Municipal Waste

Municipal Waste likes to party. How do I know this? Well, there’s the album title. Couple that with songs like “Beer Pressure,” “Born to Party,” and “Chemically Altered” and you don’t exactly have to be Veronica Mars to connect the dots. It also goes without saying we’re not exactly dealing with subtle music open to the interpretation of the listener and for better or worse, Municipal Waste wouldn’t have it any other way.

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The preceding break was for those that just opened a window to another review. Such is the existence of Municipal Waste. You either dig ‘em or you don’t. Bringing back the thrash of yesteryear, the band appeared only a little over two years ago with a seemingly built-in following for those of you that sat at home lamenting the day Suicidal Tendencies ever “Joined the Army.” Thrash metal has almost made a resurgence but keeps getting stuck in the mire or nostalgia which takes the purists along for a joyride, but leaves little room on the bandwagon for anyone else.

The Art of Partying essentially starts out exactly where they left off at the end of 2005’s Hazardous Mutation. More of the same booze-fueled shenanigans and tomfoolery ensue with slightly more of a polished sound and production value provided by whatever per diems didn't wind up in the hands of Anheuser-Busch.

I’ve always found it interesting that even after a fifteen to twenty year absence, the “sound” of a region can still remain the same even without being premeditated. Owing much more to their S.O.D./Overkill/Anthrax incestuous ancestry than anything to come from the Bay Area over on the left coast, these happy bastards from Virginia fly the east coast flag high and proud with just a twist of southern-fried D.R.I. circa-Dealing With It thrown in for good measure. Municipal Waste have no misconceptions about who they are and what they stand for, from the cartoonish covers to the prerequisite collage of “party shots” in the liner notes and all music contained within. They want to give you a good time, and they’re willing to provide it by any means necessary. Those of you willing to tap the keg are sure to enjoy the effort.

7.4 / 10 — Kevin Fitzpatrick