Description

I think it’s understandable that many metal fans at large became familiar with the Finnish scene through either its death or black metal scenes of the 90s, or perhaps the Gothic metal explosion that was headed up by acts like H.I.M. or The 69 Eyes. All had a far higher visibility than the country’s thrash or traditional heavy metal output from the prior decade. Oz Fire in the Brain, Tarot’s Spell of Iron and maybe something by Airdash (released on Black Mark) might be something that a few of you have heard but behind these three we had bands more obscure like Stone, A.R.G., Ironcross, Antidote etc that put out good albums. Finland sure wasnt the place to be if you wanted to play thrash metal and be recognized. Charged from Lappeenranta was formed in 1986 and released the one and only album In Vice in 1989. The album was hardly promoted at all and the band soon vanished into the void or so we thought but the band did a brief reunion tour in early 2007. On In Vice the band honours their influences from the Bay Area scene. Hi-octane, meaty speed/thrash riffs progressions rule the roost here, void of any real technicality but primal and pulverizing as they always were, and tunes like Surprise Kills, A.C.N.R. and Surgery are admittedly viral enough to flood the valves with teenage testosterone, especially the last of the three which has some cruel guitar tails/fills redolent of Vio-Lence, Destruction, Death Angel and Whiplash. They often break up such rush rhythms with some more scalpel-liked melodic picking, harmonics or spotty cleaner guitars to provide a busier atmosphere, though they tend to shy away from notable leads which in my opinion can lead to an emptiness at the centre of a 3-4 minute song moving at such velocity. For all purposes, In Vice is also a well structured effort where the speedier pieces are broken up by some mid paced pure headbangers like Firedancer and Metal Eyes. They even experiment with a slower and moodier, but no less riffy epic number in Twisted in Vice where the vocals are occasionally layered to create a more hazy atmospheric effect. If youre into Wargasm Why play around, Meliah Rage Kill to survive or Xentrix Shattered Existence with a fraction more of an impish/crossover splatter then youll probably derive the most enjoyment out of Charged’s well-meaning but zero promoted album (at least don’t recall reading about it or seeing ads in my magazines). In Vice captures the time and place of its inspiration well enough that I’d easily trade in a bunch of half-rate teen thrashers of the 21st century aping Exodus and Anthrax for another listen. Hell, the fact if these Finns had added some additional years and records worth of development they might have made a big name for themselves but in 1989 it was already too late in the golden age thrash cycle

Track listing:
1. A.C.N.R. (Anti-Christ Never Rests)
2. Wakan Tanka
3. Inquisition
4. Firedancer
5. Surprise Kills
6. Twisted in Vice
7. Surgery
8. Metal Eyes
9. Ballad of S.O.D.
10. Paragon of Animals