The Official Wrecking Crew site

For reviews of Where Soldiers Die and the Demo 2006 go here.

Another Fine Wreck: Metal Invader | Jon Torres | Zero Tolerance | The Temple of Metal | Absolut Metal
Jim Adams | Underground Investigation | Tombstone | Kindamuzik | Aardschok | Animalize | Powerplay
Havoc - War of Mind: Metal Invader | Aardschok

	*"what impresses is the old school guitar work and the passion with which they deliver their work"* top Metal Invader (Greece) - June 2006 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck Hailing from Netherlands, WRECKING CREW are a band dedicated to keeping the metal flame alive. Some of you may remember their previous incarnation, CRY HAVOC. Since then, with a new line up and some changes that helped especially at the vocal department, WRECKING CREW have proven their dedication to old fashion power thrash, with a lot of influences from bands like JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN and on the other hand THE Bay Area school. This concept works fine in this eleven song cd effort. The melodic breaks are classic signs of the songwriting of the late 80's San Francisco bands, and the elements of bands like FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN, EXODUS can be found along more 80's metal influences I mentioned before. Also there are some interesting doom elements that upgrade the product. The production is clear and capable to let the music breathe. Sometimes it could use a little more volume to the guitars, but this is no big studio work. The band is working hard to create its own sound and that is what counts more. They are not afraid to extend their musical ideas to songs of more than 5 minutes, without getting boring. What impresses is the old school guitar work and the passion with which they deliver their work. You can find more interesting information on how to buy this album, and soon the new one they're recording at this moment, through their website http://www.wreckingcrew.nl/. If the so called underground needs your support, then this is a case where you can show it, without spending your money on empty promises. For metalheads only. 4 (out of 6) Stelios Basbayiannis You can read the interview Stelios Basbayiannis conducted with us here! http://www.metal-invader.com/db/reviews-3048.html
	*"a diamond in the ruff"* top Jon Torres of Heathen/Warning SF (USA) - May 2005 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck Wrecking Crew's 'Another Fine Wreck' CD is a diamond in the ruff. It crosses many boundaries that most modern bands are afraid to be crossing. It has a NWOBHM-esque (Legend comes to mind) quality about it with a definite European tone to complement it. It has a modern technique to an 'Old School' application. 'The Beast', 'Doom Song', and 'All-time Heroes' are good tunes. I thought 'Under Attack' and 'Showdown' took it a step farther. My absolute fave was 'Witchblade'. And quit snivelling about Nico's vox. He kicks arse! Get the fuck over it. Jon Torres http://www.heathenmetal.com/
	*"a surprisingly enjoyable album"* top Zero Tolerance (UK) - February 2005 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck Another Fine Wreck makes for one of those strange affairs when you chuck the disk in the player thinking, 'I'm not going to like this,' and before you know it, find you've got through the entire CD without batting an eyelid. In Wrecking Crew's case, the answer to this puzzle lies in the honesty that permeates through its 58:32 minutes of NWOBHM inspired metal. Just when you think a song has the potential to move into slightly shaky territory, it picks itself up by the skin of its teeth, keeping your fingers a safe distance from the off button. A surprisingly enjoyable album that, despite its slightly less than professional sound, doesn't fail to capture the imagination. 3.25 (out of 6) Lisa Macey http://www.zero-tolerance.co.uk/cache/zt_cache_issue002&003_reviews.pdf
	*"the album has a very good production and sound"* top The Temple of Metal (Greece) - November 2004 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck I have used to receive packages from Holland and the bands sending them usually played atmospheric or thrash metal. This time was an exception, Wrecking Crew last year released their latest album which has eleven songs and thank to God they play something different. The band has many influences from New Wave of British Heavy Metal. If I am not mistaken the band has already almost ten years of existence and five demos. Trivia: Two years ago the singer of the band died in a terrorist bombing on Bali, so the band moved on with a new one. [it didn't quite go like this, check out our biography - Max] Of course this album is dedicated to Norbert Freriks. In the music of Wrecking Crew I didn't find something really special, they know of course to play, they know to compose songs and some songs are really interesting like 'The Beast', 'Witchblade' and the very good ballad 'Forever Free'. The album has a very good production and sound. What more can I say? If you are a fan of this style, you can check them otherwise stay in the stable qualities of this scene. Antonis Maglaras http://www.thetempleofmetal.gr/group_properties/wrecking_crew/another_fine_wreck.htm
	*"this is thrash and nothing but"* top Absolut Metal (USA) - September 2004 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck Ok, so well this is thrash and nothing but. Try to think back when Megadeth was good and showing off with your guitar was god. The songs aren't half bad, but it's just so dated, and sure these guys have good chops and all but it's not something that's gonna have a rush to it. So if you're still stuck in the 80's with your Metal then check these guys out. 3 (out of 6) Sean Michael Coale http://www.absolutmetal.com/WreckingCrewDemoReview.htm
	*"a NWOBHM sound which is unique in these days"* top Jim Adams of Defiance (USA) - August 2004 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck Your album rocks! I think the vocals are great! I don't really see why people are complaining about the voice. I think he has a Bruce Dickinson, Biff Byford influence, which is totally cool. You guys have a NWOBHM sound which is unique in these days, and sorely missed (in my opinion). My only criticism, is I wish the guitars had more volume/crunch tone (but what do you expect from a Bay Area thrash metal guy ;-)) Jim Adams
	*"it reminds of the glory days of speed in the eighties"* top Underground Investigation (France) - July 2004 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck The five Dutchmen of Wrecking Crew offer us with this album (available for 10 euro incl. postage via their website) a type of heavy metal which they themselves call Dutch Metal. Seeing as I'm unclear to what this means (metal from Holland surely), I would call it quite melodic metal - the singer has a clear voice, but sometimes has trouble with the high notes - and it reminds of the glory days of speed in the eighties and the NWOBHM. Various influences are apparent but it's all very homogeneous, with many breaks and solos. Despite having a long underground career with an album to their credit - War Of Mind under the name Havoc - it's only in 2002, after the split of Havoc in 2000, that Wrecking Crew takes off. An international tragedy (the Bali terrorist attack, killing 200 people) killed one of the principal members, but the album, fruit of three years of work, is still released. In the end Wrecking Crew is enjoyable to listen to, without it being really inspired. The production is a bit weak, but if the singer, in my opinion, would be satisfied with his medium register, Another Fine Wreck is a good launching pad for these old/newcomers of the Dutch scene. Ted Bourbon Translated by Andrea van Reisen & Max Duijsens. Original review here. http://www.heavy-metalinks.com/
	*"they can write some pretty aggressive songs"* top Tombstone (Greece) - July 2004 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck Ah, but it's nice to be pleasantly surprised by bands you have never heard before and by albums you never thought you'd like. These guys from Holland fall into the first category since I had never heard them before and yet their thrash metal is well worth listening. Influenced by the German 80's thrash metal school they can write some pretty aggressive songs and their songs have some pretty cool riffs in them. One thing they should definitely improve is the vocals and the arrangements when it comes to vocals. The most aggressive parts are OK, but when the man is trying to scream or add some melody things can get quite ugly. The musicianship is not bad at all and the production is also good enough despite being a self financed effort. These guys deserve your attention, even if only for the riff of 'Doom Song' which is amazing. For more info check out their official web site at www.wreckingcrew.nl 7 (out of 10) Agelos Kanarelis http://www.tombstone.gr/cdreview.htm
	*"a groovy crossover of Metal and Rock"* top Animalize (Germany) - May 2004 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck Even if the name makes you suspect it, Wrecking Crew aren't at least audibly influenced by Overkill. I haven't got any further info on the band, other than that the band is from Holland and have recorded 11 songs for the 'Another Fine Wreck' album, which bring the total time to 58:30 minutes. Musically the band is hard to categorise. The music is loud, but not Metal. It's rocky, but not Hardrock. One can describe it all as a 'groovy crossover of Metal and Rock'. The band reminds me of germans Suckspeed (does anyone still know them?), who were also caught between all styles. That problem might apply to the dutchmen too, some will think it's too loud, while others might think it's not loud enough. I'm afraid I don't have a price indication, but here's the contact information: [...] Oliver Loffhagen Translated by Max Duijsens. Original review here. http://www.animalize.de/w1.html
	*"a more than competent, highly enjoyable opening salvo from a promising band"* top Power Play (UK) - October 2003 WRECKING CREW - Another Fine Wreck 'Another Fine Wreck' is a slice of crisp, melodic metal/thrash, which comes complete with a nice sound, excellent lead playing, tasteful guitar harmonies and strong individual performances in all areas. It's vaguely reminiscent of Onslaught, circa 'In Search Of Sanity' with maybe an added hint of Xentrix. The vocals definitely have a touch of Steve Grimmett (Onslaught/Grim Reaper) about them and that's no small compliment. However, perversely, the vocals are also responsible for some of the album's weaker points. Singer Nico Perreijn always hits the notes he's after, but sometimes those notes can be a little ill chosen. The chorus of ballad 'Forever Free' is perhaps the most obvious example. Still, all that amounts to is a little inexperience in writing vocal lines and that will surely be ironed out in time. The aforementioned ballad aside 'Another Fine Wreck' offers up ten strong metal thrashers for your money - all with great leads, sharp riffs and powerhouse drumming. Well played, well produced and well written, 'Another Fine Wreck' is a more than competent, highly enjoyable opening salvo from a promising band. For details of how to invest, e-mail drummer Max Duijsens at [...] Powerpoints: 7 (out of 10) Chris Kee
	*"playing traditional heavy metal quite successfully "* top Metal Invader (Greece) - May 2000 HAVOC - War Of Mind HAVOC come from the Netherlands. 'War of Mind' is their first work and their style is pure heavy metal, with strong influences from the Mausoleum bands of the 80's like Ostrogoth, Killers etc. Their music is dominated by the double guitars, led by the raw vocals of Norbert Freriks. At some points he reminds me a lot of Udo as well as Dave Mustaine. The songs 'smell' of Iron Maiden, Accept and Megadeth. The band is playing traditional heavy metal quite successfully, without entering the power metal territories. The songs are interesting especially 'Cry Havoc', 'Hell to Pay' and 'Do or Do Not'. Whoever is interested in their cd can send $15 to [...]. Stelios Basbayiannis Translated by Stelios Basbayiannis. Original review here.
	*"nice hardrock with good lyrics"* top Aardschok (Netherlands) - March 2000 HAVOC - War Of Mind In 1986 this band was called Cry Havoc (giving the call to plunder) and their repertoire consisted of Saxon, Judas Priest and Metallica covers. Since 1995 the band name has changed to Havoc and now, anno 2000, there's a debut album with original material. Ten solid hardrock songs that sometimes sound like Iron Maiden in the beginning. Ofcourse most bands hate comparisons. But this is just to give the potential buyer an idea of what he/she is getting. No band is original, everybody borrows ideas and sounds off of other bands, so why shouldn't Havoc? There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially not the way Havoc have done on their first disc; simply professional. That's why I have no problem stating that singer Norbert Freriks often reminds me of Bobby 'Blitz' of Overkill and that 'I've Got A Problem With You' is definitely similar to AC/DC's 'Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be'. But again, that doesn't bother me. Nice hardrock with good lyrics; sometimes humoristic/ironic ('Premature Evacuation') then philosophical ('Peace And Prosperity' or 'Hell To Pay'). Conclusion: do not cry Havoc, but buy Havoc!! You can order the cd at [...] Score: 75 (out of 100) Martien Koolen Translated by Max Duijsens. Original review here.