Today is the day where, besides vomits get transfered into characters, oviations to the masters of thrash metal deafen the world. DEVASTATION(US) - Destined to Death Demo 1986, dubbed tape. The artwork of this demo represents "Infernal overkill" kind of idea and their style is totally Thrash Metal quite SLAYER(US) -ish, "Massive Devastation" has some groove that took me to LETHAL AGGRESSION(US) and vocals are less ripping than what you can find on Jeff Becerra's style but in that line, I also thought of BLACK DETHE(US) . "Destined to Death" is quite different, the groove is quite particular I must say, the need of an extra guitar is notorious, I did not like this track at all. "Syndrome of Terror" back to a DARK ANGEL(US) kind of cruelty, weak vocals make it pretty incomplete or less deadly. "Deceptive Slaughter" again in the SLAYER line but fails to deliver the agression due to dull drumming with more weak vocals. "Raging Mayhem" left to the end of the demo was a good idea since it wakes you up from previous tracks, it's more Speed Metal and serves the purpose, it even has some EXODUS(US) stolen riffs. In the end, just to follow their historical evilution. DEVASTATION(US) - Violent Termination Demo 1986, dubbed. Previous to their first album, start raging with "Innocent Submission" with a total BLACK DETHE(US) guitar tune and even the sound of the snare! Since this counts with tracks of what was their future release, one still realises that recording another guitar was still needed. "Violent Termination" introduced tremolo, getting closer to the Death metal approach but keeping their Thrash Metal groove, luckily this recording got a little bit more furious. "Eternally Possessed" again shows the same production used for the first track so I can assume this demo was recorded in differente live-rehearsal sessions. Vocals rythms are in the "nasty" ronnie ways ( NASTY SAVAGE(US) ) keeping the SLAYER(US) -ish influences too. "Power to kill" counts with rythm changes and so on but with non-agressive drumming so seems okey but not violent. From now on, a different production was used and sounds much more violent, "Meet your Maker" reminded me of a mixture between "At dawn they sleep" and "Kill Again" . "Living in Torment" took me a little bit to SlAUGHTER(Can) 's "Tales of the macabre" and "Day of Doom" closes the demo. These recordings along with "Contaminated" demo from 1988 are part of their "Violent Demonstration" compilation, I won't spare words on that latest demo because it's a demo version of their impressive second LP "Signs of Life" and I haven't felt it provides something extra. I hadn't checked these demos before and honestly I haven't found something that would surprise me. This compilation serves the purpose of historical analysis and development of the band, which I totally believe it was its aim. DEVASTATION(US) - Violent Termination 1987, dubbed. This is the first album these texan thrashers put out back then... Listening to their demos forced me to get back to this album, this is Thrash Metal with not too much speed but consistent riffs, cuts and clear and almost ripping vocals. The guitar sound, the bass fullfilling the whole atmosphere with a much more agressive and well executed drumming makes this recording a hell of a step if you check their demos... influences coming from CELTIC FROST(Swi) mixed with SLAYER(US) is what put them almost in the same bag I would put DREAM DEATH(US) and also comparable with RECIPIENTS OF DEATH(US) second MLP. Most of the tracks are included in the demos mentioned above but here you have them; "Massive Devastation" killer if you compare this with the demo version, "Innocent Submission" again, much better, "Syndrome of terror" now became violent and the background guitar of course helped to give them the missing piece of the puzzle, made me think of "Piece by Piece" this time, "Violent Termination" is the deathrashy as I said before, it even made me think of "Beyond Evil" by MALICIOUS ONSLAUGHT(US) , the mixture of tempos without being super fast is what separates this album from others, and in the end it's an interesting approach. "Death Calling" closes A side supremely. "Meet your maker" , so SLAYER-ish and amazing. "Insanity" starts like "Aggressive Perfector" and goes in that direction. "Deceptive Slaughter" is still dull like in the demos, the production helped but not that much. "Beneath the surface" is okey, a little bit faster with almost blasts at parts. The whole album is on the average, even though vocals are better than before, one can perceive as if the vocalist is not willing to scream, which is weird having that music just for you to vomit. For me this is not a bad recording, not super impressive but I do enjoy it, surely their super "Sign of Life" album kill beyond killness but here you have part of their steps towards that piece of recording, if you don't know this band, check them chronologically, otherwise this will be spoiled! HAMMERHEAD(Pan) - No one to tell 1991 demo, dubbed tape. Even though this was released in 91, it got recorded in 89, the demo shows a really peculiar way to be influenced by the german wave, a kind of DESTRUCTION(Ger) meets KREATOR(Ger) , being latinamerican again, I cannot avoid thinking of ANGKOR VAT(Ury) and APOSTASY(Chl) demo . I thought this band was going to be Heavy Metal but shut my ugly face with a punch. The highlight on this demo, besides its peculiarity, it's its creativity in solos and rythm changes. "Apocalypse (The Final Punishment)" is an intro that took me to russia, I think POST(Rus) has a similar outro, I mean the recent reissue of their first demo. "No One to Tell" shows off the Thrash Metal tank to invade your brains they are, excellent guitarskills, in fact the guitar tune is that clean yet raw with super high recording quality by itself that I wonder how this might have sound if it would have been framed in a profesional studio like european counterparts back in those years... I bet this would have been a top quality release without any doubt at all. "Convicted" asures the aforementioned influences without any doubt. "Fight to survive" starts ala "Pain Killer" by JUDAS PRIEST(UK) then turns into a METALLICA(US) -ish with HEATHEN(US) stuff too, plus TESTAMENT(US) . "Legions of Death" dances over the neoclassical approach to smash into EXODUS(US) -ish plus SLAYER(US) -ish ways with super weird guitars that it's hard for me to relate to something else, just my ignorance , pretty good track. Side B killed me with Antonin Dvorak(Cze) 's intro , was it him, right? giving place to "Inquisition Soldiers" , faster and of course more appealing to me, my kind of beer in Thrash Metal, absoulutely brillant track. "Twilight Zone" I cannot fukin believe this starts just like "Estoy Muriendo" from ANGKOR VAT!! right afterwards goes on with its already described formula, this time arrangements create something cosmic in the environment, took me to bands like ALVACAST(Ury) , "Al borde del abismo" era, but due to the demo production I think ABSIDE(Ury) is more appropiate, they even share some solo composition. "Visions of the Past" is an excellent skilled arpeggio talking between a couple of guitars while a third one on the back, somehow like ANNIHILATOR(Can) 's style in "Alison in hell". "Third Reich" is the end of the demo as a whole, and what a fukin impressive way to consume the last minutes of tape. The whole demo is so tight, the musicians are excellent and the music is not for a listen on-the-fly. Definitely a demo that will be around my deck for some time. I totally encourage you to give them a fukin try, you won't believe this hidden gem was awaiting for you to die by its power! This demo includes a live bonus track entitled "El Verdugo" , reminded me of SS(Ven) when on live spanish-sung tracks too but it's not good at all in my opinion. In the end, this is something you don't come across everyday, skilled-as-fuk Thrash Metal from Panama. Thank you so much Raúl for the englightment on this panamenian gem! HUMAN GAS(Jpn) - 2nd Demo 1986. Another japanese punk/HC influenced by initial GISM(Jpn) recordings for sure, besides the UK vibes coming from DISCHARGE(UK) one can also feel the fury from BAD BRAINS(US) . I cannot avoid perceiving the intentions of what's found in Punk Greatest Hits 1984 recordings, by GISM . What seems unexpected in this kind of bands is that approach of solos in terms of guitars but also in terms of bass, with that presence mostly coming from MOTORHEAD(UK) , I also found some noises that took me to SLOD(Slo) . You will find this as a real classic in fact. Highly recommended for those interested in HC with deep-mic-throated vocals and insane spirit. Thanks joakill for sharing this one with me, some time ago, but finally I was able to write something about it ha! GUDON(Jpn) - Fushuu 1984 EP , another japanese Punk HC but with less HC . Reminds me to GZET(Jpn) only in track "Rest" and "Happy Genocide" to DL50(Par) ; both quite good but in general terms, I found this pretty boring, the bass is impressive, drums are quite dull and vocals are greatly deep but somehow the violence seems lost. This was not my kind of beer but anyone curious give them a try, I believe it's good to expand your knowledge in this field. ZOUO(Jpn) - The Final Agony EP 1984, dubbed tape. This is an experimental, more teathrical punk kind of GISM(Jpn) music, this bends the violence into another dimension which is not my kind of beer but is not bad either, I admit I liked it but of course I prefer the original GISM's ways , G-ZET(Jap) and the likes, you will find little dosis of VENOM(UK) too. Along with this one, "Frustration" EP was also included, recordings from the very same year that were part of another japanese compilation along with GISM and other projects I don't know... here the direction is more notorious, be aware, this is not for everyone. Side B is a live recording from 1984 which is supposed to be their first album, and as expected, tracks from both EP's are present, and the recording is pretty clear so it is indeed enjoyable. I would recommend strictly "The Final Agony" EP, its tracks are great, here the memorable ones; "Sons of Satan", "No Power" , "Making love with the devil" where you get a "Syphilitic Vaginas to Pieces" vox-rythms mixed with Surfrock and dark blues, I would attach a PMS(US) comparisson here , "Bloody Master" the hardcore MOTORHEAD(UK) with its more-constant-rythm taking you to "Dead city" by VIOLENT FORCE(Ger) . Thanks joakill for throwing this monicker to me. DISGRACE(Bra) - Cao de Guarda 1989 demo & Demo '89 , dubbed tape. Sung in portguese and fast Deathrash metal, first demo is only one track, probably the best done by them, then three tracks more in the second one. The band is okey, fast but you won't listen to something you haven't heard before, may be the fact that is in portuguese is what makes them appealing at times, it is violent but these demos are not spectacular. Just for those willing to dig into the brazilian pits of death. It's been quite a while but thanks Pat for this! MENTAL DECAY(Dnk) - Demo 1987 , dubbed tape. I don't have too much recollection on early deathrash metal from Denmark besides the mighty SAMHAIN(DNK) / DESEXULT(Dnk), CRIONIC(Dnk) and ATRO CITY(Dnk) , but those two are more Thrash Metal, while INVOCATOR(Dnk) is the supreme to reign here, but much more pollished skilled as fuk deathrash; and tonight was the night when this tape had to be put, once again, on my deck... This is a Thrash Metal approaching to the Death Metal sphere thanks to the vocals and production. Vocalist reminds me KREATOR(Ger) 's Mille with little AUTOPSY(US) 's Reifert mixed with MERCILESS(Swe) 's Rogga, anyhow has some lunatic touch is great but mostly on the first two tracks. "Eat the poser's guts" kills not only with its title but with its music, some vibe drove me to CORPSE(Swe) 's "Black dawn" . "Beyond the walls" starts in the SLAYER(US) vein, solos are not remarkable, quite naive probably, but go hand in hand with the music. "Endless Destruction" is totally in KREATOR's vein , I thought of "Living in fear" , in fact those words appear in the lyrics, not too fresh honestly. "The final Scar" is really good track, it sounds just in the vein of something I cannot recall fuk! "Mental Decay" is the closing track, some rythm on vox took me to "Mirror of Eternity" by EXCRUCIATION(Swi) , great track. This demo was reissue on 12'' some time ago, along with some hidden live recordings on CD, by FOAD Records, If you can find it cheap, I wouldn't doubt on getting a copy. Recommended. BELETH(Jpn) - demo 1987 & Promo 88 , dubbed. Re-checking this japanese deathrash metal tape, I came across with this project initially when checking Death Metal progression, in an almost chronological order, along with DEATHPEED(Jpn) and MESSIAH DEATH(Jpn) . Demo 1987 starts with "The Tower of the Grudge" which is excellent, reminds me of the great ideas by BLACK DETHE(US) , in fact I knew them almost at the same time if I am not mistaken; mixed with some chaotic noise coming from NUCLEAR DEATH(US) . It's followed by "Tragic Death" , which is faster and turns a little bit into the Death Metal/Grincore realm, REPULSION(US) , TERRORIZED(US) and NAUSEA(US) are the ones coming to mind not to say UNKNOWN DEATH(US) , and that's it, two track demo. Promo from 1988 is a little bit rawer and I feel the ideas turned into POSSESSED(US) , first track "Mortality" has "Twisted Minds" riff for instance, drums are excellent and absoulutely clear , vocals being deeper than Jeff Becerra's, made me relate them to MORTEM(Per) 's demo "Evil Dead". "Tragic Death" is also included here but this time I felt the influeces are coming from DEATH(US) despite the fact that the grindcore vibe is there for sure. This demo sounds a little bit more noisy than the one before, it also has only two tracks but these are really good to have! MESSIAH DEATH(Jpn) - Rehearsal demo 1987, dubbed tape. Naming them was unavoidable to put this tape. This rehearsal demo serves its purpose, to show off their name, is quite noisy, amateur and on the average, the vocals are good and some riffs are interesting, but there's nothing more for me to add on them on this recording. MESSIAH DEATH(Jpn) - Invocated Unholy Souls Demo 1989, dubbed tape. I cannot develop a proper progression on them since I don't have their 1988 demo, but the jump among these two demos is impressive. The music is somehow connected to TRANSGRESSOR(Jpn) but at the same time I felt some connection to CADAVER(Nor) in terms of sounds, the ideas are mixed with BENEDICTION(UK) in their first track "Forbidden Truth" , some MORBID ANGEL(US) , also found in the track "Invocated unholy souls" with PESTILENCE(Hol) , and some IMMOLATION(US) if we check "Transgressor" track, mixed with a grindcore touch coming from TERRORIZER(US) and NAPALM DEATH(UK) . This is a really good demo lacking of better studio recording, I am not sure if it is that or my dubbed tape is not in great conditions. Recommended for death metal fans. Anyone willing to help me get their "Immortal Kingdom" from 1988 get in touch! note: Their demos were reissue by FOAD Records on 12'' under this title: "Invocated Unholy Tracks - The Most Complete Collection of Messiah Death" . CRIMINAL CHRIST(Jpn) - Cryptic Doom Demo 1986 , dubbed tape. This is pre- MESSIAH DEATH(Jpn) , starts with an instrumental track then "Last command in Hades" is similar to GROUND ZERO(Jpn) but not that clean. Drums sound really similar to what you hear on their next demo rehearsal under the other monicker, "Curse Ritual" is closer to what you find in 1987 reh-demo. "Criminal Christ" is really HC with Thrash Metal quite SLAYER(US) -ish . "Cryptic doom" is the final track inspired by SLAYER, DEATH(US) 's "Zombie Ritual" , at this point DECEASED(US) came into my mind too on their early demos mostly due to vocals and a little cut used almost at the end. This is recommended for those unknowing the early japanese scene and also those maniacs that enjoy rehearsal kind of recordings sound. Thanks again Pat for all these! Фронт(Rus) - Das Wasser der Köln 1990, RE tape by Peste Sagrada. Good reissue, it's well done, I liked the detail of almost-white artwork for the serigraphy on the plastic case to contrast; but the reality is, the album seems not too interesting to me, it's OK, sounds great, the music is just dull, the best track in fact is from their first LP, " Железный кулак " but even the original version is much better. If you find this one cheap and are willing to just have a russian item on your collection, well get it, otherwise I think you are not missing anything important. For russianways-addicts! DARK LUST(Ita) - Shadow of the lost Entity 1992, dubbed tape. Rechecking this, quite weird, Death Metal project, without getting into the brutal grindness of DISGORGE(Mex) , it counts with some of the sharp screams found in "Chronic Corpora Infest" album, and also the somber environment the guitar produces, you will definitely feel it when "Childlish Obessession" commences, but it's present in the whole recording anyway. Even though this comes from the 90s and has a black metal touch, the demo achieves being a good catch, vocals are not the typical dull growls but a little bit more chaotic, probably the production helps them to keep an obscure identity beyond the Death Metal standards of that decade. Quite recommended for those digging the italian graveyards. Thanks my friend mediocridad for this one! Took me quite a while to write about it HA! MAYHEMIC(Chl) - The Darkest Age 2022 , CD by Awakening Records. This is a compilation of the stuff they have released so far, before their first LP that was out last year. Starting chronologically (well done!) with their "No life" demo from 2018, "Beyond Hell" shows up, the chorus takes you to "Evil Rites" by SEPULTURA(Bra) but the music is more German Thrash Metal-oriented, I would say typical from the chilean ways , to mention some bands I would say INSANITY(Chl) , EVIL MADNESS(Chl) and DRENCROM(Chl) . "Burning the cross" has a TOXIC HOLOCAUST(US) riff here and there, if we travel beyond, SODOM(Ger) mixed with SLAYER(US) and BATHORY(Swe) with KREATOR(Ger) is what you get. "Mayhemic" is the last song for this work, which seems more focused on KREATOR's "Tormentor" mixed with SEPULTURA's max vox rythms on diabolic mumblings, impressive debut for these thrashers, sounds just like an album. "Mortuary feast of skeletons" EP from 2019 starts with "Shaking Ground" , this got a little bit more chilean, by that I mean more agressive, violent, thrasher and faster, some of the starting riffs reminded me of AGGRESSION(Can) , then the rest is still brazilian ala ATTOMICA(Bra). "Mortuary feast of skeletons" got into a fast phased POSSESSED(US) , and now I thought of MORBID SAINT(US) . "Death spawn" in the EVIL MADNESS vein, "Mayhemic" was included too to close the EP, again, excellent production. "Shaking ground" CDR single also in 2019 includes "Shaking ground" and "Burn the cross" , these were probably used for promotion. "The Last Judgement / Volcanic Blast" single from 2020, here some drumming got almost into the SEPULTURA's "Schizophrenia" toms sound, and the tupatupa's ways also seem into igor's line, I cannot avoid mentioning EXPLICIT HATE(Bra) . "Dying Victims" by KREATOR was included, played with cleaner sound and different distortion made me think of PROTECTOR(Ger) just when starting , and "Tormentor" by pre-KREATOR TORMENTOR(Ger) was too. Excellent release to observe the process of this band that obviously started impressively since their very first demo, by the photographies included seem this is a project of really young individuals, what a promising future! Recommended! Now I need to get their first album, I hope they had developed more into their chilean roots. Thanks joako for this!