
09. Haunted Earth
10. Victims
Bonus tracks:
11. Machine Dream (demo version with original singer Mike)
12. Radio interview (from 1989)
Toxik
"Think This"
Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MASS CD DG 0993
Barcode: 5907785028784
Format: CD Digipack (limited edition of 2000 hand numerated copies)
Genre: thrash metal
Release date: 15.01.2007, 16/01/2007 (US)
Tracklist:
1. Think This
2. Greed
3. Spontaneous
4. There Stood The Fence
5. Black And White
6. Technical Arrogance
7. WIR NJN8 in God
8. Machine Dream
9. Out On The Tiles
10. Shotgun Logic
11. Time After Time
12. Think That
Bonus tracks:
13. Shotgun Logic ***
14. Black & White ***
*** rhythm tracks with no vocals or guitar solos
Biography
The 80's sprung up with a real flood of thrash bands, most of them just being copies of the real thing. Fortunately, some of these groups had genuine character, backed with superb skills and strong talent, sometimes unappreciated, however. Toxik, which easily falls into this category, to this day remains one of the most underrated thrash metal bands ever to emerge on the scene. Formed in 1985 in Peekskill, New York by guitarist Joshua Christian bassist Lee Erwin, the group started off with the name Tokyo, but due to legal threats by another band bearing the same name, changed it into Toxik. The first line-up consisted also of Sal Dadabo on drums and Michael Sanders on vocals. The band started rehearsing and working on their debut material, which oscillated around progressive thrash/speed/power metal in the vein of Metallica, Overkill and Anthrax. Soon, however, the line-up suffered its first changes. Lee Erwin left the group because of personal reasons and was replaced by Brian Boninni. Tad Leger was a last-minute replacement for Sal Dadabo, who had been offered a touring deal with Twisted Sister. Finally achieving a steady situation, the band begun recording their first album in the now famous Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida. Produced by Jim and Tom Morris, World Circus was released in 1987 by RoadRacer. The record received mixed reviews, however most of them were very enthusiastic. The heavy, yet balanced instrumentation brought along a thrilling musical mixture, combining excellent technique with catchy melodies and skillful songwriting. The intense speed of the compositions was pretty much overwhelming to anyone who heard this record - "Heart Attack", the fastest track on World Circus, reached about 268 beats per minute after the initial riff-set! Another characteristic element of the album were the vocal lines. Michael Sanders basically did the whole record in a falsetto, hitting extremely high notes. One of the fans later on measured the scale and concluded that Sanders could top out at around 1770 Hz, which is just about an A note that's nearly three octaves above middle C. In comparison, another famous metal shrieker, Rob Halford, reached only a G#, that is 1610 Hz. Not everyone appreciated the controversial vocals, though. Still, the album brought Toxik a large group of devoted fans, who highlighted songs such as the mentioned "Heart Attack", "Social Overload", the title track and the brilliant "Count Your Blessings", preceded with "47 Seconds of Sanity", which was a 47-second long intro. "Count Your Blessings" was later covered by another thrash legend - Exodus. World Circus met with great appreciation from metal enthusiasts and was voted CMJ's Best New Metal Album of 1987. This success was followed by a tour of Europe and the United States in 1988.
Toxik's second release, Think This, saw daylight in 1989. The group made some changes in its line-up - the original singer was replaced by Charles Sabin, who unlike Sanders had a very versatile vocal range. A brand new addition to the band was guitarist John Donnelly, whose presence helped the guitarist Josh Christian to even more concentrate on his ultra-technical guitar playing. The effect surpassed the band's acclaimed debut, World Circus, in every aspect - more balanced in melody and technique, the follow-up presented progressive thrash metal at its highest peak. The new vocalist was more approachable - besides amazing falsettos, he also delivered a lot of regular, prime quality singing. The highlights for this album were definitely "Machine Dream", "Black and White" and the jazzy-sounding "Technical Arrogance". Think This received even more acclaim than the debut album and again was followed by a tour across Europe and the States, this time alongside their label mates King Diamond.
Although the band proved to have extreme commercial potential, the times were hostile for thrash metal back then. Unlike groups such as Watchtower, Fates Warning and King Diamond, Toxik was never given the chance to hit the mainstream, as the industry rapidly changed before they got this proper opportunity. In 1992 the group disbanded and though they never broke through the masses in the United States, they enjoyed a strong following in Europe and Japan. Today Toxik is still respected for their two essential releases and because of the fans' undying support for the band, rumors of a regrouping have recently appeared.
For now, thrash metal fans worldwide have the unique opportunity to experience both of Toxik's brilliant releases, showing how true speed/thrash/power metal collaboration should sound like!
Additional info:
Agnieszka Kulpinska
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Metal Mind Productions - Promo Dept.
agnieszka.kulpinska@metalmind.com.pl
www.metalmind.com.pl
www.myspace.com/metalmindproductions
tel.++48 32 205 25 00 fax: ++48 32 205 36 65
ul. Czajek 31, 40-534 Katowice
POLAND
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