Head on Collision
Beer City Records thrash act Head On Collision proves there’s more to St. Louis than just poverty, racial strife and that ugly metal thing by the river. St. Louis may not be renown for its thrash metal scene but Head On Collision stands poised to change that with a skull crushing debut that proves just as heavy as even the ugliest urban landmark.
Head On Collision’s sordid roots can be traced to the now deceased hardcore outfit Very Metal. As Head on Collision’s founding member Pat McCauley’s previous band, Very Metal saw some success as a hardcore outfit. Pat had always dreamed of playing in a straight, balls-to-the-wall thrash metal band but tastes had changed, as they are ought to do, and McCauley found that the indie music scene in the late 80’s wasn’t particularly hospitable to thrash metal. Suffering from the giant tidal rush of Metallica’s dominance, the 80’s gave way to the 90’s and a younger, more impressionable McCauley found greater acceptance catering to a hardcore/crossover palette with Very Metal. After that band’s eventual demise, McCauley found himself with the artistic freedom to chase his ultimate dream of thrash metal perfection.
It took four years since Very Metal’s demise but by Spring of 2005 McCauley had found a roster a roster of capable musicians (no small feat; the band was now on its third vocalist) and recorded their debut five-song demo, Arise From the Wreckage. The response was positive and thanks to a great live show, promoters and labels began to take notice. A year later the band was invited to take the stage at the fearsome Minneapolis Mayhem 3 festival. After years of hard work, a revolving door of vocalists and some 1,200 demos sent, it seemed like success had finally arrived.
Head On Collision is straight thrash metal without the bullshit. Playing fast and hard without nod to any trend or posture, Head On Collision is refreshingly unaffected. Those tired of diluted crossover amalgams will relish the band’s full length debut, ‘Ritual Sacrifice’. Head On Collision recall the thrash scene at its most fecund state. After languishing in the gallows of heavy music for so many years, Head On Collision stand poised to bring thrash metal out of the shadows and into the limelight once again.
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