Tankard 

Vol(L)ume 14 

AFM Records 2010

You are never going to guess it by the title, but this is the 14th album from beer-soaked German thrash legends Tankard.  And it turns out it's pretty good.  Tankard continue to incorporate melodic and power metal elements into their brand of thrash for a clean and mature sound.  After an acoustic opening passage that also utilizes a sorrowful melodic lead, Time Warp gets underway with a commanding main riff that sounds distinctly Germanic.  The track quickly gallops towards flowing chorus which is preceded by intricate melodies.  The song shifts into some sizzling thrash and an intricate power metal solo.  Swirling melodies and speedy thrash riffs are married to each other in Rules For Fools.  The bridge is completely infectious, with its epic speed metal structure.  A silly set of lyrics accompanies the playful, but ultimately average Fat Snatchers.  Social commentary greets you on Black Plague (BP).  A stomping set of riffs and a snapping snare drum are the foundation that Tankard flesh out with melodic fretwork and insistent vocals.  Crunchy thrash riffs slice into a choppy chorus before surging into some of the most furious riffing on the album on Somewhere in Nowhere.  Of course the serious songs have to be balanced out against the silliness of other tracks, such as the bouncy traditional thrash anthem, Brain Piercing Of Death.  Vol(L)ume 14 is in pretty much the same vein as most of the other modern Tankard albums.  Loads of thrash riffs thrown together in harmony with melodic power metal guitarwork to varying effect.  And if you like newer Tankard material then this album will not disappoint.  But don't for a second think this album is gonna take you back to their classic period.  But then again, does it really need to?