Review by JD on March 16, 2012.

Gotta say, this Finnish band is a real odd one... sort of strange even. I have never came across something like this except on Spinefarm Records releases. In reading the bio and everything, it just got weirder and then I listened to them. Gimme a beer... this is going to a very odd ride.

Sounding like a odd spawn of Rammstein, a third rate Frank Zappa with a fuzzed out slower and Industrialized Death Metal style with the song ideas of 80's one hit wonder Techno-pop star Thomas Dolby.... you get The Physicists. These crazed musicians that are probably rejects of the tv show The Big Bang Theory, playing fuzzed out wannabe-and-never be Metal - and not seeing the true reality. With techno keyboard drivel and lacking any real musicality... it is a album made for forgetting.

With ten songs on the cd, it is ten too many. With only a small fraction of something that could even remotely seen as being metal, it plods on with lack luster rhythms and annoying almost child-like keyboards through out with raspy vocals that are sort of like Skinny Puppy but with even less talent than that band. Every once in a while, there is a flash of metal, then it is gone... like if metal was like the Bigfoot.

If you like stuff like Rammstein, this one might be for you but if you want metal, this is not the thing to hear. With a name like The Physicists you think they were smart enough to see what metal was, and their talent is not metal, but perhaps mopping the floor in a rehearsal studio after the real band had used the space, or reaching a ‘Special Ed’ version of Science.

Guess this band’s collective IQ’s are in reality smaller than their shoe sizes, if the believe the are playing metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 2
Atmosphere: 1
Production: 3
Originality: 2
Overall: 1.5

Rating: 1.9 out of 10

Review by JD on September 8, 2016.

I have been saying this for a while and I am gonna say it again for those who are kind of thick headed or just stubborn in their thinking: thrash is not dead. A perfect case in point is this wicked old school styled thrash act from Long Island, New York that prove my point better than anyone.

Taking a whole shit load of inspiration from fellow East Coast thrashers Anthrax and the mighty Overkill as well, To the Pain does not scrimp on the thrash or the passion that is needed. With slashing solos and bludgeoning riffs, they prove that thrash is not dead.

I enjoy the feel that this band brings to the table. Old school fire melds so well with a freshness that adds to the power. Through the six songs, there is not one bad track – there is this strong comparison to older Anthrax going through, but To The Pain also have a handle of making it sound creative as well and not like a tribute band trying to write originals. It sometimes can muddy the line at times between original and sound alike, but more often than not it’s pretty outstanding.

This was one album that I enjoyed, but I might not listen to it many times. It was well made and well played, but in the end, my mind wanders to other albums as it usually does. Anyways, here is the rating.

Rating: 8 out of 10