RAZOR - Armed And Dangerous LP (Red/White Split Vinyl)

250 copies pressed on "Red / White Bi-Color" vinyl. Includes lyric insert  and poster.

Before becoming the thrash-oriented powerhouse that these Canadians are known for, Razor took the stripped-down, traditional heavy metal approach in line with the NWOBHM acts. That was a very short-lived experience, and while it may show its roots on their full-lengths, the debut EP Armed And Dangerous is the only release to fully flash these lights. It’s a short, sweet experience that’s nice and clean. That alone gives it a standout charm, alongside the superior songwriting.

Despite being the least-aggressive approach, there’s a primal energy to Armed And Dangerous that feels flattering. There’s little in the vein of vocal focus, taking the early ‘80s Pantera approach without any glam fluff and instead just boasts attitude. To match, we have a mildly fuzzed overcast from the bass and lower production value. That raw foundation allows the leads to pierce the surface as the forefront of the experience; consider this helpful, since the leads are Razor’s strongest feature.