Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Potential Threat SF - Demo 2002 Indy Release reviewed by: EC

Track Listing1. Done Days Of Sorrow 2. Nothing The Same 3. Testify 4. Endless Fall From Grace 5. Against The Grain

How appropriate for a band from San Francisco to play bay area thrash. Potential Threat SF do just that, running through five tracks of mid-era Metallica on route to delivering their newest demo. These guys really go back to the early days, forming in 1988 during San Francisco's metal expansion. Formed by Mike Noble (guitar), Kenny Noble (drums), Noel Bailen (vocals), Tom Padden (bass), and Max Blum (lead guitar), this band have supported and opened for big acts like Heathen, Overkill, Slayer, and Testament.

According to the band's bio, Noel, Max, and Tom left the band in 1991 because of musical differences, leaving Mike and Kenny to continue on with new singer Ken Haus to form Shock Factor. They moved the band to Germany and recorded one album called "Realty". In '99 Mike and Kenny moved back to the US and reformed Potential Threat, with bassist Tom Padden in tow to create a three-piece. Now the group find themselves with a new demo and an independent tour of Germany in the works.

All five cuts on this demo are fairly good, finding the band's feet planted firmly in the US thrash stylings of bands like Vio-lence, Metallica, and Meliah Rage. I can hear a bit of a 90s sound in some of the tracks, with some down-tuned guitar stomps and a few lower rumblings from vocalist Mike Noble. "Done Days Of Sorrow" has a harsh Prong undertow. "Nothing The Same" is the fastest number, reminding me of 90s acts like Panic and Machine Head, but not quite as jagged as Pantera. "Testify" is Metallica worship, seeing the group in mid-stride, not really going out and getting that extra something to send them over the edge and into more improved soundscapes. Each track is recorded well, and this is a really good demo that should see the band wind up on a smaller label. I can see Germany really digging this type of metal, as the US is more geared to deathy vocals and more stomp riffing with melody.

For fans of Wardog, Warhead, and Forte

--EC 10.08.04