Quite a pause I took from my writings, not too much spare time lately, overloaded with work and the mundane shit that held me back from music. But I cannot avoid vomiting once in a while, so here you will have the contact of 888th kind, vomits: Y&T(US) - Earthshaker 1981. This is a Hard Rock band with a foot on Heavy Metal. Overwhelmed by their LP's on street markets, never checked more than their early recordings, which in my opinion, where not that good in comparisson with the rest of their contemporary classics. But this recording made it through my braintorments. I found it much more heavy than what they did before, and catchy. You can find elements of LED ZEPPELIN(UK) , VAN HALEN(US) , ACDC(Aus) , TED NUGENT(US) among some other NWOBHM acts. I highly encourage you to check this album, even though I read their following album entitled "Black Tiger" was the big thing in terms of heaviness, I found this much more convicing; despite the fact that album has some great songs, but this is a great album on its whole. SS-20(Kaz) - Infernal Life demo 1991, reissued by NNW Prods on 12''. Even though the "Preacher of Death" demo, already reviewed here, is kind of impressive, this one does not shine that much, it has that experimental touch on it, not too common kind of Thrash Metal, mainly focused on rythm and extension of riffs from one into another, like progressive ideas. The eastern front pronunciations are killer anyway, so this ends up being something to recommend to anyone willing to get dirty into this way, good to understand their progression towards their own taste of insanity. Recommended for psychoarcheolodeathrashers mostly! MORBIUS(Sgp) - 2nd Demo reissued by Funeralight Records, dubbed copy. This time these deathrashers found distortion and the result is impressive in comparisson with their first demo, vocals deeper but impressive, they have followed the very same path MORBID BLOOD(Ury) took. Starting with "Evil Rites" you will realise the reference with the uruguayan act, seems Nasty is screaming here ha! "Legions of hate" with a different approach on drums, unleashes its own chaos, remarkable. "Thy Lord Awaits Thee (in Hell)" comes with some cuts inspired by MORBID ANGEL(US) , don't forget they included a cover in their previous demo, and fuk yeah they have improved a fukin lot! great solos. Last track is "Chimaera's Den" and keeps on the same vibe. Overall a great demo, if you like their first attempt, you won't regret getting this one, since it has its own recognizable touches on vox and guitars! Thanks victor sos for this! NAUSEOUS SURGERY(Bra) - Into the Black Abyss demo 2000, self-released on tape. What a fukin piece of crap. Don't get this, it's amateurish (in the worst way, because this is a band who has, somehow, years of experience, not expressed here at all), and believe me I like amateurish stuff... In my mind they were pretty good in their split with GOLEM(Bra) released in 1993, but this differs a ton from that time, not too much in terms of drumming executions though, and vocals are absolutely mediocre. What a pity. Get yourself a beer to remove the bad taste right afterwards, that's the best I can recommend! NECROPHOROS(Chl) - Summon the power of primal darkness 2022 tape by Terozin Mag & Tapes. I hadn't even check where this band came from. As soon as I put the tape it sounded too familiar, like if it where from Chile, and indeed, from there it was. Has a really good vibe, good ideas and mimmicks HELLAVENGER(Chl) 's & BLACK BEAST(Chl) 's vocals at times (cheers waira!), the thing is, I don't think it is too interesting, as if everything done here was already consumed somewhere else previously, somehow feels as if the music is too plain... solo ideas are good though, may be the production did not help, it's okey for a demo but not that good in terms of chilean standards. If you are willing to grasp a kind of new Black/Death/Thrash Metal project from Chile influenced by MATRICIDE(US) mixed with Black Metal, give them a try, but "them" is not correct, this is a solo project... at least all seems to be recorded and not sampled. DEMENTOR(Svk) - Zánik... 1992 , aka. The extinction of christianity.... . RE 2025 by Atomic Vision Prods on tape. Death Metal sung in slovak... I would compare this to DARK(Cze) and SATANACHIST(Cze) , a death metal with a really obscure thrash metal environment accompanied by deep vocals. I could mention influences from the early 90s but you know them all so no point on that, what I find interesting is their solos and doomish environments here and there. A pretty unique recording on its own way, I had them on my mind because "Church Dies" was one of the first recordings I got when started exchaging music with some pals. Highly recommended release, it's spectacular in every way! This tape includes a short biography, some unreleased tracks and was released along with their second demo also from 1992 plus lyrics sheet! And the most important, done from original recordings without any kind of remastrubation from some audionerd out there! DEMENTOR(Svk) - Chorobná nákaza 1992, aka. Morbid Infection. RE 2025 by Atomic Vision Prods on tape. The main difference in comparisson with the previous demo, is the fact that the drummer, Roman, was in charge of vox there, what a Reifert! JA! and here they count on another vocalist, deeper growls in the very line of Barney Greenway, so traces in the very same line of BENEDICTION(UK) are found. For those unknowing it, "The Church Dies" was reissued by Dark Symphonies on CD some years ago (probably still available) and it does include this very demo too, so you have no excuses! These two demos on the very same tape are killer! Personally I prefer the first one but the step ahead was something one could expect. 90s Death Metal at 100 percent. DESOLATOR(US) - Infernal Desolation 2009 demo by MetalTifus on tape. Black/Thrash Metal that seems to be all done live, great feeling and violent expression of the art, sort to say. I wish I had checked this band during the time and not now, this was done so many times few years later... luckily this is partly raw, solos and some ideas are done quite in their own way, their first track entitled "Raw War" made me think of METAL ATTACK(Bol) . "Nocturnal Blasphemies" has the GEHENNAH(Swe) "Hard rocker" era spices, some NOKTURNAL(Ger) "Arrival of the Carnivore" touches and the INFERNÖ(Nor) notorious aura is there. "The final Sacrifice" keeps on the same mood along with AURA NOIR(Nor) "Black Thrash Attack" era influences, but rythm guitars ala VARATHRON(Gre) , with those dancing chords, sliding from side to side into the dance of the macabre. "Infernal Desolation" starting with a super fast thrash metal that took me to MERCILESS(Swe) but due to its black metal environment I would say something more contemporary like INFANT DEATH(Nor) , falling into black metal melancholy I don't enjoy and I particularly find awfully disgusting. "Walls of the labyrinth" ends this demo, sounds different but starts also in that very fast thrash metal approach, drumkick is too artificial I guess, the production sounds more professional but equally energetic, somehow reminds me to MORBID SAINT(US) . In the end, recommended! Thanks victor sos for this one too! VA(Chl) - Valparaiso Metal al rojo Vivo 2011, live recording on tape by Ominous Metal Records. This captured the great essence of DEATHXECUTOR(Chl) , who I was never too much into them but the raw noise here helped them a lot, "Ritual de Metal" & "Juicio Final" tracks were included. NECRORIPPER(Chl) with their excellent obscure and fast thrash metal, their tracks are "Under the crypts" a kind of "S.D.I." from VIOLENT FORCE(Ger) mixed with RIPPER(Chl) "Raising the corpse" era, and "From darkness come to dusk". CALVARIO(Chl) , a project I had no clue about, their tracks are "Macabre End" and "Christiness in the depth", not bad, I think it was more death metal in this recording than what I checked on a tape I had from them. A good live recording to have from this particular circuit from chile! BAPHOMETS BLOOD(Ita) - Satanic Metal Attack 2006, LP by Dies Irae. This is a speed metal milita that delivered a pretty interesting mixture of classics, for instance vox has an italian touch on its pronunciation, that I cannot avoid comparing it with RAW POWER(Ita) "You're the victim" album era, plus a kind of tune in the line of EVIL FORCE(Par) "Army of the Night" EP era, music is self-explanatory but you can think of BULLDOZER(Ita) and WHIPSTRIKER(Bra) thanks to its rock n roll brackground in the MOTORHEAD(UK) vein. In the end not a super killer debut but kind of great for its time. Recommended for those curious or speed metal addicts. OLD COVEN(US) - Mysteries of the dark occult 2022, tape by Necruz Records. I had this on my pending list due to knowing this label thanks to FALLEN ANGEL(US) , an liked their logo and I was curious about it. I was not expecting to listen to black metal but deathrash. Anyway, since I am an ignorant fuk in terms of this subgenre, I can only say I find it similar to VELHO(Bra) , I was surprised by the sound, it's recorded live and its quality is impressive. The B side includes some live recordings from a couple of years before this release, and are pretty good too. For those about to blackmetal. Thanks thomas for this one! GLASNIK SMIRTI(Ser) - Demo II 2024, tape by Life Eternal Prods. Finally in my hands... This 3-track demo seems as a continuation of what's done on their previous recording, I believe this time it got a little bit doomer. Starting with "Покољ у цркви" which is pretty good, sadly drums seem to be done digitally again, the long and slow "Масовна гробница", pretty boring to me, the effect on toms ala SEPULTURA(Bra) "Schizophrenia" era are really well immitated, is it a real drum this time?. And last a SADISMO(Bos) cover, I was intrigued, I never heard of this pre BOMBARDER(Ser) death metal project, the cover sounds pretty interesing, I wonder how the original version was, anyone there willing to trade a dubbed copy? Isn't fair not to spit some words on the marvellous art work, the aesthethics are more than insane, fukin love the design, the artwork and the mixture of colors plus its fantastic printing style just like it was done on their previous demo, including lyrics in Serbian and English! Recommended for those interested in serbian current underground! Killer work thomas! DEATHLESS(Pan) - Disgrace in the Temple 1991 Demo I, independent. This is the first deadly attempt by these panamenian death dealers. Vocals are much better in comparisson with their third demo (already reviewed here), more chaotic and less growl, this time the AUTOPSY(US) influences are much more notorious than before and I can still perceive the AGGRESSOR(Pan) feel here and there but in a more doom-ish way. These are the tracks; "Intro: Tribulation", "Macabre Burial" , "Mirror of the past", "Crematorium" and an expected cover from DEATH(US), "Zombie Ritual" . Thank you so much Raul for sending this one! This serves as a proper explanation on their development for sure! ROCHUS(Ger) - Haunting in Your Brain (1988-1990) , 2012 CD demo compilation by German Democratic Recordings. This is an east-german Thrash/Heavy Metal project sung in German, on the heavy-most side of it, is a mediocre ATLAIN(Ger) , whilst on the most Thrash Metal part sounds, at times, as a mixture of KREATOR(Ger) , METALLICA(US) , LEGACY(US) and SLAYER(US) . Honestly, did not enjoy it at all, at least not in their first-recordings-era (before 89) , the music is great in general terms, but vocals are so disgusting during that period of time. Best studio track is "Let's Thrash" in 89 , properly sung and recorded, where you can think of ZOETROPE(US) mixed with STORMWITCH(Ger) , LIVING DEATH(Ger) . The 1990 demo entitled "Years of Ignorance" is also good, it counts on some ASSASSIN(Ger) 's and SEPULTURA(Bra) 's similarities too, as an addition to what I previously mentioned as references, on this demo they turned totally into Thrash Metal, so got much better than what you can listen before, this demo is the demo I would highlight, and it's also pretty well recorded. Recommended for those curious on this labels activities! I can say this is an east-germany version of metalrace records from russia, so expect all information to be written in german. OTHUYEG(Arg) - The Doom Walker 2020, CD by Despreciable Realidad Records. Argentina is not characterized by counting on tons of death metal bands but this one is a pretty interesting one. This is mid-tempo death metal quite on the average with some doom elements. It's not super but quite a good catch, surprised me to be honest, I was not expecting this from this country. I absolutely encourage you to get this album, inspired by classics from early 90s. TOXINA(Arg) - The Face of Evil 2023, CD by Despreciable Realidad Records. Another argentinian band, a Thrash Metal one this time, absolutely professional and killer! The artwork does not depict it at all... impressive technical thrash in the vien of ATHEIST(US), mostly due to vox pretty much in Schaefer's ways, INVOKATOR(Dnk) , PROTECTED ILLUSION(Fin) , some VEKTOR(US) and HEXX(US) could be found too, may be CYANIDE GRENADE(Rus) could also be linked. If you are into this, you must get it urgently! APOFENIA(Arg) - Evil Returns 2025, CD by Despreciable Realidad Records. Death Metal project from San Luis, already reviewed here If I am not wrong, here you will find all their demo stuff well packed. Highly recommended! Excellent work done by the label putting an eye over them, once again! MERCURIO(Arg) - Instinto Callejero 2024, CD by Metalcoholizacion Records. They gave hell of a show in montevideo, uruguay, along with SPIRITCRAFT(Ury) and VELOCIDAD 22(Arg) , I managed to get their CD the week after, it's a decent recording, pretty good dosis of classic Heavy Metal. It's not super outstanding but good to have among your recordings for sure. VELOCIDAD 22(Arg) - Metalcoholizacion 2019, CD by Pacheco Records. I always ignored this band since I thought they played "chori" metal, in fact that's the way I remembered them. When they played live here, they shut my mouth with a punch in the jaw, great Heavy/Speed Metal, super fast with a vocalist mixing Juan Torradefló style, DELIRIUM TREMENS(URY) , with Ruben Cuenca, from RETROSATAN(Arg) , the thing is, this CD does not show their real power, and the vocals are more into that "chori" metal style I just cannot stand, not totally but almost. A must for live shows, hopefully they issued a better recording after this one. I have to check that out. AMETHYST(Swi) - Rock Knights EP 2022, tape by Jawbreaker Records. Impressive classic Heavy Metal project coming from switzerland. Its highlight is the vocal tune, reminds me of TRAITORS GATE(UK) and BLITZKRIEG(UK) , not to mention it sounds really in the 80s vein, despite its obviousness, seems absolutely well recorded, it has something warm on the production it takes you to any classic from UK. You should grab this tape whenever possible! SCATOLOGY(Spa) - Issue #2 2022, by Schattenmann Publishings. The comeback of this excellent fanzine, at least the first issue was supreme, awfully, this one changes fonts all the time, really ugly experience for the reader, in my opinion. It has a short but pretty killer interview with FUNERAL NATION(US) , despite not enjoying this band, words are simple and great. Another one interesting is one from PREMATURE BURIAL(Spa) which dives into the latest release of this solo-project , during that time, which is really nice to read and now I felt, on the writtings, some similarities to what cowboy did on his REALM OF SHADES(Ger) latest issue (greetings cowboy!) . Another short one with USURPER(US) . Great short but at the same time in-depth DANNY LILKER intreview, is great to read and laugh a little, great knowledge by the interviewer indeed. A concrete interview with VOMITOR(Aus) , pretty good. Curious interview with KHTHONIIK CERVIIKS(Ger) , I will have to check this band out. Short but good to read AT WAR(US) int. Then some short reviews. Another good one with EXCORIATE(Ger) . A pretty killer interview with HETSHEDS(Swe) and an interesting insight for NWN PRODUCTIONS. Spectacular anquedote regarding BLACK SABBATH(UK) in barcelona ha! Short but good DREAM DEATH(US) int. Really good one with FEAR OF GOD(Swi) and an great one with RECLUSE(Int) , I don't know the band and it's quite likely I won't like their music, since I am not a fan of black metal, but the words exposed where really nice to read and had great and outstanding curiosities. Pretty interesting int with COFFIN SLAVE ARTS(Ser) , an arist from serbia (he's in GLASNIK SMIRTI(Ser) !! ), fukin good to read. Probably the key to the purchase, an interview with the great, and in my opinion, cult artist DREW ELLIOT!! I was always fascinated by his arts on the well known "Kill for Pleasure" LP , EXMORTIS(US) demo, the monster classic "Satan's Revenge II" and the ultimate deathrash attack in "Inverted Crosses" MLP, not to mention he was responsible for "Season of the dead" but fuk my brains, never knew he was in charge of "Death after Death" LP artwork, has nothing to do with his arts! always learning new shit, probably to be forgotten soon, but that blew my brains! I was amuzed by the fact the author included such a great tribute to Frank from NECROPHAGIA(US) , a key actor on the death metal development without any doubt. A nice in-depth interview with APPARTION(Spa) plus a good one with TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY audio mastering... really intersting, I was not expecting something like this, great questions/answers. Overall quite a nice fanzine but I appreciated the first issue much more than this one. Grab a copy and think for yourself! SOUND OF THE BEAST(US) - The complete headbanging history of Heavy Metal, written by Ian Christe (Swisso-american writer). A book gathering the whole history of Metal as its title claims. If you experienced BBC's "Seven Ages of Rock" documentary, this could be interpreted as a detailed transcription, starting on the Heavy Metal edge of it, going throughout the genre development, also told by Sam Dunn in "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey", and its continuation with "Global Metal", thanks to its anthropological facts. I picture this as a manual, mainly for newcomers eagering to know, in a chronologycal way, more about the development of the music that changed our lives. For experienced metalheads, it's a good read and could also be seen as a recollection of stories told on early fanzines (not as a whole but some parts). It's well written, does not bother with highclassy-shinny papers but opaque papers with some black-n-white pictures here and there, with that fanzine-esque feel, which I personally find excellent. It falls on some disgusting mentions of bands I would have never talked about, also exposes the comerciality involved, somehow falls into the mainstream side of the whole thing, as I personally believe, most media-professionals-in-metal tend to do, that will of trying to show to everyone that metal has won a place in the norm, but it's part of this historical way of presenting the whole picture, fuk I know metal is not for everyone! Fine line for contradictions when this is done this way. I encourage anyone to get this one, bazillion website had offers on this, a good opportunity to make your bookshelf to curve. It's not a super killer book but hey... it's better than buying shirts at concerts from bands you don't even own records! HA! I left this particularly smart and, from my point of view, exquisite phrase: "As metalheads gathered like swarming bees, homemade cassette tapes were the pollen through which they relayed the genetic codes necessary to expand the hive."
