SANCTIFYING RITUAL (Ger) - Sanctifying Ritual 2020 , CD Iron Bonehead prods. Well, unexpectedly my friend Thomas from Life Eternal prods included this CD as gift on the last pack I got from him. This is pure Death Metal, at first listen I thought it was quite South American, after more listenings I found some notes that take you to Swedish DM, MERCILESS (SWE) is also present in some parts, the rest is just North American DM , you can listen to some clear influences coming from MORBID ANGEL(US) (Covenant era), few slow parts ala AUTOPSY (US), some interesting resemblences to what was BRUTALITY (US) (When the sky turns Black era). Vocals are excellent, you can connect some expression on the voice that will remind you of MASTER OF CRUELTY (Par) and also EKRON CULT (Par), the whole recording is perfect but not too clean which is great. Besides starting without any intro and just going straight to your face to suck your brains out, this counts on an spectacular artwork, looks totaly from the early nighties and not only because it looks ancient but also because the pictures are just brilliant. Thomas told me this place is no longer avaible to be visited by public but the pictures where taken before that, they took place somewhere in Mexico, they are unbelievable. This is indeed a great discovery. You should get this album right away and do it now because it is fresh! ZNÖWHITE (US) - All hail to thee MLP , wow man... I thought this could be a point of destruction for the band, sometimes demos are marvellous and an LP ruin the career of a band, but in this ocassion that's not the case. I know this MLP provides nothing new more than the sound, which is fukin astonishing!!! The vocals are so loud and clear with great pressence I believe this lady is just screaming in front of my face! man I definately have to get this one sooner than later!! MERCYFUL FATE (Dnk) - Mercyful Fate 1982 EP , this is exactly what I was hoping to listen, an innocent and humble approach to what was achieved in Melissa 12'' . This is magnific, another gem in the history of Heavy Metal, nothing else to add. Influences and relevant information I already mentioned in my Melissa's reviews. These four tracks are just terrfic. CANCERBERO (Chl) - Guardian of Hell demo 1988 & Perpetual Agony demo 1991, these demos were reissued by Warhemic Prods from US, a well known underground label that has been helping underground project since quite a long time I think. This demos were perfectly reissued in a great quality tape. I only remember quite well the first demo from 88, and I totally forgot the '91 demo... I think I know why, it's more experimental in my opinion, despite counting on "Into Death" track that cames from the rehearsal demo from 88 , with a better sound and played better, I still prefer the original one, because it was more raw, primitive, and the awful sound of the guitar for arrangements made me vomit on this one, what awful idea they had for such a good track. "Feña's Flight" is a great track and the guitar sounds as if it were Russian! it's totally instrumental, what a pitty for such a great track. "Forgotten Reality" starts as if it were a Raul Guzman track (remember him from the allmighty TOXODETH (MEX) ), full of classical playing, impressive solos. Sadly it becomes quite shitty after the great intro, gets better when the vocals start, vocals reminded me of the greek act NECROMANSY (GRE) and is full of insane reverb/echo; then again that shitty idea of guitars playing disgusting arrangements... this time are lower in volume than in "Into Death" track so are not that annoying. In the end is not that bad. I liked it. And this demo is finished with "Carnage of the Dead" again with that piece of shit arrangement!! Fuk man! I cannot hate it even more! why the fuk!? Anyway, after the intro it gets better but is not a memorable track at all. This tape includes an unreleased track from 1989 entitled "Eternal Hellfire", not bad. As I said, I prefer the first demo from 88. And in relation with 1988 rehearsal demo, as I said "Into Death" is fantastic track, obscure Death Metal from chile in 88! "Dark Message" is the second track, the very same vein. The whole demo is interesting enough to keep you on the mood! "Guardian of Hell" is hell of a track, its first riff is great, then get's even better when faster, vocals are astonishing and sound little bit higher than previous tracks which helps a lot, the obscure passages are excellent, I know some of them I listened before somewhere but I cannot recall where, may be it's because I listened to this too many times! HA HA; I think SADISTIC INTENT (US) could also be compared at some points with this act. This rehearsal ends with "Pestilent Vomit", starts really crushing, in fact it took me to a slower rpm version of a SLAUGHTER(Can) track, was it "Maim to please"?! now I think there's from where I think slower parts come from! the Surrender or die demo ! exciting as it is, this demo is what really gave them their huge name in the underground. I must thank my friend mediocridad who gave this to me as present quite long ago. Was it you right!? HAHA CANCERBERO(Chl) - At the portals of the evoked Blasphemies 2012; I got this through trading long ago and now felt right to listeng to them along the stuff I already had. This is an impressive album despite counting only with the original vocalist/bassist. Songs are all well structed and the production is raw what makes it really appealing, the artwork is excellent too. I think is not the very same old CANCERBERO I know, but I can hardly say it is bad, it really sucks to know that the ones who composed the mighty 88 demo are not here anymore, mostly because I am convinced that a guitar player cannot be disposed off and keep the name of the band, strange cases where other member is composing guitar lines are the ones that could deal with something like that almost properly, but guitar lines among drumming are the essence of a monicker... anyway, the 91 demo was not excellent either so that could lead to different approaches to music inside the band members, here you can get a good piece of an album coming from Chile and also easy to notice that. Some good riffs from time to time, some others well known riffs too... vocals are great and thrash metal influences are more notorious than before. Does not disappoint at all! CANCERBERO(Chl) - Malevolence EP 2013, the following attack from these guys, I think this has a little bit better sound than the previous attack but in terms of compositions I could tell you these tracks could have been done during the same period of time. Starting track it's the omonimus "Malevolence" which is totally crushing, fast and chaotic; pure Death Metal. Continues with "Arrival of the Pestilence" which is another magnific track, I feel this EP much more consistent than previous LP, I think energies are towards strict rules for each tracks making each one of them increibly powerful with any lack of interest, I mean, you totally concentrate on this one without losing the track, may be that was not totally achieved in the aforementioned LP. "From the impipous Hell" counts on a really well known riff but my poser mind failed miserably to remember what it was, I think it was from DEATH(US), fuk my mind! "Praise the beast" with its mounstrous start falls in a classicl tremolo style to end in a fast and agressive cut for more insanity, pure blasting hell properly done. This great 5 track EP finishes with "Slaughtering the bastard", a great piece of EP indeed, pure classic style and raw sounding never losing the essence. Its cancerbero's art is also fantastic, simple and effective as fuk. I would buy this one with no hesitation! TERROR STRIKE (Chl) - Executioner Thrash Metal 2008 demo, well this 4 track demo made my day. I was about to put it in my trade list beause I thought it sucked... but is fantastic, great obscure Thrash Metal, the omonimous track is just excellent, great vocals, great fukin crushing riffs and totally Chilean from this era... solos are amazing, the whole demo is highly recommended. "Child Rape" second riff is fukin astonishing, I fuking loved it I could not avoid trying to play it... lyrics are quite childish but the essence is fantastic. Top quality tape and what they did after this demo is nothing compared to this! Why man? these tracks are just excellent! Buy it , trade it or die! INNER SANCTUM (Ury) - Frozen Souls 1993 - Remastered release by Disembodied Recs from Argentina , well I am not going to talk about any details on this release in terms of music because is a CELTIC FROST (SWI) clone with some extra uruguayan shit put on the top of it ( like you hear in "Electric Infuences" that have some jazzy stuff) I mean, this is top uruguayan quality stuff but as it is already well known act my words won't add anything new... what I need to say is that the label did an excellent job gathering the whole and putting it out on CD and tape too... this time I am listening to the tape withe a beer in my hand, the remaster indeed was quite a good decision, I already had my old tape signed by Heber (the time he was at my place for an interview) ; and this tape sounds much better, but honestly, like everything is cleaner as I think it was supposed to be at the time because I think it could be indeed compared with "Morbid Tales", yes I know it got done almost ten years after but that's okey anyway, CF was doing shit by that time haha! Whatever fukerhappychotafuker... buy this one whenever you can, one: because it is not expensive, two: because is classic with proper roots, three: is one of those cult bands that are not well known abroad; even they did at the time and even now but in my eyes i think they are still not well listened. Anyway... bands from your own country are special to you because of that very thing... and even more when you knew the mind behind the project. By the way, I kind of hate it now because the comeback and issues related to the bassist/vox fuker... no one can be perfect but someone once told me "beat your idols" so be it! Inner Sanctum ruled back then, the innocent legacy prevails, the rest is nonesense and this project is dead, no return is necessary, in the graveyard is forever in my mind. The only bad thing on this tape, the sides tracklist have a mistake, side A includes "Tears" track that is part of the side B on the list, I think tried to immitate the original version but the designed art failed on it. All lyrics included, the artwork is the original one and the pics include Heber which was omitted by the reissue of Toxic Recs from Chile when he left the band, even being the guy behind the concept! Good night/day/whatever wherever you are! have a beer, enjoy death! (recommended by my daughter during an almost cold night in March. Should I get some whisky?) ALOHA (US) - Demo 1982 , Yes I fukin love fem vox and this is no fukin exception to the rule, I was always astonished by their track "Heavy Metal virgin" included in the Metal Massacre II compilation, I knew this demo existed but I really never thought someone could have it hahaha. I am not a big Marty Friedman fan at all, in fact this is the only stuff from him I really like, Neoclassical music is not my kind of beer. This demo unleashes the fury with "The pit and the pendulum" track where besides getting the right Speed Metal kick in your face you notice the impressive guitar skills here and there with smart arrangements and riffs made note by note. Anyway, "The secret of the stars" is quite boring which is the track that follows, and then the glorious "Heavy Metal Virgin", of course this was the right choice for the Metal Blade compilation because there's no doubt it is the best track. "Beg for mercy" closes the demo, it is instrumental, not bad not fantastic either. Later they changed vocalist and turned into VIXEN(US), later HAWAII(US), none of those, in my opinion, are as good as this one, a 7" Single of "Heavy Metal Virgin" would be such a great release I think! Ha ha! VEXATION (JPN) - Skullcrusher 1986 demo, with that name ONSLAUGHT (UK) is a well identifiable infuence on them, besides it also smells like HELLHAMMER(Swi) everywhere. Fuck Hard 1987 demo includes more CELTIC FROST(Swi) influences, most of the riffs are almost stolen, with the exception of some noisy ones and some original vocals stuff that you can typically observe in japanese acts like G.I.S.M.(JPN) or even SABBAT(JPN), I was really expecting something more into the Death Metal realms and faster, but I waited like 15 years to finally listen to them so I cannot complain man! These, at least for me, are really hard to find demos, but I now believe they are difficult because the band was not that impressive, may be locally in their scene but nothing remarkable in worldwide terms, and mostly because of the years of these recordings, they were not ahead, they were just there. V.O.D. (S.THA) [aka. Voice of Destruction] - Black Cathedral 1992, this is their debut album... I believe I kind of shocked you reading this ah!? Yeah man, you have to dig everywhere for the great graveyards of insanity. Back in the 90s, I think they were quite popular because they were coming from South Africa, and not only due to being from there but also because they were fresh and played a great intense music. My friend Carlos from SHP in Argentina once told me he used to exchange letters with them, I cannot recall if he still has this release or any other stuff from them... anyway I would like to get their demos too but I know are hard. If you know nothing about them, I can tell you they are in the line of BSB-H from Brazil when they were Death Metal in their first LP and also vocals hit at the doors of one of my all time favs from Russia, KRUGER(RUS) (the one with 1991 demo later FRONT), because are sick and sound obscure as fuk, you can get some SODOM(Ger) influences from time to time and IMPERATOR (Pol) or even DECEASED(US). I cannot do anything more than tell you, you should get this for the sake of knowing something rare from a not so active scene, or at leat I believe so. GLORIFICATION (PAR) - Against all adversity - A Hymn of Demonic Victory 2017, by Deathrash Armageddon, I don't know why I haven't written anything about them before, this LP is fantastic, I own the CD from this label, I don't remember if I traded it with my friend Rodrigo, who is now at bass on this project, or if I got it from the label when our album "Alienated Demons" got released. The head under this maleifc manifestations of obscure hell is Benjamin, he is at vox/guitars and probably all compositions and arrangements because everything is so fuking perfectly tight. From the riffs, vocals to the keyboards. Artwork is also a great detailed piece of macabre rebel thoughts that goes really well with the name of the album. Lyrics are against christianity in case you haven't noticed from what the name of the album transmit, they have one written in their matter language from Paraguay, which is not Spanish but Guaraní, this is impressive because I know a circle form the paraguayan underground that are really struggling to keep that tongue alive. Back at the time I got this, the news were that Rodrigo was at bass, he comes from INFERNAL COMMAND (PAR) (his own project) and at the time he was in DL50 as guitar player along with Marcelo (bassist at MASTER OF CRUELTY (PAR) ) but nowadays DL50 (PAR) lineup suffered some changes that kept them out but awesomely, Benjamin is doing vocals right there... I believe this manic guy was a great addition to DL50 and even funebre told me that. So cheers for this malefic fuker and do not forget to get this recording because kills! It is hard for me to compare them with something, I only noticed some VARATHRON(Gre) influences in 7th track but just small ones, remember I never got further with them than "His majesty at the swamp", may be some POSSESSION(BEL) from Belgium just to name an newer act but not that slow nor black metalish. EVIL MADNESS (Chl) - Hidden Behind the Cross EP 2018 CD by Vulkan Records, this is a magnific Thrash Metal EP, is totally influenced by VIOLENT FORCE(GER) mainly in vocals, I cannot get rid of the track "Vengeance and Venom" when listen to this EP. As far as I remember their first demo tape I had, named "Scars of Blasphemy" from 2008, they were a pretty obscure Thrash Metal act almost death/thrash... fast and agressive as fuk. Their riffs are excellent in this demo tape, and really in the vein... with vocals near to what Rogga from MERCILESS(SWE) could do back in the days of "The Awakening", this of course should have been a really close influence to their sound. The art was a handmade drawing which goes perfect with this and I remember it had a fantastic vomitting outro Ha ha! Ala WEHRMACHT (US). Then I also bought their Split CD released by Deathrash Armageddon where they appear next to INFANT DEATH (Nor), besides realising something was missing there, I could not avoid to compare what EVIL MADNESS had already done in the past with this one, seems that they switched from vocalist... the bassist used to doing the great vocals ala Rogga but now they count on their guitar player for this job. I must say both vocalists are fantastic but I prefered their demo era with a more violent wave. Anyway, this split is pretty good, I remember reading about INFANT DEATH somewhere when they first appeared with a demo or something... I remember they were quite good so buying this Split was a must. Nowadays I must say it is a good project, sounds tight and evil and their last track on this CD is "Vicious Attack" and you can really get the vibe of HELLWITCH(US)'s kind of riffs. I was trying to get more information about the band for the sake of reading something from them, like their own website or contact,etc... and MA shows a spotify link ?? hell... their picture in MA and spotify link HA HA that crap totally removed my desires to listen even more about them... May be I am too hysterical about these kind of facts, I mean... I used digital ways to get more information... but the result was awful... Back to the main project EVIL MADNESS which really made my noon. I have never had the opportunity to buy their first full length "Maze of Souls" , this one is still pending in my list, because I think the line is the same as in the demo due to having their bassist still as vocalist. With one vox or another, the band expose a Thrash Metal ferocity which is highly recommended. Since the first demo up to now you can trust they won't disappoint you. BATTLESTORM (Sin) - Demonic Incursion 2010 - RE 2018 CD by Trauma Records from Colombia, I traded this with the label, which I also happened to receive the Bells of Acheron fanzine that surprised me including a review of my fanzine with words that made me feel really proud, I could not believe someone could write about my fanzine in that way, Thank you very much for your words, I felt extremely honoured because I am not a professional, just a fan with a huge lack of knowledge in every field but I do my best. Thank you again. Back to the album, these guys play a fast Death Metal, I would mention the word "modern" but not in a bad sense of the word, is just because everything sounds perfect, this is the kind of Death metal with pure blast beats everywhere, with little melodic riffs that lead to a Black Metal vibe, and vocals totally worship SARCOFAGO's Wagner, a cover it is even included. Most of the tremolo riffs are that fluent that you can perceive the great vibe,feeling of the execution, it is extremely hard to achieve something like that and they made it here. Took me some time to make up my mind about keeping this release or trade it, but I have to say that I own few recordings from this place, the trade with Trauma Records was special and the band is good and can be totally recommended if you are into this kind of Metal, I am avoiding the label "War" Metal because I am not a collector of this genre, but it could be used in case it fits you better, so you can get the proper idea of what they do. This is their debut album, extremely astonoshing because it is professional as fuk and is hard to decide which track is better, all are in the same line, the starting track "Necropilic Damnation", the second one "Supersonic Devastations" are fantastic, "Demonic Incursion" is great too, at some points reminded me of BLACK VUL DESTRUKTOR (Arg), "Serpentine Curse" is in the same line with some Black Metal slow parts but thanks to having this great vocalist and lacking of keyboards, they totally get the best out of the mix. "Despotic Archdameon Regin" could be the rarest one because stars having nothing to do with the rest of the tracks, is more in the vein of Greek Black Metal and some Japanese vibe too... out-of-your-mind solos and rythms are excellent, almost at the end it gets Brazilian again, made me think of "Ready to Fuck" from SARCOFAGO(BRA). Their last track is "Savage Incarnate" which falls into some 90s nosk Black Metal I don't enjoy too much because of those melancolic melodies I just despice. Well done reissue, it's a digipak with fantasic art not only the evil frontcover but also what's printed in the CD itself. DEATHSLAYER (US) - Cry of the Swords demo 1984, yep another band with fem vocals on the front, reminded me of KIM SIXX (DNK) with its omonimous track, but sadly I found this really boring... first instrumental track is great, then this one and the rest is just boring... don't know, this band just did not do that click on my brain. If you are insane by fem vocals just give them a try, you may enjoy it more than I did. DAMNATION(CAN) - Damned in nation demo #3 1989, well if you remember them because of one of the best Canadian demos like "Speed Anarchy" 1986 is, and also thanks to "Agressive Repulsive Symphonies" demo 1987, you may realise why this one is not so well known, they turned into a more CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER (US) style with vocals towards Hardcore music, even the guitars and distortion, for me this is just another band and not DAMNATION. It is OK, but if you were expecting the real insanity they once had, well, this is not for you at all! EKCXYMATOP(BUL) - Tepop 1993, countries like Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia including Russia, had this sound that is hardly heard somewhere else. A mixture between recording everything in-line with no amps, or amps but directly to the console or just pure ignorance in terms of metal master process which made this so unique. Again, one of the top recordings from those countries is this demo tape, this project is only one guy playing everything under the name of "The Piff", great mind indeed, because the ideas are terrific and aggressive. I can name just few bands that could relate to this Death Metal sound, KREMATOR(RUS), ARPEPOP(BUL), TOXIC TRASH(SVK), KRUGER(RUS). Recommended as fuk! Thanks my friend Thomas from Life Eternal Prods for this! KAOS(US) - New Creation 1990 demo, WOW! I cannot say nothing more than "impressive", never heard of this North American monicker! This is a total obscure and hidden gem! I totally recommend this bastards of Death/Thrash metal insanity, the guys play a highly skilled deathrash speed holocaust with impressive soloing, great drummings,etc,etc,etc the vocal tun rips! in the vein of SADUS(US), HEXX(US), SACRILEGE BC(US), RECIPIENTS OF DEATH(US), HELLWITCH(US), AHTEIST(US), DEVASTATION(US), WEHRMACHT(US), and in the beginning of "Kaos Among us" does that armonic sound like MARTIRE(AUS)! HAHA, all these combinated but more Thrash Metal. ARGH!!! This is a huge discovery from my side man. You won't regret getting this maleficient madness! KAOS (US) - Vivisection demo 1991, read carefully, don't get this piece of shit tape. Stick to the previous one and I will add to my wishlist the 1988 demo because must be in the same line as the other masterpiece. AGGRESSOR(Ita) - The wings of Death 1987 demo, this was also unknown to me, it's a Thrash Metal band from Italy really inspired by VENOM(UK), you will see that in the second track with the very same name of the demo, Italy counting on such a bunch of tremendous bands, this obviously fades out... From the third track and on you can realise it has SLAYER influences mixed with vocals Kam Lee from MANTAS(US) ,DEATH(US) ,MASSACRE(US) could have done back in the time. This has some great riffs, drums and vocals after the first two tracks, probably the lack of good sound does not help them a lot or helped them in the time. Anyway, is a good project to know if you dig the Italian scene, you won't get bored nor hooked. ANNIHILATED (UK) - Speedwell demo 1985, if SLAYER and ONSLAUGHT(UK) had an affair you could have this bastard son right away. guitar tune and snare sound is totally English, vocals are a little kind of Speed Metal version of Araya's. I have been trying to get this one for quite a long time, I am impressed because this band preserver the HC roots from their country but also their NWOBHM roots right there exploding into Thrash Metal. "Inferno" is the first infernal track that captures your soul insantly, "Shadows of Fear" follows with and axe in it hand starting as if it were IRON MAIDEN(UK), but hell is not, is like if you were listening to a proto sample of their well known track "Chase the Dragon", "Thunderflash" have some great screams but kind of bored me, "40 dumb Animals" is totally G.B.H(UK) worship but more aggressive as it must. "Ethiopia" closes the demo, the name made me think of PATTI SMITH(US),and the rythm guitar during the magnific solo reminded me of 200 MUERTOS(Par), the vocal with tremendous reverb is excellent, these two tracks definately are Hardcore, the band started as a Punk band so the progress towards faster and thrash sounds were expected and a demo like this with this mixture was too. Excellent demo if you are also into English Hardcore repulsion. CREMATION (US) - Chaos and Termoil 1987 demo , it includes a DEATH STRIKE(US) "Pay to die" cover and sounds like rehersals by TERRORIZER(US) and NAUSEA(US), so you know what you get. Even though that's the spirit, is not that fast, probably more Death Metal than aforementioned bands, just like DEATH STRIKE (US) because of the kind of speed used. Great demo with short songs. "Final Doom" track is a slower version of "Baptized in Blood" from DEATH(US) kind of... Good to get. CRIONIC(DNK) - The land which once were demo 1986, impressive sound for this demo tape, only 4 songs of total Thrash Metal with rythms and ideas used mostly in Technical project but they achieved to do it quite well and kept it interesting. I know few bands from this country, Some I remember listening to but were too technical for my taste, this is one is not, you could bet Chuck's technical ideas could have been inspired by them ha ha! I can compare this project with D.B.C.(Can) and ANNIHILATOR (CAN) too but is not that fast, the speed is ala METALLICA(US), I could mention AUTOPSIA(GER) because of some effects, but is much more skilled. As something extraordiary I would remark the vocals. This demo was something completely unexpected for my brain, sadly they did not achieve recording an LP, I bet they could have been as big as any other thrash metal band from anywhere at the time, recommended! TERMONUCLEAR (Per) #1, I was re-reading this one I long ago got a xeroxed copy... don't even know when and how but I remember it had something from the old HADEZ(PER) and also form CURRICULUM MORTIS(PER) so it was great revisiting this one, looks quite awfully xeroxed in some pages probably scanned and later xeroxed because of the lost of quality, anyway, it is readable, highly recommended! Regarding re-readings, SATANIC DEATH (Jpn) issue 3 is another one over my desk, also xeroxed somewhere some years ago... the selection on this issue is manicly outstanding, sadly also bad pages quality but I did my best to get to read it anyway... you can read about bands like AUTOPSY(US), DEAD CONSPIRACY(US), ATHEIST(US), OBLIVION(CAN), RIGOR MORTIS(US), OBSCURITY(SWE), MESSIAH DEATH(JPN), ANIALATOR(US), CREMATION(US), NUN SLAUGHTER(US), PRIME EVIL(US), MORBID ANGEL(US), MAYHEM(BRA), PSYCHIC POSSESSOR(BRA), ANSCHLUSS(BRA), GENOCIDIO(BRA), ARSENIC(US), O.L.D.(US), SKULLFUCKER(BRA),etc,etc,etc... to name the ones on the cover that I like, totally killer, this must be the mass media back then in Japan I presume, because all these , except from MESSIAH DEATH and OBSCURITY , come from AMERICA! Hugely recommended if you like to dig in the old origins of extreme music.