One Foot in the Grave
Tankard · 2017
115 min · 23 tracks · thrash metal
A blistering fusion of classic thrash energy and biting social commentary wrapped in aggressive riffs and relentless drumming.
Top tracks — play these first
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Pay to Pray Start here — The opening track sets the tone with its furious pace and incisive lyrics critiquing corruption in organized religion, showcasing Tankard's knack for combining humor with serious themes.
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Syrian Nightmare — This track dives into darker subject matter, reflecting on contemporary global issues through heavy riffs and intense vocals, demonstrating the band's ability to tackle complex topics.
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Don't Bullshit Us! — An anthem of defiance, this song captures the band's signature blend of aggression and wit while delivering a clear message against dishonesty and manipulation.
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The Evil That Men Display — With its complex structure and shifting dynamics, this track illustrates Tankard's musical maturity while maintaining their core thrash sound, making it a standout moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong compositions and energetic performances but has some uneven pacing in its extensive tracklist.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a high-energy tone, maintaining this intensity through the first half before introducing slower tempos in the latter tracks.
- Several songs feature abrupt tempo changes, shifting from aggressive riffs to more melodic sections, creating dynamic contrasts within individual tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing for engagement
- dynamic journey with peaks
- cathartic release of aggression
- late-night intensity with friends
- sharp lyrics provoking thought
Maybe skip if you
- prefer soft, mellow sounds
- seek instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Showcases continued vitality and strong songwriting in their later career.
- Career context
- Released in June 2017, One Foot in the Grave is Tankard's 14th studio album, marking a significant milestone in their lengthy career. Coming off their 2014 release, R.I.B., this album showcases the band's continued evolution within the thrash metal genre as they explore more contemporary themes alongside their signature humor.
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Pay to Pray Start here 5:22
- 2 Arena of the True Lies 5:08
- 3 Don't Bullshit Us! 3:56
- 4 One Foot in the Grave 4:47
- 5 Syrian Nightmare 4:31
- 6 Northern Crown (Lament of the Undead King) 4:22
- 7 Lock 'em Up! 4:10
- 8 The Evil That Men Display 3:14
- 9 Secret Order 1516 7:23
- 10 Sole Grinder 5:28
Disc 2
- 1 Intro 1:24
- 2 Zombie Attack 3:30
- 3 The Morning After 4:47
- 4 Fooled by Your Guts 4:02
- 5 Rapid Fire 5:48
- 6 Rules for Fools 3:41
- 7 Rest in Beer 6:47
- 8 Metal to Metal 5:31
- 9 Not One Day Dead 4:22
- 10 Chemical Invasion 7:04
- 11 A Girl Caled Cerveza 4:34
- 12 Rectifire 4:54
- 13 Empty Tankard 10:10
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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