Flotsam & Jetsam

Flotsam & Jetsam had their original bass player Jason Newsted pinched by Metallica to replace the late Cliff Burton. The band plays a brand of Thrash/Speed Metal that is different in a number of ways from the music put out by their peers. Rather than the hoarse bark that passes for singing in this genre, Flotsam's singer Erik A.K. has a keening, high-pitched, almost operatic voice. Likewise, guitars seem to take their cues from the New Wave of British Metal, simply stepping on the accelerator and retaining legato fluidness at breakneck speed. As a result everything seems less choppy, and the sound becomes almost sleek.