Artist: Flotsam and Jetsam Album: When the Storm Comes Down

Year: 1989
Duration: 49:54

Flotsam and Jetsam: When the Storm Comes Down – A Critical Review

Flotsam and Jetsam has been a band I’ve been passionate about since the early ’90s and their music continues to withstand the test of time. Their fourth studio album, When the Storm Comes Down, released in 1990, continues to be a fan favorite. This album remains one of the band’s most successful and is an example of golden-era thrash juxtapositioned with more progressive elements. Here, I will be doing a critical review of the album, diving into its genre, the most innovative elements of the album, the best songs on the record, and my overall take on it.

Flotsam and Jetsam is a thrash metal band formed in 1981 in Phoenix, Arizona. The band released their first album, Doomsday for the Deceiver, in 1986, which received critical acclaim among the underground thrash metal scene. When the Storm Comes Down, the band’s fourth studio album, is a departure from their earlier, straight-up thrash metal sound. The album reflects the band’s move to a more progressive sound in the ’90s.

The album’s genre is mainly a crossover between thrash metal and heavy metal. The songwriting, rhythm, and tightness in the album’s production reflect an intense level of professionalism and musicality. When the Storm Comes Down is the perfect mix of these two sub-genres, with the band venturing into new territories while featuring progressive riffs and intricate structures.

The album opens with the track The Master Sleeps, featuring a bright intro riff before it hits into a hard section of thrash metal drumming. The calmer interludes in between set the song’s unique rhythm, melodic elevations, and vocal variety, which is highlighted by Eric A. Knutson’s magnificent vocals. With several guitar solos present, this makes for one of the best tracks not only on the album but in the band’s entire discography.

The album's title track, When the Storm Comes Down, features extended instrumental sections, heavy bass, and rhythmic time changes. The vocals are darker, with a commanding guitar intro and a powerful instrumental section. The song is a representation of the ultimate depths of the album, the band’s comprehension of the progressive and thrash metal elements that make the album special.

The album’s innovative parts are the seamless inclusion of unique sound samples in the drum sections, the balance of Knutson's vocals, and Michael Gilbert and Edward Carlson's guitarwork. The album features an incredible display of musicianship, with intricate guitar and bass work, facilitated by Kelly David-Smith’s skillful drumming.

When the Storm Comes Down is an album with a lot to offer its listeners. Its genre-bending influences make for a record that's progressive while retaining its thrash metal roots. The album introduces the world to a band that has an excellent musical sense, a great sense of sound, and a unique perspective on the world of metal, which makes this record a true gem.

In conclusion, Flotsam and Jetsam's When the Storm Comes Down is a fantastic record showcasing the band's pioneering genre-bending elements that would come to define their music style. The album is progressive, thrashy, and the sound samples utilized in the drumming sections make for an exciting and innovative listen. The album's strongest tracks are The Master Sleeps and the title track, When the Storm Comes Down. While the album may not be perfect, it shows the band's critical growth and development in all the right ways. I commend the album and encourage music lovers looking to discover or re-discover Flotsam and Jetsam's excellence to give this album a listen.