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Questo disco non rientrerà mai nelle classiche lists dei dischi metal da avere ad ogni costo ma si candida a tutti gli effetti per essere uno dei dischi più onesti e trascinanti usciti nei primi anni ottanta in ambito Thrash metal americano. Uscito per l'esattezza nel 1991, quando la musica dura stava per essere travolta dal ciclone grunge e il Thrash metal, soprattutto, doveva fare i conti con l'andatura melodica imposta dal "Black Album" dei Metallica.
Ebbene i Metal Church ne uscirono con uno dei loro dischi più incazzati, molto più thrash oriented con punte nell'hardcore nel sound e testi politicizzati. Già una piccola svolta in seno alla band si era avuta con l'abbandono dell'originale e compianto David Wayne (deceduto nel 2005, dopo una breve reunion degli originali Church) già dal predecessore "Blessing in diguise"(1989) sostituito dal meno melodico e più graffiante Mike Howe e l'abbandono del chitarrista e fondatore della band Kurdt Vanderhoof che tuttavia continuerà ad essere un membro aggiunto alla band essendo co-autore di quasi tutte le canzoni presenti in questo disco.
L'abbandono del classico power metal americano in favore di suoni più agressivi è palese fin dalla prima traccia "The Human Factor" aperta da un classico riff thrash ad opera dei chitarristi John Marshall (conosciuto per aver sostituito spesso e volentieri alla chitarra dei Metallica un giovane scavezzacollo James Hetfield intento a guarire da arti superiori ingessati o bruciati da sfortunati incidenti on stage) e Craig Wells.
Il disco alterna autentici mid tempo, in grado di mischiare classici riff metal con la pesantezza del thrash metal come "Date With Poverty", "Final Word" a midtempo da puro headbanging come "Betrayed", sorretta da riff in classico stile Bay-area circolari e grezzi.
Si cambia gegistro in almeno tre tracce Speed come "In Due Time", "Flee From Reality" e "The Fight Song" che non sono poi così distanti dall' hardcore metalizzato di gruppi come Suicidal Tendencies o primi Corrosion Of Conformity. Menzione, infine, per la ballad antimilitarista "In Harm's Way", un po' la "One" dei Metal Church e per "Agent Green" che con le sue parti acustiche e melodiche alternate a ripartenze più veloci ed aggressive sarà da esempio per il suono che i Metal Church intraprenderanno nel successivo più melodico ma ugualmente stupendo "Hanging in the Balance"(1993, con una delle copertine più orribili che abbia mai visto).
I Metal church continuano ancora oggi a sfornare dignitosi dischi ma lontani dalla magia di quegli anni. Infine permettetemi di menzionare altri due dischi usciti in quel lontano 1991 che per caratteristiche associo sempre a questo "The Human Factor" ossia "SYMBOL OF SALVATION "degli ARMORED SAINT e "WELCOME TO THE BALL" dei VICIOUS RUMORS. Della serie come indurire il proprio sound senza snaturarsi.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 The Human Factor (05:00)
[K. Vanderhoof / M. Howe]
I just can't believe my ears, some music out these days
The human factor has diminished, in oh so many ways
Fancy footwork gets top bill and I'll put on such a show
One more Midi cable and my band is ready to go
One more moneymaker and I'm set for life
Stealing from others will make my future bright
One, make some money; two, overexpose
Sincerity is felt much more when the human factor shows
When the human factor shows
I just need a sample cause no one says it's wrong
It's so easy to rip-off using someone else's songs
Everybody wants to be a star in modern days
But if I don't have talent then I'll just get by this way
Changing programs faster than I dare to say
Musicians all make mistakes who needs them anyway?
One, make some money; two, overexpose
Sincerity is felt much more when the human factor shows
When the human factor shows
I just heard a song today I think I'll use a part
incorporate it my own way and that is just the start
I'll change the lyrics that they wrote to satisfy my needs
I wrote the book. Two easy steps. "How to succeed."
I just can't believe my ears, some music out these days
The human factor has diminished, in oh so many ways
Fancy footwork gets top bill and I'll put on such a show
One more Midi cable and my band is ready to go
One more moneymaker and I'm set for life
Stealing from others will make my future bright
One, make some money; two, overexpose
Sincerity is felt much more when the human factor shows
When the human factor shows
When the human factor shows
When the human factor shows
03 The Final Word (06:00)
Why don't you find a worthwhile cause to channel your energies?
Like finding a solution to starvation and disease
I know that you're concerned about your First Ammendment rights
But don't you burn our flag to make your point, that's just not right
If you think you're better off in a different country
Why don't you pack your bags right now
Here's your ticket
It's on me
I've been around this whole wide world and found no better place
And no one's gonna start a fire in my homeland's face
We have a tendency to take our freedom for granted
We have some problems, yes I know
Look at the seed you've planted
I know that you're aching to be heard
What gives you the famous final word?
To think that your opinion is preferred
What gives you the famous final word?
What other country do you know that pays you without work?
When you need some money, see your welfare officer
There's a lot of other things that you could take a stand about
So you and your activists can take the next train out
I know that you're aching to be heard
What gives you the famous final word?
To think that your opinion is preferred
What gives you the famous final word?
Freedom of speech out of hand
Demonstations in the land
If you complain a little more
What rights you have left
Go flying out the door
Why don't you find a worthwhile cause to channel your energies?
Like finding a solution to starvation and disease
With all the problems in this world that are facing us today
We need a concentrated push or in the long run we'll all pay
07 Agent Green (05:57)
[K. Vanderhoof / M. Howe]
I hold the key to the world's security
Any price they'll pay to me, pay to me
I see the signs, and I heed the call, no one will know me, no one at all
Freedom is calling, the money's green, and to no country will I pledge my loyalty
I pass for someone who no one knows, I am the wolf who hides in political sheep's clothes
A peaceful world in jeopardy, it doesn't really matter all that much to me
If the people knew all that I know about their leaders and the ones who run the show
More cover-ups, legal deceit, there is no one in power who can destroy me!
I hold the key to the world's security
Any price they'll pay to me, pay to me
Change my face somewhere, lose myself out there
Change the way I speak, my past I will delete
I'll never know just how I made it out alive
But when I look into the future I look through a different eye
It doesn't really matter what they need to know
'Cause I can blow the lid off any scandal that they want to be exposed
I hold the key to the world's security
Any price they'll pay to me, pay to me
I'll change my name, a different look, another page in my life's book
It makes no difference just who I am, I'll take the money from Mother Russia or Uncle Sam
I'm filled with secrets of a nation, here at your disposal to benefit my greed
I take my liberties whereever I can find them, I am protected by the crime that lies behind
10 The Fight Song (03:25)
[C. Wells / J. Marshall / K. Arrington / D. Erickson / M. Howe] In these days of depressing times, There stands one final truth There's no doubt in my mind at all: the future belongs to the youth So take a stand and show them the best you can do The odds are against you, or so you assume Fight for your rights, they're yours to keep So fight and make it right The road is a long and a treacherous one Draw on the strength from within Don't be discouraged by a slap in the face The struggle has yet to begin So take a stand and show them the best you can do The odds are against you, or so you assume Fight for your rights, they're yours to keep So fight and make it right So take to the streets and find a new way Confusion in masses, the law of today Ride out the storm, it's tougher than ever Can't you see? We're in this together Endowed with a free will and thoughts for expression Don't let them fall by the way Strengthen and use them but don't you abuse them Help build a better day So take a stand and show them the best you can do The odds are against you, or so you assume Fight for your rights, they're yours to keep So fight and make it right Make it right Make it right Make it right
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