The year is 1987, and thrash metal is peaking but nonetheless only a few years away from its destruction. There was however few signs of that in light shed by albums like The Ultra-Violence, Terrible Certainty, Killing Technology and Taking Over. The late 80’s flourished with thrash bands reaching their potential, churning out album after album at a high pace. Three years or so later, thrash metal fell, and couldn’t keep up. A few bands tried to adapt to the changes, but most went to shit yet the abovementioned albums are all fantastic, timeless records we keep going back to even now when thrash is re-emerging. There is one band however, that never got affected by the malignant tumor that is grunge. That band is Tankard, and for me personally, this is perhaps that album of the late 80’s that I keep getting back to the most. As Gerre proclaims on opening cracker Total Addiction; Listen to Tankard - you need a doze of thrash. I kick-assingly agree.

Chemical Invasion is Tankard’s second album, following the slight punker, ripping thrasher Zombie Attack. Frenetic as hell, they fire away with the abovementioned opener. Total Addiction, maybe the most intense song the band ever did shreds and chugs, viciously ripping you to pieces.

Gerre is throwing a hissy fit. Apparently someone stole his beer. Nobody dare blame him.

You know when your epinephrine reach epic proportions, and you want to headbutt someone in the stomach? Please Don’t Panic, Tankard is here, and they most certainly will let you. Puke spews fire, and the awesome instrumental For a Thousand Beers sheds blood as Andy Boulgaropolous and Axel Katzman cross axes and wreaks havoc all accross the whole fucking line.

Enter Chemical Invasion, ischemical sensation. Your heart races and halts as this motherfucker brings total mayhem, absolutely killing and bagging it. Three songs before it ends. Farewell To a Slut (which is absolutely amazing), Traitor and Alcohol closes out with a deadly triple-blow to the gut, leaving you in a bloody pool.

Intense as this ride is, fast and ferocious, one can’t help but love the sharpness, edgy sound and violent nature of this album. Tankard was clearly never as vicious and evil sounding as Kreator, Destruction or Sodom in these days, but carried way more substance if you ask me. This followed in the corpse-filled, festering path Zombie Attack staked out, and opened the gate for the epic, drunk sea-hulk The Morning After. Fucking essential.