Toxik - World Circus

Published Jan. 24 2007

*=Staff's pick	Heart Attack* Social Overload Pain And Misery Voices* Door To Hell* World Circus* 47 Seconds Of Sanity/Count Your Blessings* False Prophets Haunted Earth* Victims* Machine Dream - Radio Interview 1989

Genre	Speed Metal	Mike Sanders	Vocals
Tracks	12	Josh Christian	Guitar
Runningtime	45 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Metal Mind Music	Brian Bonini	Bass
Release	1988/16 Jan. 2007	Tad Leger	Drums
Country	USA	-	Keyboard
Similar artists	Realm, Atrophy, Wrath, INC

As a convivial connoiseur and collector of classic speed metal, I was immediately enthusiastic about obtaining several of the Roadrunner remasters, recently made available through Metal Mind Music. I instantly fell prey to the inner social voices overloading my senses; impelling me to re-purchase and cull them all, even if I already had the originals on CD. When I learned that the Toxik titles were to be among the roster of the elite, my greed and cupidity nearly caused a metal heart attack.

Toxik - Wolrd Circus is truly an exemplary metal masterpeace. Think this as being quality music played with utter intelligence and expertise. Toxic created a sound and style all their own, spontaneous, unlike any other band of their time. After time, Toxik established the precedent for "thinking man's metal". The technical elegance of guitarist Josh Christian's sensational solos sting, bite, and fashion us all into victims of vigilance. He was trained by Joe Satriani, so his speed metal minded matriculations, and fretboard frenetics open the door to halcyon eloquence. These guitar histrionics set a new standard, which blend so well with the falsetto range of Mike Sanders. Brainchild, breakneck bassist - Brian Boninni matches machine dream drumming with the talent of Tad Leger, thereby establishing a sonic toxic wasteland of pain and misery, indexed by shotgun logic.

Along with the endless warchant of Realm from Milwaukee, the violent by nature/socialized hate of Arizona's Atrophy, or the nothing to fearful hellish polemic, fraught with diffidence, from Chicago's Wrath, a new level of judicious mettle precision was taking form in the late 80's. Many critics would impose that Toxik's Think This was their best effort. I don't know what makes them think that, as I beg to differ. Granted, the additional guitar work of John Donnelly definitely contributed to a more crisp sound; but their new vocalist choice of Charles Sabin, paled by comparison with the stacatto screech of Mike Sanders. Like Realm's Suiciety, Toxik's sophmore and final outing was too self-indulgent and out on the tiles of progressive promise. Clearly Atrophy, Realm, & Toxik were ahead of their time. Atrophy's Violent By Nature, by contrast, far exceeds their raging debut in both musical song structure, and well scripted lyrical themes, but I digress.

I still remember the day when I first purchased World Circus on cassette. The fold-out in lay card had the lyrics printed upside-down, and like so many Roadracer/RC releases of the time, there was the anti-drug campaign trademark syringe encircled exhorting, "Stop the madness!". I was not initially enamoured by Toxik's creative soundscapes. After all, they did not sound like Slayer, Megadeth, Flotsam, or even Overkill. I had yet to discover Annihilator; but they did hold hints of the intrepid sedulous soloing of Connecticut's INC with their razor backlash riffs and gripping guitar leads . After several repeated listens, I was thunderstruck, their music began to sear my soul, etching and inscribing itself into my heart; attacking my senses, and grasping my curiosity. Their lyrics left an indelible black and white stigmata; although, some tracks had jumbled choruses (Voices), or missing words, altogether (Door To Hell). Sorry to say, the reissue still suffers from this careless transgression; but at least the 24 bit digital digipack remastered gold disc includes lyrics, liner notes, and bonus tracks; whereas, my original CD was quite bereft.

Another compelling aspect to World Circus is the exceptional artwork painted with the thrash strokes of the phenomenal Ed Repka. Gazing upon the cover, one sees a corrupt ringleader politicain with a clown face standing admidst the Three Mile Island - three ring circus. The haunting earth tones of toxic green and gold enhance this insipid vibe, personified lyrically by songs dealing with war, politics, poverty, drug abuse, and religion's vile hypocrisy; all relevant issues even in today's modern society.

The true allurement - in the center ring - is the music itself. Each song on the CD is superb, and still reverberates in my mind to this day, two decades after its release. From the pulsating opener Heart Attack pounding at 268 beats per minutes, with its "Figure it out!" lyrical connundrum, to the more mid-paced and restrained Social Overload, or Pain And Misery with those frequent guitar and bass breakdowns; right into the megalomanic Voices, each song just singes. There's also the pummelling Door to Hell, or the fanatic closer Victims which begins with newsworthy coverage, then welcomes you to face your death.

Mike Sanders sings at 1770 Hz - an A note nearly three octaves above middle C; in comparison, Halford registers at G# or 1610 Hz. This shrill pierce made Toxik standout. Just listening to False Prophets or Haunted Earth, reminded you of the glass shattering Warrel Dane diligence. Josh's harrowing guitar leads are abundantly plentiful throughout the CD. Consider the title track which begins with an amazing circus tinged anthem, erupting into riff after riff craft. The best song - Count Your Blessings - begins with 47 seconds of acoustic playing before exploding into blistering solo upon solo, leaving you awestruck. This song is rumored to have been reinterpreted by Exodus on the Force Of Habit album.

You can count your blessings, because this reissue includes the bonus track Machine Dream sung by Mike, and also a radio interview promoting Think This. I'm left pondering why they did not, instead, include the wonderous Wasteland from the Metal Massacre VIII compilation, as this song just scorches.

Several other excellent 80's era artists have also been re-released, many like Sadus, are becoming scarce again! Each Metal Mind title is limited to 2000 copies. If you like older Metallica check into Xentrix; if you prefer Anthrax look into Znowhite. The Heathen - Victims Of Deception is another essential; but if you must face the false profits, and balance your spending, then join the World Circus!

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
10	10	7	8	9

Summary
9 chalices of 10 - Michael the MettleAngel