GLASNIK SMRTI (Ser) - Demo br 2021 - by Life Eternal Prods, spectacularly done on pro Tape with fantastic art, paper,etc. As soon as this tape was played, an obscure and chaotic but short intro unchained a brutal and consistent riff I was not expecting at all, typical Black/Thrash Metal as if it were AURA NOIR(Nor) with a pure Thrash Metal sound, the riff seems as if it were from "The metallian" by IRON ANGEL(Ger), even the following track you can feel all the CELTIC FROST(Swi), MERCYFUL FATE(Dnk), VENOM(UK) and SLAYER(US) influences, the sound is so spectacular I cannot believe it, hard to compare with other projects, I must compare them with some other projects with similar recording sound mainly on the guitar tune, like OBERON(Bul) or EXHUMATOR(Bul). Vocals are amazing, great deep vocals. Definately this is a total "metal without mercy" as stated on the flyer. Take it now or weep later! Extra: When I reviewed this, I thought this project was from the old times, totally... except for the drumming sound which is sampled or computer-made. I hate solo-projects I must say, but this one got me there... Anyway, it is a good project to take into account, mostly because of its procedence, Serbia. And this is not finishing just here, a new demo is going to be out soon, so I hope this gets a real drum recording soon! MAGNUS(Pol) - Scarlet Slaughterer 1989 - RE 2020 by El Abismo Recs, Another label doing a great work on it, 5 pages insert full of lyrics, yeargh! I fukin loved the "death/thrash metal" label added to the front. This is a blood-red tape with a sticker similar to what ancient bootlegs used to using. What to add on this classic? Probably known by most, this is the opening full length for MAGNUS discography. I knew this act firstly by their "I was watching my Death" album, then came to this one, and honestly both kill but surely this is special due to being the first and less professional let's say, saying less professional doesn't mean it sounds bad, totally the opposite, this could be related to the steps SADISTIK EXEKUTION(Aus) took (steps, not music), like grabing the brazilian deathrashing ferocity and put over the top the diabolic minds of deathrashers with more speed in your face. Expect great solos, insane vocals and weird phrases locations, unexpected screams, speed, skills and mostly, Polish guts! CHEROKEE (US) - Wakan Tanka Rici Un 2018, by Jawbreaker recs, this is Hard Rock in the 70s vein, at first listen I identified few stuff but second time, more carefully, influences are notorious. This project counts on a female vocalist with a really particular voice, reminded me of a mixture along DIO's, Rush's vocalist and Doro. "The Yellow King" is in the vein of RUSH(Can), "Blood worth its weight in Gold" is in the vein of BLACK SABBATH(UK) and "Firewater" starts as "Eruption" from VAN HALEN(US) then is totally ala RAVEN(UK) from "Rock until you drop" LP. I wasn't expecting this at all but the art cover fully coloured drew my attention, now I revisit its art and picture of the band, it's impossible not to think about THE CULT(UK) too, and the movie "The last wave". Highly recommended for those into Hard Rock that haven't found anything new to check, which is not new but plesant for your ears, and yes, mostly because of the vocal tune. ENSLAVED(ITA) - Enslaved - Mayhem 2020 - HTH Productions, this is a compilation of demos done by these guys who initially started as MAYHEM(Ita) then renamed to ENSLAVED(Ita), Honestly I did not know ENSLAVED, my friend joakill mentioned it to me, and coming from italy, it was quite hard for me to ignore. I bought the digipack directly, because if this was shit, at least MAYHEM was good to have. Recommendation: buy the CD because includes both demos, not only ENSLAVED one. This CD starts with a track taken from a compilation, this is a recording from 1989, I guess it was their latest recording ever done, not too bright if you ask me. Then the ENSLAVED demo from 1989 starts, this is excellent Death/Thrash Metal, a mixture between ATHEIST(US),INVOCATOR(DNK) but not that technical, KREATOR(GER) and the typical brazilian vibe from the 80s, ATTOMICA(BRA) for instance. After this four-tracks demo MAYHEM demo from 1987 begins, also counting on four more tracks. This is the other way round, North American kind of Thrash Metal ala EXODUS(US), much more primitive but in the classic vein, you know what I mean. This is a well done digipak but lacks of an insert with lyrics and more pics, I guess none of those could be saved from the rusty pass of time. SPHINX(Ger) - Massacre of Distomo promo 2021 - independent tape, this was distributed among the underground warriors who were willing to promote them abroad. I did, so I printed some procovers and dubbed tapes. This is a classic german Thrash Metal act influenced by SLAYER(US), SODOM(GER) and the likes... I felt some AGRESSOR's vibe in a slower version of it in their track "T.A.T.E.T.S.", totally in your face unmerciful thrash. Nowadays is extremely difficult to enjoy acts because most sound like something you already heard before, but sometimes one can ignore that fact and support underground maniacs because of how they do things; for instance, this art has no digital shit to promote themselves nor digital contact, only snail mail address, the layout is handmade and the spectacular art too. Those things are little details that separate assholes willing to become stars from warriors. I respect this and their music is not fresh but great, so if you are one of those mongoloids looking for new bands out there recommended by some stupid site's algorithm, this does not need your bullshit, go ahead straight to your distro of trust, take it and play it loud. KORZUS (Bra) - Sonho Maniaco 1987 , RE 2015 by Voice Music, incredible CD w/Slipcase including poster,etc... really great reissue. In fact, this among some other reissues my friend Eduardo ( BEERMUG (BRA) ) brought me from his country, are the best I have ever seen coming from there, outstanding quality. I was not going to write about this band but as I read in metal-archives a review, stating this differs from most brazilians bands, I felt forced, this is a typical Brazilian band cloning SLAYER(US) with some METALLICA(US) influences here and there and HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH (AUS) . This is the Brazilian SLAYER, but this does not mean they differ from brazilian acts, in fact, like any other 80s music from this country, they share a lot in terms of drumming sound, the snare is just the brazilian touch you heard on SEPULTURA(BRA), ATTOMICA(BRA), MUTILATOR(BRA) and tons of brazilian acts... impossible not to realise that fact, also counting with influcences coming from them. Besides, lyrics are in Portuguese, so associating them with ANTHARES(BRA), early VULCANO(BRA), DORSAL ATLANTICA(BRA) is also quite hard to avoid. If you are willing to experience a professional sounding brazilian thrash attack you definately should check this one; being that professional one cannot understand why they weren't that big abroad, the answer on that decade is almost the same every time one asks oneself, the lyrical language, even today Portuguese is not that accepted, even being almost our whole damned continent! But is a great album, good to have among your recordings. SECOND HELL(Hol) / SKULL CRUSHER(Hol) - Metal Deadness Split 12'' 1986 - RE 2021 Nwn, excellent split Thrash/Heavy Metal attack. My favourite was the one from A side of course, SECOND HELL is an impressive Thrash Metal act with speed and fierce with an spectacular vocalist which ressembles to Jeff Becerra, and not only vocals can be associated with POSSESSED(US) but also the guitar tune at times. All their tracks kill, sometimes falling in a kind of NWOBHM line but not too much, just used as details or passages. For those remembering the great THANATOS(Hol), Mark Staffhorst is one of the guitar players here, the guy on the famous (and now ridiculized by youngsters), Thanatos's "Official live 1987" recording. Side B brings SKULL CRUSHER up, is more Speed Metal oriented, with the first scream on "Descent from the cross" I thought this was going to be ala KAT(Pol) 's Roman (RIP), but no, it has something but not that great, anyway it is good. "Hallelujah" totally reminded me of IRON ANGEL (Ger) 's "The Metallian" , same riff, did I already mentioned that track above? what's happening to me ? Ha ha ha, afterwards the vocals became more ala VORTEX(Hol) mixed with GBH(UK) (in "City babies attacked by rats") and some BLITZKRIEG(UK) ("A Time of changes" era). In the end, the whole 12'' is great. Thanks my friend Thomas - LEP for this one! WITCHFYNDE (UK) - Give 'em Hell 1980, dubbed tape, not mine. This is a band I have ignored, never clicked in my brains, but last night I was drunk with my friend joakill who sneaked this tape on his deck and definately enjoyed the tune vibe of the 80s nwobhm, as I have been listening a lot the TRAITORS GATE (UK) LP, it was easy to recognize the english sound. First track, "Ready to roll" drumming sent my mind to MOTORHEAD (UK) (omonimous LP) in some ways and some scales to BLACK SABBATH (UK). Besides the main riff of "Leaving Nadir" whilst also with "The divine Victim" happened the same, I could not stop associating the sound with DAVID BOWIE(UK) 's "The man who sold the World" guitar tune, in general terms. I can also relate this project with ANGELWITCH (UK) (First LP era) along with LED ZEPPELIN (UK), I could even mention PINK FLOYD (UK) on the track "Unto the ages of the ages" due to having that noisy atmosphere and ending with a kind of RUSH (Can) -ish riff. Last track "Pay now - love later", is probably the most memorable of their tracks here, counts on an exquisite riff, chorus,etc... I even think I got it previously somewhere in my neurons. Definately a recommended album that will totally lead me to check more about them in the future. If you enjoy nwobhm (who doesn't??!) you should give them a try because it's original.