New review up of this long lost and often maligned thrash album from 1989. Check it out:

http://themetalblogofmetal.blogspot.com/2011/06/reapers-onslaught.html

Thanks!

Great review dude!

I'm sold. I never picked this up. THE FORCE and POWER FROM HELL are the the only two Onslaught albums I have.

Metal blog of metal? that's like "music store of music" or "Italian restaurant from Italy".

I bought Onslaught's first 2 albums back in 1987, but I havent heard them in many years. I do remember The Force being one awesome album. As far as "In Search Of Sanity", I really dont understand the constant comparisons to Metallica. I mean, frankly you could compare about half the 80's metal to Metallica if you wanted to but it's like comparing every heavy metal band that ever existed to Judas Priest or Black Sabbath. Almost every band of those genres is gonna have similarities.

For me, "In Search Of Sanity" wasnt that much of a let down. 1989 was a transitional year for thrash, the old guard was changing and the newer bands werent as old school as the past ones. Metal Church put out "Blessing In Disguise", Testament released "Practice What You Preach", Anthrax's "Killer B's"and Metallica's AJFA to name a few. Noise Records was releasing a couple new brands of thrash: Power Metal and technical thrash metal and I started to go that direction. So Onslaught may have dogged a few of their die-hard fans but to me they were just progressing naturally along with many other band of the thrash genre.

Love In Search Of Sanity! I have no idea what album the naysayers are listening to but this thing smokes. I guess the change turned them off (and it certainly is different from it's predecessors) but I actually prefer this to the Venom/Slayer sounds.

I have this on cassette tape. Sooooo need to find a CD of it.

In Search of Sanity is an awesome album! I love it!

I have this one, but it's been awhile since I've given it a spin. Might have to remedy that and see if you're review holds water.

I had this album on tape back in the day. Didn't think much of it, honestly. That five-minute "intro" of weird sound effects that opens the album was irritating as hell, and the cover of AC/DC's "Let There Be Rock" was godawful.

In Onslaught's live DVD from a few years back there's a lengthy interview with Sy Keeler (vox) and Nige Rockett (guitar) about the history of the band in the bonus features, and when this album is brought up Rockett becomes visibly uncomfortable, like he didn't even want to talk about it...

Onslaught were always trying to sound like other bands.


POWER FROM HELL = VENOM

THE FORCE = SLAYER

IN SEARCH OF SANITY = METALLICA


That said, IN SEARCH OF SANITY is a decent album, but I can't say I much like the vocals.

Hey, Scott. I noticed you don't have Onslaught on the site yet. Any plans to add them on, seeing how you at least have In Search of Sanity (even if it is just on cassette)?

It's an abomination. I would have gladly held Priest down while Chuck Berry beat them to death with his guitar.



Back to Onslaught. The only album I ever heard was "The Force", which basically sounded like a low-rent Slayer clone, never explored them further.