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Détente - Recognize No Authority review



Reviewer:
9.0

37 users:
7.81
Band: Détente
Album: Recognize No Authority
Release date: 1986


01. Losers
02. Russian Roulette
03. It's Your Fate
04. Holy War
05. Catalepsy
06. Shattered Illusions
07. Life Is Pain
08. Blood I Bleed
09. Widows Walk
10. Vultures In The Sky

Finally, Détente's Recognize No Authority from 1986 has been re-released. Roadrunner's Midprice version has been discontinued long ago and that was the only available version on cd of this minor classic (for a small fanatic thrash in-crowd). Originally produced by Dana Strum of Slaughter and Vinnie Vincent Invasion but with quite a dodgy production to say the least. Side two of the album (or the second half of the cd, if you like) was recorded at a lower recording level than side one, there's a difference of about a decibel between the two sides. RNA was screaming for a remastered re-release. Unfortunately the master tapes are apparently missing, so a remixed version was out of the question. Steve Hochheiser (bass) did his best, however, on what he had to work with. The sound is better than that of the original version. The decibel discrepancy has been put right and now I do hear a bit more bass than on the midprice version. And all the lyrics and rare pictures are now featured as well.
Détente's biggest claim to fame for many people is the fact that it features Ross Robinson on guitar. Yes, that's right, that's the same person as the one known for his production skills of Sepultura, Korn and many a nu-metal band.
But for true fans of Détente and thrash their biggest claim to fame is the fact Recognize No Authority features the vocals of Dawn Crosby. She was one of the very first women in metal to use extreme vocals, not the growling kind but the screaming kind. Détente only released one album but Dawn did get more recognition for her vocal work in Fear Of God.
Recognize No Authority is chock full of punkish thrash metal with lyrics focusing on political and social issues such as exploitation of women (Blood I Bleed), the Middle East conflict (Holy War).
But back to the music. Like I said, Recognize No Authority is full of punkish thrash. Ten songs (one instrumental) in just over 34 minutes. The vocals are the instant focal point. Dawn screaming her lungs out in true thrash fashion. She must have been one of the very first extreme female metal vocalists back in 1986. Vocals such as Dawn's on Recognize No Authority were totally unheard of at the time. So, imagine what sort of effect they would have had on the listener back then. I certainly can remember being totally blown away by them, being the impressionably 18-year-old who had only heard normal female singing voices in metal at the time.
Except for the vocals the songs themselves also hold up well. Even after 20 years they sound pretty fresh. Well executed thrash with nice riffs, hooks and breaks, choruses you can shout along to and of course Dawn's vocals lifting them to a higher plain.
All in all, a very welcome re-release which aged very well and is relevant once again through its lyrical and musical content.
Personal favourites on this album for me are, still after 20 years, Losers, Catalepsy, and Blood I Bleed.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse | 24.01.2007




Comments

Comments: 6   Visited by: 72 users
30.12.2010 - 22:54
Rating: 8
Daggon
Underpaid M.D.
Just another really underrated Thrash metal album that lies beneath the shadows of the so called titans of the genre, Dawn's vocals are, as you said one of the highlights of this album, considering that this was released back in 1986.
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"Les vers savent qu'ils n'ont pas d'ailes, c'est pour cela qu'ils se cachent sous terre"
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05.10.2012 - 21:06
PocketMetal

It came up as a random review , gonna check this out .
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03.06.2014 - 05:59
Dr.Overkill26

Dude thank you I will be buying this as soon as I Have the $ Hopefully I can find it at FYE anyway sounds badass will def be spinning it this summer should fuel some great Skateboarding sessions.
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Do you need what I need? Boundaries overthrown Look inside to each his own
Do you trust what I trust? me myself and I Penetrate the smoke screen I see Through the selfish lie
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16.04.2015 - 20:13
Rating: 8
Guib
Thrash Talker
Good review Marcel Even though it's pretty old. True though that Fear Of God definitely received more recognition for Within The Veil (Which I discovered because of Marcel thanks for that one).
Anyways, overall excellent Thrash hidden jewel, love it.
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- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
Thrash Here
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16.04.2015 - 20:26
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Written by Guib on 16.04.2015 at 20:13

Good review Marcel Even though it's pretty old. True though that Fear Of God definitely received more recognition for Within The Veil (Which I discovered because of Marcel thanks for that one).
Anyways, overall excellent Thrash hidden jewel, love it.



Btw Recognize No Authority was re-released about two/three months ago by SPanish label Xtreem Music. That re-release is really interesting due to the bonus stuff. http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/en/reviews/view/id/29070
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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16.04.2015 - 20:29
Rating: 8
Guib
Thrash Talker
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 16.04.2015 at 20:26

Written by Guib on 16.04.2015 at 20:13

Good review Marcel Even though it's pretty old. True though that Fear Of God definitely received more recognition for Within The Veil (Which I discovered because of Marcel thanks for that one).
Anyways, overall excellent Thrash hidden jewel, love it.



Btw Recognize No Authority was re-released about two/three months ago by SPanish label Xtreem Music. That re-release is really interesting due to the bonus stuff. http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/en/reviews/view/id/29070


Oh shit nice, with all the demos too, mmh seems like I'll have to grab hold of this. Thanks for the info!
And I've just discovered a 2015 release from Xtreem Music couple days ago too haha Spanish thrash band called Breathless.
Looks like the label's been working hard lately.
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- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
Thrash Here
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