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C O L U M N S
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Featured Demo
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Featured Demo - Potential Threat SF
1. Day Of Infamy
2. Enemy Within
3. Walk Through Fire
4. All For Nothing
Band Website
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I'm so excited to see this band back in action. I haven't heard a thing from them since
their 2002 five track demo, a quality effort that showcased a San Francisco band built on
the 80s thrash philosophy. With "2.0" the band have slimmed down to a three
piece, with Mike Noble on guitar and vocals, Kenny Noble on drums, and Mike Padden on
bass. This newest offering shows the band completely on top of their game, with some more
frenzied guitar riffage, ample amounts of good, clean sound, and a reckless abandonment
for anything trendy or commercial. No, Potential Threat SF are about their roots, the bay
area sound made famous by Titans long ago. Carrying on in fine metal tradition, with the
attitude and motivation to go beyond the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal sound, back to
the power and glory of raw, rugged, thrash.
It is really hard to judge a band on four tracks, but "2.0" is exactly that. No
complaints here however, considering the amount of quality captured on this small amount
of space. Really in all honesty this band have stayed on track, keeping the same strides
closely resembling their steps on the '02 demo. I hear a better production job this time
around, with this recording taking place at Hyde Street Studios in San Fran and polished
off by Guy Higbey. The band seem to be planting some heavier sounds, but they never get
too serious with the anger and hostility. While so many acts seem to just mire themselves
in a hole of self pity, this group can keep the aggression the focal point but at the same
time learn to have fun with it. This is what made those great thrashers from the 80s
famous, the Metallicas and Testaments of the world who shook foundations but never lost
track of the entertainment aspect of it all.
With "2.0" the group continue to thrash and dash just about all over the place.
Mike Noble's amazing guitar strengths are obviously on full display here, at times
mastering the huge stomp riff and other times gaining speed like an early Metallica or
Overkill. His voice is a wonder as well, capitalizing on the James Hetfield vocals but for
the most part keeping an originality to it all. Favorite cut for me is the storming opener
"Day Of Infamy", and I can only imagine what a live show must be like with this
much thunder and lightning on display.
Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Metal Blade, Roadrunner, and Candlelight, please take note,
this band is really setting a new standard for aggressive metal. Looking past the current
sea of followers, Potential Threat SF is a band that can lead us into a new dimension by
simply teaching us the ways of the past.
Note - Pick this demo up for $5 at http://www.potentialthreatsf.com/orderform.html
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