Originally published in ‘zine issue #14, 1995
by Editor
Abscess Urine Junkies
(Relapse)
This band has ex-sick bastards of Autopsy, Hexx, and Immortal Fate. Absolutely fiendish weedcore scoundrel metal from California. The lavishly packaged CD features the three demos this band has recorded plus lyrics which must be read to be believed! ■
Benediction The Dreams You Dread
(Nuclear Blast)
This Birmingham band rules live, but The Grotesque/Ashen Epitaph was the end of the line, I’m afraid. They’ve taken the stripped-down approach to the extreme and the title track is the only one I like. Perhaps they’ve suffered from the lineup changes … ■
Cathedral The Carnival Bizarre
(Earache)
I am reminded of a more raw Soul Sacrifice, side one. Dorrian has changed his vocal style again to a less baritone one. I like the energy here more than the last LP. Some of the songs have the Cathedral hook instead of just a “Sabbath-influenced doom band.” ■
Exit-13 … Just A Few More Hits
(Relapse)
Total grind from these eco-freaks, a must for Exit-13 fans. Containing an edited track from the last LP, a few covers (some of which are sort of hidden), and some new tracks, the latest slab from this weedcore band has the trademark studio mix we all know and love. ■
The Gathering Mandylion
(Century Media)
I think the band has gone downhill since the classic Always … The new singer is quite talented, but the material leaves much to be desired. Not to say it’s bad; it’s just not very interesting to my ears. ■
Letters To Cleo Wholesale Meats and Fish
(Giant)
The second LP from this alternative-to-the-alternative (in the musical sense) band shows a more balls-out rock approach, while the mellow balance tracks do appear, and more focused lyrics. I hear a Juliana Hatfield influence in the vocals here. A godly record. ■
Napalm Death Death By Manipulation
(Earache)
This year’s reissue of this comp. EP is a source of great joy for me. Besides containing the Mass Appeal Madness 7″, the Suffer the Children 12″, and the Mentally Murdered mini-LP, it also boasts six songs from ’88 that I never knew existed (excluding “Multinational Corporations Pt. 2”). The CD also contains lyrics. What a total bloody autopsy doss. ■
Testament Live at the Fillmore
(Burnt Offerings)
Well, if you’re into this band’s recent few albums, and even its early ones, you should pick this live album up. It’s not as raw as the Eindhoven live EP, but it features songs from all their LPs and has three new acoustic versions of their more recent ballads. ■
Tiamat Tour Sampler
(Century Media)
Here’s some remixes and edits from songs off the new album, Wildhoney, which features mellower vocals and a less “metal” approach to the keyboards than on Clouds, along with a “Sepultura-style toned-down logo. Tiamat fans will like this one. ■
