"life is hard but that's not an excuse at all" ... hello 2025 and thank you for this absolute piece of shit welcome. when your stomach gestates a ball of utter anxiety and sadness, your mind dreams on suicidal lust and hatred, just fight back with fearless vomits, shall I ? don't care, here you have the almost-monthly-puke: RADIATION(Svk) - Reactor Colapse album 2025, these crazy psychos from Slovakia have released their second album on all physical formats, as you may have seen on this very site, their flyer. Expect classical blackened Thrash Metal with attitude. A project that every supporter of underground acts must worship. Beers from the southern vomitted lands slovakian thrashers! May the collapsed plutanium-overdose gift you in the most doomish chaos! METALLIST(Est) - Frankenstein 1985, shitty mp3. This album comes with 9 tracks of Heavy Metal heavily influenced by the new wave, in fact I perceive the tezz from DISCHARGE(UK) ways on vox, pretty similar vocal tune, they were inspired by bands like TRAITORS GATE(UK) , IRON MAIDEN(UK) and JUDAS PRIEST(UK) , also ressembling to ATLAIN(Ger) and POKOLGEP(Hun) . Tracks are "Arrow and the sword" , "Kahehäälsus" , "Frankenstein" starting as if it were ACDC(Aus) , and musically speaking it's also HARD ROCK, "Köiksuse Harmoonia" in the "Rocka Rolla" album vein, "Pölev Mees", "Eagle", "Aeg" , "Püüd" with a great riff that reminded me of early MERCYFUL FATE(Dnk) , but in fact I listened to that in DEATH ROW(Ger) in a faster way, "Hope Land" with more JUDAS PRIEST on slow parts ala "Victim of Changes". The whole recording is good, nothing so remarkable but interesting being from Estonia. Thanks fukulo for this recommendation which was not from Russia and had no female vocalist either, but was a good catch for enjoying some underground heavy metal project. Anyone having a copy of this please write to me! METALLIST(Est) - Metallistomaania 1985 demo. "Metallistomaania" track starts really Punk mixed with some good Heavy Metal solos. "Lapsemeelskes" came back to the Metal realms, in the DIO(US) vein mixed with arpeggios and intense bass activities to fall into what I would call a mixutre between JUDAS PRIEST(UK) and BLACK SABBATH(UK) because vox made me think of an OZZY mimick, "Nõid" , "Eldorado" again ala JUDAS PRIEST , "Viikingid" probably the heaviest track, pretty good, "P.K.N.P.K." , and finally "Teel vastu päikesele" has some JETHRO TULL(UK) on its compositions I guess. As you can see, they kept experimenting with their compositions, less Heavy Metal and more Rock-oriented music. I would not recommend this as much as their first release, only to satiate estonian-rockuriosity. METALLIST(Est) - Aikesehingus 1986, their second album, counting on a cleaner sound, better production, they turned into a more sofisticated Hard Rock band, instantly reminded me of THE CULT(UK) with their opening track "Algus" , "Aikesehingus" comes in the BLACK SABBATH(UK) flavour even mimicking OZZY in a 100% , "Unenagu" is like DEEP PURPLE(UK) with DIO(US) and SCORPIONS(Ger) so the sphere changed quite a lot if we compare this track against their first couple, "Puus Tudruk" vocals became a little different, I doubt if this is the very same vocalist, may be he is really versatile, his tune is in the SAXON(UK) ways and THE CULT is still present mixed with POKOLGEP(Hun) and DIO(US), "Tuum" has nothing to do with what I wrote before, Is like jazz-fusion music which turns into a more electric sound with synth and so on... JEFF BECK(US) is what rang the bell, the vocalist pronunciation keeps me in the POKOLGEP ways but with totally diffrent music and the THE CULT vocal tune with no doubt, "Jaaminek" seems to be done in a pretty STEVE VAI(US) way in lots of aspects, ala "Passion and Warfare" album, "Ave Ceasar" closes this totally weird release slowly rising into the DIO and JUDAS PRIEST ways mixed with DEEP PURPLE and SCORPIONS ; here you realise this band was focusing into the best-sellers more than creating their own kind of obscure heavy metal exposure. Thanks my friend den for your help tracing these recordings!!! I won't spare words on "Back Page News" album because is total crap! MALICIOUS ONSLAUGHT(US) - Rebellious Mayhem 1992, dubbed. Weird Death Metal/Thrash Metal act, weirdly produced and weirdly composed, good mixture of weird stuff . I would define this as a RECIPIENTS OF DEATH(US) , to avoid mentioning SLAYER(US) , MALEVOLENT CREATION(US) 1st LP era, MORBID SAINT(US) , DEATH(US) , little MORBID ANGEL(US) and DEVASTATION(US) [chicago] combo... "Transgressor" opens the album with a mixture of music that made me think of DEMISE(US) , DEVASTATION, probably on some vocal rythms, "Beyond evil" made me think of "Kill again" by SLAYER and has a scream that can also lead you to AGRESSION(Can) or MAGNUS(Pol) but only instantly, this is a pretty good track. The omonimous "Rebellious Mayhem" starts again with a different production of what you listen on the aforementioned tracks, this sounds like a compilation more than an album... bass is remarked here, vocals are more obscure and guitars keep being absorved by snare-too-loud sound, I thought of DVC(US) too , I wish they kept their fast tempo instead of lots of up-downs strategy, but that's their way, so it's okey, here I can hear some David Vincent's mimicks on vocals. "Emotional Death" , pretty good name he, great track but quite slow, into the "Show no mercy" era culminating with that jazzy chord ha! "Extinction of God" strikes back with speed in the vein of "Inverted Crosses" from THE UNSANE(US) with great riffs and bass according to the aggression needed for the composition, luckily guitars are louder. "Speculate the future" with a lower production, has great cut-fast-and-skilled riffs showing of the master musicians they were, I am tempted to compare them with VACANT GRAVE(US) on their "Life or Death" album, I can also think of "Guts for dinner" from FATAL(US) , vocals are greatly violent, in the end it's a highlight. "Thrashed black" comes up with a bass solo followed by an egyptian scale falling into deathrash ways, some up-n-down-tremolos again from SLAYER. "Revenge of the innocent" is like "Master of Disguise" from SAVAGE GRACE(US) but much faster and extreme, now do you believe this is weird? HA! This is not for everyone I would say, but in the end it's hell of a recording, it captures the best of the deathrash world with a Death metal production, despite being mixed with un-production tracks, I would recommend this to anyone willing to experience this mixture of top-nocht deathrash bands from the 80s but done in the early 90s. NOTE: further reading regarding this release, in fact is a compilation of the recordings sessions for the "Thrashed Black" 1988 demo and the "Mallicious Onslaught Rehearsal" demo 1990, that's why the different mix among tracks, and that's why the foot on the 80s grave was present. Excellent! SATANCHIST(Cze) - Drtiči kacířských pohlaví 1992 LP by Hexencave Productions. Unknown to me, this has similarities with CELTIC FROST(Swi) , MORTUARY DRAPE(Ita) in the Black and Thrash Metal aspects, but with some different approaches on guitars that take them into the Death Metal realm, of course the deep growls are also part of that, to name something on that field I would say DEMENTOR(Svk) NECROPHAGIA(US) , DARK(Cze) , some AUTOPSY(US) , and some Brazilian-Thrash ideas here and there which also made me think of SAX(Cze) , their sound on guitars solos and their style are particularly Hard Rock, great mixture, the whole crude almost-rehearsal sound, mostly on drumming, is fantastic and healthy for the recording. Definately a great release for those who appreciate music coming from this country with hell of an identity thanks to being sung in Czech, besides the fact the guy seems to be about to vomit his own guts on some violent-regurgitating-screams ha! Highly recommended. MARCA ACME(Ury) - Quebrando Cráneos 2022, independently released on CDR plus pro cover. First album by these maniacs, can you believe it? What a fukin achievement!! For those unknowing them, this is the only real Thrash Metal band from Uruguay, yes, you read it well, the only real, and they are not from the capital city, but San José. They have been active, switching monickers along with little lineup arrangements, for more than 30 years, yeah man they kill beyond killness!! This recording starts with "Experimentando con cadáveres frescos" which starts as if they have finally listened to CANNIBAL CORPSE(US) but they have such a unique touch that you can feel their mixture absolutely well done. Lyrics are totally sung in spanish and that's what makes them so unique and probably so underated too, locally and internationally speaking, despite the fact that they are not from montevideo and were always ignored by most, what a huge fukin pity. "Sonido de perdición" follows with the classical MARCA ACME-ish approach with some almost punk melodies, solos are from beyond, shit alexis you still are a fukin guitar hero! "Profundos abismos sombríos" comes from 2007 , by then ATROZER(Ury) , taken from "Ultimo Momento" demo, they decided to re-recorded it for this release along with "Cruda Realidad" from the same demo, what to say... both versions are great, now more produced with effects on vox and probably more complete drumming, I love their music, their ways, their identity and mostly the spectacular and funny and sadistic spanish lyrics, oh and they always mixed their music with some Death metal. "Sangra Uruguay" is a weak track mixing Speed Metal and Heavy Metal, that's what makes it weak for their common style, and has some ugly clean vox I cannot stand, sorry Jhonan HA! I believe I already talked about it before on some reviews from live gigs in the past, on my fanzine. "Quebrando Cráneo" , who gave the name to this album, has a weird chorus, the rest seems coherent to what they do. Not as remarkable as I would expect honestly, I think it was better live because it was not that clean. And to close this release they decided to add an INNER SACTUM(Ury) cover, the well-known "Wastelands", played sometimes live before, along with "Espirales" and "Instinto Salvaje" from CROSS(Ury) , eyyy Johnan!!! Wait a minute, what the fuk!!?!? now you sing in English!!! HAHAHA! ; Jhonan (vox) always told me "why the fuk people try to cover bands from abroad when we have such great bands that were real influences on all of us? if you want to play a cover, first you do a local one, then do whatever the fuk you want..." and there's when I decided to play ANGKOR VAT(Ury) cover "I want to know" with my band PHERETRUM(Ury) HA! These guys are a huge personal inspiration not only in music but as a humble-model to follow and to highlight that outside the buble in montevideo, warriors are present doing total extreme and unique music, being uniquness something that present times lack of. These are the words from a metalhead inspired by these metalheads from the underworld. Greetings to my friends Aldo, Jhonnan and Alexis, you still rule! Congrats! EXPULSED ANGEL(GER) & PHERETRUM(URY) - Split EP by the mighty Life Eternal Productions. Finally this was matherialized! I am not spreading words on PHERETRUM but in those who deserve it. EXPULSED ANGEL is known for their chaotic and noisy approach but this time they stepped ahead, they have achieved a cleaner production yet crude, total Black/Death/Thrash!! In my opinion, this is the best they have done so far, "Lord of Darkness" track, with its sharp and mad axe, typical from the rusty mind of Steppe, drums are heavywoodstickshammers plus a present and fat bass which at dense parts ressembles to DEATH COURIER(Gre) with its brightness but at the same time dense, this whole combination of different rythms delivers a really insane result, embraced by a dark and lunatic black aura thanks to the vocals. One can think of projects like POISON(Ger) in their demo era plus some Czech/Polish ideas in that of fast guitar changes with sharp notes, I could also think of NECROVOMIT(Ita) in a slower but intense manner, VOMITOR(Aus) can be referenced too and a Brazilian intention is always present. This time you can appreciate really good solos that perfectly go along with the madness. This is absolutely a keystone for their career, hopefully we will be seeing the extension of this new EXPULSED ANGEL in the future to come, a beer and a punch in the darkened skies for them! Totally recommended! Schießköpferen-maniacs in their ugliest form! Prost! Thanks Thomas for making this possible under your highly curated label, we are honoured! ULYSSES SIREN(US) - Above the Ashes compilation. This compilation includes "Terrorist Attack" and "Demo '87" . Since I first knew the mighty BLACK DETHE(US) , I was always intrigued by this project, because I only knew that BLACK DETHE played with them. Today I was relistening to my BLACK DETHE CDR and wondered if after 15 years this could be found somewhere, and it was... This would be an extension of EXODUS(US) . Has a great sound, great production and even though you recognize some METALLICA(US) influences on riffs in "The Reich" and "Lake of fire" (yes is not NOCTURNUS(US) track HA! ), and vocals are pretty similar to Paul's from EXODUS, this has something extra that makes them a good catch. The following demo has quite a different production, was it EVIL DEAD(US) that sounded like this? cannot recall... here they started experimenting a little bit with other instruments, ideas, as you can initially listen on "Leviathan" where arpeggio's are found. "Above the ashes" start with a great scream ressembling to TERRAHSPHERE(US) but the groove is too invasive in my opinion, and vocals suffered a little shift towards that kind of bay Thrash Metal I just can't cope with. "The Resurrection" gets back to where they started luckily, fastpaced track with great soloing. "No trace of shame" kills the demo with techinical riffs following the previous tracks steps with some ugly choruses. For any thrasher out there, this is can be your catch! MESSIAH FORCE(Can) - The Last Day 1987, dubbed tape. The uruguayan bootleger never stops. This is a rare item and pretty expensive, so dubbing a tape with the real vinyl rip was my option (like many other times) . Initially this band sounded too ugly in my ears... guess what... mp3 ruined the whole fukin experience back then... their name came across when exchanging female-vox bands with erik ( XENOTAPH(Arg) ) , obviously I was tempted to re-listen to them and this time the experience was mindblowing. The whole album is dynamic, full of great riffs, solos, screams and speed, no doubt Lynn, the vocalist, is hellishly skilled for her duties. You will encounter ton of influences coming from METALLICA(US) to ANNIHILATOR(Can) , EXODUS(US) and WARLOCK(Ger) 's Doro, VENDETTA(Ger) with some HOLY MOSES(Ger) 's Sabina on some ripping phrases plus HELLION(US) 's Ann with little SENTINEL BEAST(US) 's Debbie. Looking for real skilled Speed/Thrash Metal? this won't fail, unless you get stupid mp3s. Hugely recommended. RAJAS(Jpn) - Rajas 1st 1984, MLP by Sounds Marketing System Inc. This was one of those exchanged names too, I knew their first LP which was too melodic for me, but never cared about their previous EP, well... great stuff here, quite melodic yes but still good, even though has its more Speed Metal tracks with hell of a perfect drumming along with top Rock production, this reminds me to Маркиза(Rus) , little bit more Metal but their soft parts go quite along. Something I found quite peculiar was the fact that lyrics are written part in english, part in japanese, pretty interesting approach, the vocal tune is great too and has its great moments. Not for everyone but definitely for fans of catchy Heavy Metal/Rock with melodies. HROB(Svk) - Hrob Demo 2023 tape by Atomic Vision Productions. This is the Death/Doom Metal project from Slovakia, vrana from RADIATION(Svk) is part of it. This has a clear sound of AUTOPSY(US) on their slow parts and the whole production sounds quite swedish, deep growls in the north american 90s ways, and one can also identify MORTUARY DRAPE(Ita) 's ways on some enviroments, so surely obscure. Quite a good mixture indeed including a great plus, they sing in their own language. I am not too keen on this genre, so I am exposing them only for the sake of sharing with those willing to dig on slovakian activities. HATROSS(Pan) - Death Cult Demo 2010, wavs. This is a panamenian Death Metal with thrash metal spices. Their sound is not too classic but transports you to the early 2000s sound with those digital pedals in guitars, their guitar-distortion is close to what modern Grindcore/Goregrind projects sometimes use, and I must say that contemporary projects from Uruguay were using the same for Death Metal, I kind of recognize that sound. Swedish Death Metal influences seem to be the most notorious here if I am not wrong, bass sound and the approaches on drumming are the key to identify this. Not knowing tons of projects from this country, this seems to be a good catch. This is another project of JR Sucre who was in bands like AGGRESSOR(Pan) , later ENSLAVER(Pan) , ABATUAR(Pan) , ANTUMNIA(Pan) and ABERRANTE(Pan) , this old bastard seems dedicated, doesn't he? HATROSS(Pan) - Vengeance of Evil 2015, wavs. The radical change on the guitar distortion makes them close to noise projects, but the ideas seems to be the same. May be more CARCASS(UK) from their early career, some NAPALM DEATH(UK) and BOLT THROWER(UK) . Seems not too good in terms of sound but you easily gets used to it and everything ends up being just where it has to. This includes a killer cover from "Total Extermination" by AGGRESSOR(Pan) , this version is not better than the original but is really killer too, mostly because vocals are wicked. Believe it or not, the last live tracks are the best and is totally in the early BOLT THROWER(UK) vein "Infernal Massacre" & "Death Cult" and vocals are excellent. Thank you so much again Raúl for these recordings! GENITAL NECROSIS(Gre) - #1 (1989) , fanzine from Greece done by sakis from ROTTING CHRIST(Gre) . This is hell of a complete fanzine with tons of information, quite lengthy with a, friendly attitude let's say, or innocent. I would compare its importance to their local scene with: BLOWING THRASH(Chl) , SATANIC DEATH(Jpn) , BLACK THORN(Dnk) or SLAYER(Nor) , due to the amount of exposed names from the whole fukin globe . Has a band's review/biography section which is quite good , short but good interview with bill steer from CARCASS(UK) , one short but good with nicke from NIHILIST(Swe) , short and good one with peter from VADER(Pol) , poor answered int with chris form AUTOPSY(US) seems he was not in the mood for sharing words, what an asshole... short and good CADAVER(Nor) int , good and short with CADAVERIZER(UK) , really good and interesting int with an unknown belgian project to me, DAMAGED CORPSE(Bel) , a weak int with NUN SLAUGHTER(US) , funny one with MERCILESS(Swe) , short but good SADISTIC NOISE(Gre) (this reminded me to you Pablo nekroperverter for your recommendation, I still haven't taken it, but will, as soon as I have the time to dig into something new! cheers! ) , short and acceptable int with DECIMATION(US) did not know this project pre VIOLENCE(US) , will check it too, the same words goes for the OBITUARY(US) int, too short but good TOXODEATH(Mex) int with raul , funny one with ASPHYX(Hol) , shorty with GRAVE(Hol) , shorty but good DAMNED CROSS(Mex) int, good one with OLD(US) , short but good HELLBASTARD(UK) , the same for IMMOLATION(US) pre-90s death metal existence so it's quite interesting the point of view of doing something different at the time, good int w/ DREAD(Sng) , one with BLACK SATAN(Swe) where LG petrov took place too, I have never listened to this, still on my wishlist. A NAUSEA(Jpn) int, had no idea about another NAUSEA honestly... good short one with MORTEM(Nor) , good one with REGURGITATION(US) , another good short one with DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA(Aut) , great short one with NOCTURNUS(US) 's mike , the same goes for ACHERON(US) 's vincent ... in the end all the ints are short not boring but not too in depth either, they are ok to expose monickers and opinion/attitudes towards the underground scenes and their ideas in general terms, all questions do not vary too much but are not bad either, somehow expected for that period of time, answers quite suck from time to time, I believe this is the ignorance of unknowing the effor required to publish a fukin fanzine by some of the interviewees... Some promos are added among ints , there are some Chilean ones, besides comments on Braizlian scene, you can realise the impact by this other south amerikan country, and the last chapter is a pile of reviews. Highly recommended to re-read about some of the best underground bands from the real frame of time.