The band still was miles away form the progressive direction of later masterpieces. Halfway accessible song structures with a big Punk portion ala DISCHARGE with a certain tendency to chaos were leaving their mark on this album. Here the comparison with the chainsaw swinging maniacs that butcher everything that is not on the trees at the three count is true.

As negative as this reads now, it is not. On some days it even feels really good to get this bloody chunk of flesh around your ears. When I am really pissed off and nobody can do it right, then songs like "Voivod" with its super catchy roar along chorus or the extremely pressing hatework "Nuclear War" are a real motivation to go out on the warpath (or just to drink yourself to oblivion, which is better for yourself and your surroundings anyway).

Ok, enough babbling, freaks that can equally enjoy old MOTÖRHEAD, hyper nervous RAVEN, VENOM's "Welcome To Hell" album and bands like CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER and DISCHARGED, will also love "War And Pain"! (Online July 23, 2003)