When Acid put out their third and final record in 1985, internal tensions had already started to destabilize the line-up, yet this did not mean that “Engine Beast” was a half-baked affair. If anything, it is the thrash pioneers’ most refined and, if one daresay so, “polished” effort, the main reason probably being the mix by renowned Dutch sound engineer Erwin Musper, who would later work on stadium rock successes such as Def Leppard’s “Hysteria” or Scorpion’s “Crazy World.” Nevertheless, skinsman Geert “Anvill” Ricquier and vocalist Kate de Lombaert, forever the group’s core duo, alternately sounded like a feminine Accept at their beefiest and many of the thrash acts they not only preceded but also significantly inspired. Thanks to their more sophisticated writing skills and a general increase in melody, the front woman‘s versatile voice shines even more, suggesting something akin to Warlock‘s Doro Pesch on steroids in oustanding tunes such as the sprightly ‚Warriors Of The Dark‘ or the inventive ‘Big Ben,’ which celebrates metal as a genre with the signature bell stroke of London’s Palace of Westminster. Since Acid are now set to resume live activities almost 25 years after their premature exitus, High Roller reissue their back catalogue, including “Engine Beast” as one set with the 1983 “Lucifera / Rats” single on CD and LP respectively As for the vinyl edition, the extra tracks come on a separate 7” with picture sleeve whereas the album itself is available in different colours, all in 425g cardboard with lyric insert and poster. Patrick W. Engel restored and mastered the best lossless audio sources available at Temple of Disharmony, the LPs were cut at SST Germany on Neumann machines for optimal quality on all levels.
