Flotsam & Jetsam: High (Blue Vinyl)

Originally released in 1997, High marked an interesting chapter in Flotsam and Jetsam’s evolution—arriving at a time when thrash metal was on the ropes and many of their peers had softened or vanished. Instead, Flotsam doubled down. This RSD 2024 reissue finally gives the album a proper spotlight with a crisp remaster and long-awaited vinyl pressing, delivering a sonic punch that sharpens the band’s mid-’90s fury.

The album opens with “Final Step,” a blistering statement of intent, powered by crunching guitars, tight rhythmic interplay, and Eric A.K.’s piercing vocal lines that shift seamlessly between melody and raw aggression. Songs like “High Noon” and “It’s On Me” blend groove-heavy riffing with lyrical themes that reflect the darker, more introspective tone of the era—addiction, corruption, self-destruction—all wrapped in an industrial-tinged thrash sound.

This isn’t the breakneck speed of Doomsday for the Deceiver or No Place for Disgrace, but a more muscular, mid-paced menace—heavier, leaner, and more focused. The production on the original release was a bit muddied, but the remaster tightens everything up: drums punch harder, basslines surface with more clarity, and the guitars have real bite. Standouts like “Understand” and “Monster” benefit most, revealing nuances in arrangements that were buried in the original mix.

While High may have been overshadowed during its time, this RSD pressing reaffirms its place in the Flotsam catalog as a transitional but deeply underrated slab of American metal. For longtime fans, it’s a vindication; for newcomers, a worthy entry point into the band’s post-thrash evolution. Limited, loud, and long overdue.