Sunday, October 19, 2025

Wargasm | Why Play Around? | Hammerheart Records (Reissue/Remastered)

 

Release Date: July 27th, 2025
Format: CD/LP
Genre: Thrash Metal
Country: United States

In the late 80s, when thrash metal was exploding with attitude and speed, Wargasm stood apart as one of those American acts that never got the attention they deserved. Formed in Massachusetts, the trio took the aggression of the East Coast scene and injected it with musicianship that bordered on surgical precision. “Why Play Around?” was their first and most important release, and time has only strengthened its reputation among underground metalheads. Hammerheart Records brings it back in a remastered edition, giving a second life to a true cult release.

From start to finish, “Why Play Around?” is the sound of a young band playing with intensity and discipline. The opener “Wasteland” charges forward with sharp riffs and raw aggression, setting the bar for what follows. “Revenge” hits like a steel hammer, balancing speed with strong riff changes and a biting vocal delivery. Tracks like “Undead” and “Sudden Death” combine tight rhythm work with explosive solos, proving that Wargasm could shred without losing the raw edge that defines classic thrash.


The nine-minute “Wargasm” is a monster on its own, a long, dynamic song that moves through tempo shifts and fierce instrumental breaks without dragging. The production, handled by Tom Soares (known for his work with Cro-Mags and Demolition Hammer), is strong and aggressive, keeping the guitars thick and the drums sharp. The new remaster by Ted Tringo doesn’t change the character of the original mix, just amplifies it, bringing the power of the riffs and the snarl of the vocals into sharper focus.

“Why Play Around?” stands as one of the most fiery and overlooked thrash albums of the late 80s. It’s fast, technical, and unrelenting but what makes it special is its directness. There’s no pretension, no filler, no weak moment. For anyone into Sacred Reich, Nuclear Assault, Sodom or Holy Terror, this reissue is a must-hear masterpiece of underground history.

Score: 8.3


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