Notes
ABOUT THE ALBUM: Ultimatum is a New Mexico-based metal outfit that cranks out straight up, old-school thrash metal. Or, as it states on the album packaging, 'Unrestrained, fist clenching, neck snapping, head banging Heavy Metal!' I can't think of a more fitting description, so we'll just leave it at that. This is an album full of double kick-drums, thrashy guitar riffs, cool, screaming solos and raspy vocals. Vocalist Scott Waters sounds like a mixture of Exodus' Steve Souza and Bobby 'Blitz' from Overkill with his gritty, reptilian tone and the occasional death growl. Guitarists Robert Gutierrez and Steve Turjillo both sport heavy, distorted rhythm tones and good feel on the solos. Their riffs are a mix of classic heavy metal and Bay Area Thrash with plenty of head banging and mosh parts. Drummer Sean Griego and bassist Tom Michaels are the quintessential metal rhythm section, driving the tempos and gluing the whole works together nicely. 'Crash Course' starts off with a driving, strict-time double kick-drum riff and cool melody into a good, thrashing verse. The cut-time groove on the instrumental break is a nice foundation for the slithery lead work found here. The syncopated bass and drum intro to 'The Purging' is really tight, this leads into mid-tempo, crunchy metal verse riff. Waters reminds me a bit of David Wayne (Metal Church) here with his delivery and his raspy tone. The intense, syncopated riffing on the bridge is great! The music on the rest of the disc is similar in style and quality. Just a good metal band playing good metal. The lyrics are of a blatantly Christian viewpoint. If you're sick of trends, and long for good, solid thrash with big, head banging riffs, then go for Ultimatum. Review by Shawn Pelata of Digital Metal KEY SELLING POINTS **Bonus tracks added providing consumer incentive **Digitally mastered **For fans of Vengeance Rising, Tourniquet, Metallica, early Megadeth, Slayer, Exodus and fans of crushing, thrashing, speed metal! **Fans of this genre are extremely loyal and dedicated to bands in the genre **Features a track on the promotional compilation HEADBANGIN' 101 **Full radio/advertising campaign **Features track on the Heaven's Metal Magazine subscribers compilation **Original release has been out of print for 10 years. **The band has a new album, Into the Pit, releasing June 2007 **Cover the song "Burn" by legendary thrash band Vengeance Rising **Never before released in the USA (only independently by the band and in Germany on Massacre Records) Tracks 1. Temple of the Spirit, 2. Greed Regime, Inc. 3. Perilous Times 4. Shroud of Science 5. The Purging 6. Crash Course 7. Warlord's Sword 8. Burn 9. MutalMitlu 10. Violence & Bloodshed Temple of the Spirit (1999 pre-production demo) (3:19) (Waters, Gutierrez, Griego) Heart of Metal (2003 rough demo) (4:29) (Waters, Gutierrez, Whitlock) Greed Regime (live) REW FROM WWW.PHANTOMTOLLBOOTH.ORG Ultimatum is a Christian thrash metal band that has been around for sixteen years, based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have remastered this recording that was initially released in 2001, adding three bonus tracks. Sean Griego pounds out a relentless stream of sledgehammer rhythms on the drums while Tom Michaels fills the low end with his booming bass guitar. Guitarists Robert Guitierrez and Steve Trujillo have no problem laying down one series after another of crunching power chords. Vocalist Scott Waters sounds like a cackling, demonic gargoyle spewed forth from the bowels of the Earth, only he is indeed praising God in all his glory. The booklet that accompanies the disc includes lyrics to each track, which many listeners will appreciate as Waters vocal style takes some getting use to before you can comprehend the message. The band also lists appropriate scripture texts to study for greater understanding of many of the songs. 'Perilous Times' sends out a warning that is no less relevant today as Waters screams out '. Hatred grows bold, persec
