MEGADETH - So Far, So Good...So What (1988)

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Having dispensed with the services of Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland, the two Daves returned with a pretty boy guitar teacher and a Fred Flinstone-esque drummer and still pretty much managed to deliver the goods. Chuck Beehler's drumming is best described as lumpen throughout (especially compared to his jazzy predecessor) and Jeff Young's contributions were adequate rather than particularly stunning. Despite this the album contains some bona-fide Megadeth classics, including 'In My Darkest Hour', 'Into the Lungs of Hell' and 'Hook in Mouth'. But the cover of the Sex Pistol's 'Anarchy in the UK' can piss right off, thank you very much. 

CORONER - Punishment for Decadence (1988)

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This is the only Coroner album that ever really clicked with me. Combining the Thrashified Malmsteenesque riffing of the first album with a keener sense of songcraft and hooks, 'Punishment for Decadence' also has a nice late 80's production which makes it rather easier on the ear than the tinny 1989 follow up 'No More Color'. Love Ron Royce's voice too, like a Germanic Nasty Ronnie almost, well maybe not... Obvious standout track has to be the classic 'Sudden Fall', although many would call for 'Masked Jackal' since it was a video clip.

RAZOR - Violent Restitution (1988)

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In a year when many great bands were releasing sub-standard albums, it's nice to recall that this was the album that briefly put Razor back on the straight and narrow. 'Malicious Intent' (1986) and 'Custom Killing' (1987) were both lacking the killer instinct that made Razor's first two albums Thrash classics, and this one started to tip the scales back the other way, perhaps in no small part due to the replacement of M-Bro with a decent drummer! Sadly this was to be the last album for vocalist Stace McLaren and after that Razor were never really the same band.

SLAYER - South of Heaven (1988)

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Possibly the most disappointing album in the history of metal, Slayer knew they couldn't top their 1986 masterpiece, so instead they dropped this lukewarm platter and ran. 3 or 4 really top notch songs hold together an album of filler, frankly, with 'Ghosts of War' and 'Silent Scream' the only songs offering the classic Slayer thrashing their fans really wanted. The title track is a good song, but is overexposed now and worn out. And after the shock and awe of the previous album's stellar production, this one sounds a bit crappy, actually.

METALLICA - And Justice for All (1988)

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1988 delivered some massive disappointments and this was another one. Following 'Master of Puppets' was never going to be a walk in the park but this missed the goal by some distance. Sure 'One' was a great song (even if the riff is a complete Dark Angel rip off!) and the title track isn't without merit, 'Blackened' too is a good opener and 'Dyer's Eve' is Metallica's last great forgotten thrasher, but inbetween it's all a bit mushy and frothy with not a lot of substance to any of it. The production is crap too, with zero bass audible from talented newbie Jason Newsted, so overall, I really can't give it more than a '3'.

VINNIE VINCENT INVASION - All Systems Go (1988)

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A huge disappointment after the incredible (and mental) debut album. Here Vinnie toned down the guitar playing massively, choosing to make his point in more conventional and brief solo spots... some of these are sensational and jaw dropping but there are problems. For one Mark Slaughter's voice is horrible and the whole thing is coated with sugary cheese and squarely aimed at making the band an MTV sensation. Sadly for Vinnie after this album his whole band left and renamed themselves Slaughter and sold a million albums...

VICIOUS RUMORS - Digital Dictator (1988)

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Running very close to a '5', but not quite making it, nonetheless this is a great album and my favourite V.R. album overall. Great songs, great guitar playing, great vocals, and a big step forward from the slightly less well executed 'Soldiers of the Night'. Hard to pick favourite tracks, but 'Lady Took a Chance' was always one to get the repeat button treatment.

EXODUS - Fabulous Disaster (1988)

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Bouncing back from the less than devastating 'Pleasures of the Flesh', at last Exodus got the crunchy production they needed to show off their awesome tunes, and this album has more than a few of them. 'Last Act of Defiance', 'Corruption', 'Toxic Waltz' and the title track all stand as Exodus classics, and even though there are a few songs with a whiff of filler about them, this album remains a sturdy 4M release.

CELTIC FROST - Cold Lake (1988)

M

As a Celtic Frost album this deserves nothing but scorn, taken on it's own merits it's not too bad, I guess... well, it's still pretty bad. Rose Without Thorns is half decent, though Tom Warrior's assertion that it was 'the ultimate Thrash song' is (and always was) plain laughable!