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Thrust is one of those early 80s bands from the U.S. that used an appearance on one of Brian Slagel's Metal Massacre albums (Metal Massacre IV to be specific) to launch their recording career. That compilation led to a deal with Slagel's Metal Blade Records and the debut album Fist Held High. And that was all she wrote for nearly 20 years when lone remaining geezer Ron Cooke (guitars) resurrected the band in 2002 (they may never have split but they were certainly quiet in the interim). Thrust has recorded a couple of albums since the debut but, newly signed to Pure Steel Records, the band seems poised for a proper comeback with the album Harvest of Souls.

Typically, these old-school bands come back with a pale imitation of their former glory, but not Thrust. Harvest of Souls is a thick, heavy slab of classic US heavy metal. The songs are mainly mid-tempo, but modern technology has only improved Thrust's sound. Back in the 80s they had to pound the crap out of their instruments to get a heavy sound but today the guitars and bass fill the air with thundering riffs and sweet solos. Cuts like "Deceiver", "Sorceress" (also the first video from the album) and "Shadow of the Cross" are just pure heavy metal. There's no socio-political rants, no extraneous noodling, just songs about kings, warriors, battles and death, the way we all like it. There are a few spots where the vocals fall flat (esp. "End of Time") just like on Fist Held High, but they make for only a minor detriment to the overall experience.

I remember not really liking Fist Held High back in the day though it has grown on me over the years and I was really afraid of what kind of abomination Harvest of Souls might be. I'm pleased to say it is a fantastic return for a band whose initial shot was too short. Fans of early US metal like Dio, Omen, Cities, Lizzy Borden and Warlord would do well to check it out.