Flotsam And Jetsam — Doomsday For The Deceiver

intothewellsabyss
Jul 4, 2023
2 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

37 years ago this week, “Hammerhead” was ready to strike!

On July 4, 1986, Flotsam and Jetsam released their debut full-length studio album “Doomsday for the Deceiver” via Metal Blade Records, on a budget of $12,000, and recorded in two weeks.

It is the only album by Flotsam and Jetsam with Jason Newsted before his departure for Metallica. Most lyrics were written by Newsted; his songwriting contributions also appeared on the band's next album “No Place for Disgrace” (1988) and their 2012 album “Ugly Noise”.

Background:

While most of their later albums focused more on politics and society in general, the lyrical content of “Doomsday for the Deceiver” is centered around themes related to history and literature, as well as Satanism and the occult. "She Took an Axe" relates the story of Lizzie Borden who had been suspected of murdering her parents in 1892, and has a jump-rope rhyme written about her at the time as a refrain. "Der Fuhrer" refers to Adolf Hitler; the lyrics are more or less a story about him, in which he is portrayed as being evil and a "demon", but were not meant to be sympathetic towards Hitler or the Nazi Party.

The album was re-released in 2006, including a re-mastered version, DVD, and original release. This album was the first of only a handful to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazine Kerrang!. The album cover can be seen in the 1988 movie Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers.

Critical Reception:

“Doomsday for the Deceiver” was ranked at No. 6 on Loudwire's top ten list of "Thrash Albums NOT Released by the Big 4".

In his review for AllMusic, Eduardo Rivadavia

Called “Doomsday for the Deceiver” an overall important record for fans of early Thrash Metal, while going on to say; “Though a little rough in the production department, Flotsam and Jetsam's first album, “Doomsday for the Deceiver”, attempts both short bursts of thrashing intensity ("Desecrator," "Iron Tears") as well as extended, multi-part epics ("Metalshock" and the title track). Bassist and lyricist Jason Newsted occasionally attempts to squeeze too many words into some songs, but also displays a refreshing sense of humor (a rarity in this genre) on "Hammerhead" and "She Took an Axe." "U.S.L.W." is rather good but the nine-minute-plus title track is the best cut on the album, largely due to guitarist Michael Gilbert's very tasteful acoustic guitar intro.”

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Doomsday for the Deceiver” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/doomsday-for-the-deceiver-20th-anniversary-special/220296094

Click this link to listen to “Doomsday for the Deceiver” via Spotify: Doomsday for the Deceiver https://open.spotify.com/album/1lXN7Nj1wGSQiPfGjCZHhf

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Hammerhead”: https://youtu.be/eqPR_hUHnCk

Click this link to follow Flotsam and Jetsam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsam.official

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Flotsam And Jetsam — Doomsday For The Deceiver

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