Ariah

Long lost 80's high school thrash metal. The missing link between Metallica and Slayer, as imagined by high school kids. Eight artful, blistering tracks, c.1989.

1989. A sleepy suburb of Chicago. Four high school students have just spent their paper route money on 2 days of studio time at Shadow Productions, in Wheeling IL, a little known facility helmed by two washed up new wave guys, to record 8 original songs and mix them.

Thrash metal, inspired by the glory days of the genre's titans, by kids soaking it up, quick studies unafraid to write complex and lengthy songs, with blindingly fast riffs and solos to rival the technique and speeds of their heroes Kirk Hammet and Kerry King. A 13 year old with a mustache, Chris Southerland, the lead guitarist, could manage these lead guitar duties without blinking. Jim Urbanski, on bass, and often acid, modelled himself on Cliff, finger picking and barefoot. Ray Dybzinski, the king of his high scool's lit mag, wrote and sang the band's lyrics inspired by thrash but infused with the stream of conscious of Skinny Puppy's Nivek Ogre. Chris Eichenseer, the band's drummer, would later start the design studio Someoddpilot and design this re-release, did the band's flyers, photography and Kinko's xerox album cover design.

They emerged with a 40 minute demo on cassettes, selling them to friends at school. Rescued from obscurity, newly remastered by Chicago's infamous Colin Jordan at Boiler Room. On limited edition white opaque vinyl and digital. You've never heard anything like it.