SLAVEMASTER

UNDER THE SIX

  1/  Godless                                    (Shabazz)                     4.25
  2/  Heal                                       (Shabazz,McKinney)            2.46
  3/  Damnation                                  (Shabazz,McKinney)            2.30
  4/  Come Out                                   (Shabazz,McKinney)            4.58
  5/  Day of Requital                            (Shabazz)                     2.55
  6/  Final Call                                 (Shabazz,McKinney)            2.36
  7/  Walk the Water                             (Shabazz,McKinney)            3.38
  8/  Down                                       (Shabazz,McKinney)            5.28
  9/  Each One, Teach One                        (Shabazz,McKinney)            3.41
  10/ Freedom                                    (Shabazz)                     5.42

          Recorded at Greenpoint Studio, Brooklyn, New York
          Engineered by Robert Musso
          Assistant: Imad Mansour
          Mixed by Oz Fritz
          Produced by Bill Laswell
          Mastered by Howie Weinberg
Islam Shabazz: vocals, bass; Bill Mc Kinney: guitar, back vocals; Michael Hampton: guitar; Mackie: drums; Gary "Mudbone" Cooper: vocals.

          1994 - Black Arc/Rykodisc (USA), RCD 10302 (CD)
Note: Bill Laswell does not play on this album.

REVIEWS :

A repetitive, earspliting guitar assault that definitely has its moments, but is eventually undone by its lack of variety. Michael Hampton has his flashes of brilliance, but too often he's locked into jackhammer riffs. Fans ofthrash metal or Motorhead would probably appreciate this album most. I love to hear Michael simply wail as much as the next person, but I also appreciate his sense of taste and timing, two things he doesn't get to demonstrate much on here.

The best songs are "Godless", with hard-churning chords ending up with a good solo from Hampton and noticeable background vocals from Mudbone; "Damnation", sort of a Ramones-ish rocker railing against the US; and "Come Out" a hip-hop/hardcore update on the gospels; and "Walk The Water", with a greater emphasis on vocals.

2 1/2 stars out of 5

RC (courtesy of the Motherpage website)