I am the Weapon is the fifteenth studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam. It’s a band that I first heard about when Jason Newsted left them to join Metallica in 1986. Yes, I’m that old! I’m pretty sure I listened to Doomsday of the Deceiver back then, the only album where Jason Newsted is actually still a part of the band. As far as I understand it, he was also a driving force when it came to writing songs- and lyrics for the band. What a difference from what creative input he would later have in Metallica, but that’s another story.
Anyway, apart from that first album, from which I don’t remember anything, Flotsam and Jetsam alluded me though the years. Sure, I saw their name popping up now and again, but I never paid much attention to them. So… I decided to change it when I came across their 2024 album I am the Weapon. At first I had a hard time deciding if I really should label them a Thrash Metal band anymore. I mean, there are clearly traces of both Speed Metal and Heavy Metal in there as far as I can tell. Maybe even some Power Metal and the album cover itself suggests themes that are common in Power Metal.
But then I decided that, even if there’s parts of this and that, the main line of the music is still Thrash Metal. Not that it matters what label we put on music anyway. If it’s good it’s good. It’s as simple as that really.
Then I listened to it a few times and each time it grew on me. I am the Weapon is melodic and fast, the vocals are delivered with a precision that almost reminds me of Bruce Dickinson. Not that Eric Knutson uses the same air raid siren high end as Bruce Dickinson, but there’s something to the delivery of the vocals that let me draw some parallels. It’s hard to put a finger on it. Maybe it’s just the tone or the vibrato or something.
I am the Weapon is an album that is very easy to listen to. Once you get into it you can really have it on repeat over and over again. That tells me two things. As I said, it’s very easy to listen to, it’s very well produced for my ears and it’s very well performed. It also tells me that it might be somewhat radio friendly and maybe kind of bland and unremarkable. Something that indeed contradicts my fascination for it.
Well, I have decided my stance with it. It’s a great album in my world and it makes me want to open the door for the earlier discography from Flotsam and Jetsam.
