Brain Thrust Mastery Virgin Records

WAS find themselves back to the original line up after losing long time drummer Michael Tapper but have quickly added a new man of sticks and a mysterious fourth member on stage shows of late. So its all change in camp WAS and I have to say it’s not just in line up. 2005 smash and debut album “With Love & Squalor” that racked up over 150,000 copies in the UK left a definite want for more from the Pomona College boys and now the wait is over.

“Brain Thrust Mastery” is somewhat different though. Whether the new sound has anything to do with Mike leaving we’ll never know, maybe the relocation to trendy NYC has made some sort of impact but all the same it’s certainly not as bad as some reviews have made out. Yes, this is a different sounding WAS and yes, people looking for another “Love and Squalor” sounding record maybe be disappointed. But, if you just listen to this record for what it is you’ll slowly realise that it’s not a bad record at all. Opening track “Ghouls” builds nicely into “Let’s see it” which I think will without question contribute towards the WAS back catalogue of anthems. Synthesized “Lethal Enforcer” sounds as eighties as Keith’s pink sweater in video to single “After hours” and would sit nicely in the “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” sound track for sure. “Tonight” is a bass heavy synth driven grower that will without doubt sound amazing in a live environment.

Although there are some definite changes in direction at some points in this record “Altered beast” and “Dinosaurs” are WAS of old and should do enough to restore any faith lost. “Chick Lit” has a strange Klaxons Feel to it and the horns in album closer “That’s what counts” sound different but never the less spot on. Give this record a chance it deserves it….

words by Neil