The Pitch: "To kick off their celebration of ten years as a band, Dark Operative is proud to present Power Trip’s Opening Fire: 2008-2014, a complete collection of the band’s earliest non-LP output." A crossover anthology worth owning.
What I Like: I don't generally review compilations and anthologies, but when the songs are this good I'm willing to treat it like any other album. Opening Fire: 2008-2014 is made up of remastered tracks from the self-titled 7”, The Extermination Vol: II from Flatspot Records, America’s Hardcore from Triple B Records, and the entirety of The Armageddon Blues Sessions. The resulting 36 minutes of crossover bliss is more than worthy of a spot on the shelf next to 2017's critally lauded LP, Nightmare Logic. No thrash collection would be complete without the chugging riffs and maniacal energy of "Hammer of Doubt" or "Divine Apprehension." I was a latecomer to Power Trip, so I just assumed that these guys took some time to get so damn heavy. Not the case. It's clear from these early cuts that this band has always kicked ass and taken names.
Critiques: As is to be expected of a collection of disparate tracks from different time periods, there's not much in the way of natural flow between them. Then again, that fits the old punk DIY philosophy just fine.
The Verdict: Get ready for Slayer meets DOA. This Texas band is one of the darkest, heaviest crossover acts around today. Power Trip are shocking new life into the genre and dragging it kicking and screaming into the next generation. If you enjoyed the band's full length work, you should definitely consider picking this up.
Flight's Fav's: Divine Apprehension, Vultures, Hammer Of Doubt
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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