Tourniquet — Psycho Surgery

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

32 years ago today, the (then) ultramodern and experimentally neurotic extravaganza known as “Psycho Surgery” was released!

On this day (July 1) in 1991, Tourniquet released their second full-length studio album “Psycho Surgery” via Intense Records and Metal Blade Records.

Background:

After the release of “Stop the Bleeding” in 1990, the band caught Metal Blade Records' attention. Produced by Metal Blade Records' Bill Metoyer, Tourniquet recorded “Psycho Surgery” at Mixing Lab A & B studio in Garden Grove, California. Guitarist Erik Mendez and the bassist Victor Macias joined Tourniquet for this album, forming the quintet known as Tourniquet's classic line-up. Metal Blade Records released “Psycho Surgery” to the secular market, leaving the Christian market to original label Intense Records.

“Psycho Surgery” represented a more modern, experimental, and technical Thrash Metal style, leaving behind the previous album's speed metal elements and incorporating classical music-influenced guitar riffs, complex tempo changes, and virtuosic guitar solos. One reviewer described the album as "Slayer plays Beethoven in a slightly rearranged way." Vocalist Guy Ritter also abandoned his King Diamond-like high-pitched falsetto in favor of a more melodic baritone register.

The album's crisp production creates a somewhat clinical and sterile atmosphere that serves to undergird the album's medical themes. Using his pharmaceutical background, drummer Ted Kirkpatrick infused the lyrics with medical terminology to serve as metaphors for particular social issues such as heretical sects ("A Dog's Breakfast"), discrimination of the developmentally delayed ("Broken Chromosomes"), and parental neglect ("Dysfunctional Domicile"). The song "Stereotaxic Atrocities," a sequel to the previous album's "Ark of Suffering," features a brief reprise of the original's signature guitar riff and criticizes laboratory testing of animals. A re-recorded version of "Stereotaxic Atrocities" appeared on the album “Onward to Freedom” in 2014 and featured Marty Friedman of Megadeth on guitar and Luke Easter on vocals, with an instrumental version later appearing on “Onward to Freedom: Voiceless” in 2016.

Taking advantage of Rap Metal's new popularity, the album's popular song "Spineless" featured the vocal and sampling contributions of Christian Hip-Hop group Preachers in Disguise (P.I.D.). Although Kirkpatrick wrote most of the song's lyrics prior to entering the studio, P.I.D.'s Fred "Doug Tray" Lynch and Barry "G" Hogan crafted their own lyrical contributions on the spot. The fast-moving instrumental "Viento Borrascoso (Devastating Wind)" features Kirkpatrick's virtuosic drumming. The album's final song, "Officium Defunctorum," is a Doom Metal piece written by guitarist/vocalist Gary Lenaire that addresses Jesus Christ's crucifixion.

Re-issues:

A remastered version was released on Pathogenic Records in 2001 and includes revised artwork, an expanded album booklet, and bonus tracks that include live versions of songs featuring then-lead vocalist Luke Easter as well as demos. (Tourniquet retitled the 2001 re-release "Psychosurgery" as one word rather than two since co-founder and drummer Ted Kirkpatrick always felt that it should have been just one.)

Retroactive Records released a remaster on June 26, 2020, retaining the original album title and including an extended booklet as well as different bonus tracks.

Critical Reception:

Considered by critics to be Tourniquet's most balanced of the band's first three albums, Heaven's Metal fanzine ranked “Psycho Surgery” Christian Metal's second-best album of all time (after Vengeance Rising's 1988 album “Human Sacrifice”).

Metal Blade Records' wide distribution of “Psycho Surgery” increased Tourniquet's exposure and popularity. Following the album's release, the songs "Psycho Surgery," "Spineless," and "Viento Borrascoso" all achieved number-one positions on several charts, and readers of HM Magazine voted “Psycho Surgery” their "Favorite Album of the Year" in 1991.

In 1992, “Psycho Surgery” also achieved two GMA Dove Award nominations in the categories Metal Album of the Year and Metal Recorded Song of the Year ("Psycho Surgery").

Critics consider the album a display of talented musicianship, intelligent lyrics, and originality. In August 2010, HM Magazine ranked “Psycho Surgery” #18 on its list of Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of All Time and the #2 album on its list of Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time.

In an interview with Noisecreep about the list, HM Magazine editor Doug Van Pelt explained that;

“Psycho Surgery”found this band playing as a five-member band for the first time and they really bent creativity in Metal in new directions that have still not been matched. Nobody has ever sounded like this band. I mean, Between the Buried and Me and maybe System of a Down are the closest in stretching creative boundaries. You almost had to pull out a medical dictionary to understand their [Tourniquet's] lyrics. Standout song would have to be the epic 'Broken Chromosomes,' which is a touching song about mistreated kids that are mentally handicapped. Chilling song."

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Psycho Surgery (Collector’s Edition)” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/psycho-surgery-collectors-edition/1521963859

Click this link to listen to “Psycho Surgery” via Spotify: Tourniquet • Psycho Surgery (Collector's Edition) https://open.spotify.com/track/18iuad3o3dXfv2uLXlXbCj

Click this link to purchase “Psycho Surgery” via Bandcamp: https://tourniquet.bandcamp.com/album/psycho-surgery-collectors-edition

Click this link to follow Tourniquet on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044529305855

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

Tourniquet — Psycho Surgery

Background:

Re-issues:

Critical Reception:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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