Whiplash – Unborn Again (2009)

When I first got this promo I thought it was a joke since this band has been ‘dead’ for over 10 years, but after doing some research I found out that in fact is the ‘original’ Whiplash from New Jersey.

I must say that I have very mixed feeling about “Unborn Again”, since I think the release is perfectly timed with the current ‘revival’ of the whole Trash Metal sound, but it fails to deliver in some aspects that I will discuss in the next few paragraphs.

While Whiplash have releases pretty solid albums back in the 90’s, except for “Cult Of One” and they probably never got the recognition they deserved for them. Now they are back with “Unborn Again” and it feels like an old rehash of some older stuff with ‘newer’ elements that do not work quite well with the band.

The band’s sound is more of a Speed Metal style than a Trash Metal band in this album, and while there are plenty of Trashy guitar riffs, there is still a lack of creativity within the tracks and this release gets a bit stale after a few songs, however if you are a die hard Trash fan and listen to the album quite a few times, then it WILL grow on you and you will accept it (this is what happened to our staff writer in charge of this review, hence I’m writing it in an objective manner).

There are some good guitar riffs and solos, and the vocals are quite decent, but nothing like their albums on the 90’s, so musically this album still shows that Whiplash still has their core essence, but there is some magic missing to bring them back to their A-game.

The albums production is decent at best by today’s standards, since for some reason it sounded a bit hollow and everything sounded very plain, and I listened to it on a couple of different stereos. But it’s not unbearable and it kind of gives that 90’s sound that the Metal bands had on those days, so it might be on purpose.

I think this album will be a good addition for all Whiplash fans, and for old school Trash fans, but if you are more into the ‘newer’ Trash sound, then tread carefully when deciding if you will buy this release or not.

Release: September 8th, 2009

Country: USA