Metallica,
Slayer,
Anthrax, and
Megadeth seemed to hog all the thrash metal spotlight during the '80s, but there were still countless other acts nipping on the tails of the big boys --
Metal Church,
Testament, and
Meliah Rage. Like the others,
Meliah Rage was one of the first thrash acts to sign to a major (their debut,
Kill to Survive, was issued via Epic in 1988), but unlike the others,
Meliah Rage failed to achieve the same amount of press and Headbangers Ball spins. Regardless, the group has soldiered on -- on a somewhat regular basis -- ever since. Despite a healthy amount of lineup shifts over the years, most of the original
Meliah Rage lineup was back in place for 2006's
The Deep and Dreamless Sleep (save for singer Mike Munro, who has been replaced by Paul Souzo). Longtime fans will be happy to learn that the release is still undeniably
Rage-worthy, as the quintet offers another crushing set of metal -- as evidenced by such selections as "Permanently Damaged" and the title track. Not at all far removed from their earlier albums (which cannot be said about most of the aforementioned "thrash leaders" of the '80s),
The Deep and Dreamless Sleep should be appreciated by fans of non-eyeliner/baggy trouser metal. ~ Greg Prato