Originally published in ‘zine issue #3, 1991
Abominog Dark Museum
(With Your Teeth Tapes)
Definitely Abominog’s most hideous work yet, Dark Museum is professionally packaged with a full set of lyrics and a band photo. The new album consists of five tracks from the Resting In Your Grave demo (which are sped up to a contagiously nauseous bent with King Fowley filling in on drums), the title track off the Grotesque Humanity 7”, and three new horror-packed pieces. This album must be in your possession. To obtain this masterpiece of gore, send eight well-worth-it bucks.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■
Anacrusis Reason
(Metal Blade)
This is their best release to date. The music is really intricate and well thought out. The best track is “Love the World.” This band is very underrated. I suggest you buy this. You won’t be disappointed.
(By Nick Teta, Jr.) ■
Atheist Unquestionable Presence
(Metal Blade)
Produced by Scott “what, him again?” Burns, the follow-up to Piece of Time’s production is still quite good and you can hear the bass! I’m quite chuffed on this band (or is it “chuffed to”?), and I think I got used to the whacked-out arrangements and the like rather quickly. Or maybe it’s because I was fortunate enough to catch the band in January before hearing any studio work.
Atheist, if you’re not up on it, is one of those hyper-speed ultra-techno bands, which I find rather irritating in some cases but not in this one. Anyway, I heard the new one before the Piece of Time album and both are equally wonderful. Unquestionable I think has more mood shifts and the first album is a tad more aggressive. So basically I’m saying that you should get both albums at once, ‘cause they both rule!
(by Editor) ■
Armored Saint update
The Saint has a strong new album out entitled Symbol of Salvation that hopefully a lot of people looked into, as it is well worth it. On the group’s home video, A Trip Thru Red Times (reviewed last issue), vocalist John Bush said that his band’s real ability is on stage, and that is very true. I was fortunately able to see Armored Saint on its recent North American tour in October with Last Crack and with locals Cutthroat opening and it was phenomenal. Excitingly enough, the Saint is now on tour with the gods Savatage across North America again (after wrapping up a tour with the Scorpions in Europe), so check that out if you can.
In other news, Armored Saint’s two videos for the new album, “Reign of Fire” and “Last Train Home,” have been getting healthy rotation on MTV’s Headbangers Ball, and the band will shoot a third video in January. So it’s keeping busy and deserves all of everyone’s support. The Metal Blade Records group has been through a hell of a lot in its long career and has paid its dues in full ages ago.
(by Editor) ■
Coroner Mental Vortex
(Noise International)
This band’s fourth album continues the positive musical progression away from a standardized sound for the band. The music could almost be said to have a progressive hint to it instead of the heavy classical-blur influence of Punishment For Decadence or the dark tone of R.I.P. The major complaint I have for Mental Vortex is that Ron Royce is quite low in the album mix, which is ridiculous considering that the band is a three piece. But that aside, the music itself is very catchy and enjoyable, but not as “brutal” as earlier albums.
(by Editor) ■
Crawl/Child 1991 demo
Now, I don’t know that much about industrial. The only thing I’ve heard of the sort that I can recall offhand is Godflesh and Ministry (who are touring the States together in February), and some say they aren’t even true industrial. I read an interview with Crawl/Child in Obzine #3 (Hi, Paul) and the terminology the band uses to describe itself is really tripped out. The music itself on this six-song tape has lots of distortion, vocals dripping with effects, multiple sampling, and plodding drums. It’s rather disturbing stuff actually, with which the band tries to run its audience over with. Not for the meek. Check it out if you might like total industrial noise. (Canada)
(by Editor) ■
dead horse Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers
(Big Chief)
The band sounds like it has a taste of Angkor Wat influence, with Tyrrancicide-style vocals, but doomish riffs. It’s like death metal accented with punk and hardcore. Packaging includes lyrics and a picture of the band with its stolen road signs. The vocals are decipherable, so hopefully that doesn’t detour the advocate death fan, because dead horse definitley fits the music. In my opinion this is worth having. Great title!
(by Mike Goettl) ■
The Dead Youth Intense Brutality
(Grind Core International)
Jesus Christ! Don’t be deceived by this band’s bland name and generic packaging (which consists of a drawing of the human anatomy). This album will twist you into a sticky puddle of gastric slop with its sick, intensely grungy vocals, agonizingly strung out over crunching guitars and bellowing bass riffs. Not to mention the pounding drums which tear through this tastefully foul sludge. Full lyrics for the album, including songs such as “Enema Picnic” or “Disease and Decay” are available from Grind Core. This grotesque piece is a must have! Pick up this album or die! For more info, write.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■
Exterminance Environmental Execution
The band’s third demo, this tape has four death/thrashy songs with a hint of old Sepultura on some of the riffs. There’s lots of crunch parts and the music is rather hyper. The production is OK as well. The band re-recorded one of the second demo’s songs on the new one. Also, Exterminance hopes to have a string of gigs lined up and a new demo in the future. So go ahead and write and ask for a lyric sheet whyile you’re at it. $3. (USA)
(by Editor) ■
Exit-13 Spare the Wrench, Surrender the Earth 7”
(Relapse)
This four-song deal is a slight departure for this environmental blurcore band. As I see it, the LP, Green is Good!, was faster, and the songs on the new release are more drawn-out and angry. The lyrics to “Societally Provoked Genocidal Contemplation” are just great, and the music and effects on the instruments are just as fucked up as ever. so check it out for $4 USA, $6 elsewhere, to Relapse Records.
(by Editor) ■
Fates Warning Parallels
(Metal Blade)
I was fortunate enough to see this band on tour with Dead On and Sanctuary a while back. Fates put on a great show of course, but that’s another story. I got into the band pretty late in the game, first hearing it from the video “Silent Cries” (from the band’s fourth album), when it was getting heavy rotation on MTV’s Headbangers Ball in 1989. The new album, Parallels, is not quite along the lines of that period, to be sure. No, the sixth album from the band is, shall we say, more down to earth. It’s still very progressive metal, however. One of the standout tracks is “Point of View,” but the whole album is quite intricate and off time in places, but not over your head at the same time. The production is just plain stunning also. So this is worth checking out.
(by Editor) ■
Genital Deformities Profession of Violence
These guys have a super metal/grind band I would say has a sort of Mötörhead-type feel in places. The band has been around since ’87 and has gone through the usual lineup changes over time. GD has put out a demo and LP and has a new one out, with a new 7” and LP to follow. The new demo is quite good, with lyrics included and there’s also a button and patch to be had from the band. The lyrics are intelligent, and the music is straightforward with simple song structures. Strong production also, so get it! Very good stuff! $3. (UK)
(by Editor) ■
Godflesh Slavestate
(Relativity)
The follow-up to Streetcleaner is somewhat of a disappointment to me. Godflesh, on some of the songs of this EP, has gone house music. Well, the title track is OK as well as “Slateman,” but there’s two other versions of the title track which are wastes of time, and a ’91 version of “Wound” which is also below par. The rest of the songs on the EP are also so-so. I hope that Godflesh (going on tour with Ministry soon) will do better live and on the next full-length than on Slavestate.
(by Editor) ■
Gorguts Considered Dead
(RC)
This four-piece outfit, hailing from Quebec, Canada, gives northern death metal a good name. After doing a rehearsal and demo, the band hooked up with RC Records and subsequently Scott Burns, with the resulting Considered Dead debut album hitting the stores. The music is crunchy, sometimes mid-paced and heavy, sometimes fast and choppy. There’s a few acoustic pieces to break up the slashfest and two guest musicians to add flavor to the recording. The lyrics are quite the storytelling horrors, especially “Rottenatomy” and “Inoculated Life.” I have to consult a thesaurus, because I’ve run out of synonyms for “brutal” and such to fit killer bands like Gorguts.
(by Editor) ■
Headrot I Gulp Your Guts
The title caught my attention and I’m very glad it did! This is very good death metal; it has everything you would expect of death metal. Crunching guitars, growling vocals, deep bass … it sounds pissed! The production isn’t the best, but if Headrot’s impressive with fair production, imagine when it gets signed to a label! Which in my opinion the band deserves. The packaging lacks lyrics but has colored pictures. This is a definite must for the death metal collection! (USA)
(by Mike Goettl) ■
Hellwitch Syzygial Miscreancy
(Wild Rags)
It’s amazing how similar this is to Assassin’s The Upcoming Terror, though I’m sure it was unintended. Almost all the riffs are at a hundred miles per hour, as are the vocals. Speaking of vocals, if you’re looking for the Frank Mullen or John Tardy growls, this isn’t it. The singer has a high-pitched, grungy screech. Packaging includes lyrics and a smal comic (wow), and, just to be critical, the cover on the cassette is printed upside-down. Regardless of the flaws, and although it doesn’t induce erection, the album still deserves recognition in the death metal scene.
(by Mike Goettl) ■
Incarnis SDBD
A completely vomitus demo! The production is above average, so this is an enticingly vile piece. The demo includes three songs of sick and hideous death metal which will cause rupture of the spleen due to purely excessive brutality. For more info on this killer demo, write [and ask about purchasing the great IHDM ‘zine while you’re at it—Editor]!
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■
Medussa Convulsions
Medussa (interviewed in ‘zine number one)’s second studio release is a good representation of the band. It features nine songs, strong production, and hyper, catchy thrash riffs. The Medussa dudes have a cool thing going and they support hemp adamantly, so drop ‘em a line and order the tap for $6. (USA)
(by Editor) ■
Mythic The Immortal Realm
This is a totally killer band that I was fortunate enough to see live at Michigan Death Fest 2. This incredible demo is well-packaged and contains lyrics for the six songs. The production is quite strong and the music is very signaturistic. It’s a heavy crunch/grunge thing with intelligent lyrics (not the average death metal type) and played with decisiveness. I love it! Really catchy and memorable death metl at its finest is what Mythic delivers. Write this amazing band and order the six dollar tape. (USA)
(by Editor) ■
Necro E Assemblage of Emanated Embryo
This band definitely has its own sound and is actually difficult to describe. The tape contains songs from the Oozing Child demo and has lots of them. The music is roughly produced by the band and a member of Transgressor from the same country. There’s grindcore parts and crunchy parts, and noise parts in the sense that some of the songs are over in short bursts. But it’s not as extreme and more musical than noise. But it’s good stuff, mind you. In addition, the demo is introed and outroed by acoustic pieces that are really catchy. Do check this demo out for $4. Recently the band crossed over to slow and dark Satanic death metal. The new stuff totally kills also, so ask about that when you write. (Japan)
(by Editor) ■
Poltergeist Behind My Mask
(Century Media)
The packaging includes lyrics, and I feel that they’re misleading as to what one would expect the music to be like from looking at them. The lyrical content portrays anger but the music is just too fucking happy. The vocalist belongs in a poser band, but then maybe this is a poser band with a bit of crunch. Also, too many lead guitar breaks for my taste.
(by Mike Goettl) ■
Psychotic Waltz A Social Grace
(Sub-Sonic)
Far from death metal but also far from worthless! This band is musically talented and diversified, has a vocalist who can sing, and has lyrics with a message. Nothing sounds repetitive on this album and nothing is boring. You definitely have to be open minded, though. It’s hard to compare Psychotic Waltz to anyone else, which is a difinite plus for any band. The group puts out ballads which are actually tolerable, and I feel that it’s because it adds aggression to the songs. The album’s worth having, but remember, it isn’t death.
(by Mike Goettl) ■
Recipients Of Death Final Flight
(Wild Rags)
This album is your everyday, below average, unoriginal thrash piece. It’s got some good points to it, but it could use some more distinguishable aspects to it. The songs don’t really go anywhere in my eyes, but they don’t suck either. If you’re a real hard thrash fanatic, then these guys are worth looking into. For more info, contact [Wild Rags].
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■
Repulsion Excruciation 7”
(Relapse)
The gods have returned with this two-song 7”! The song titles are “Excruciation” and “Helga (Lost Her Head)” and they’re both great! The production is good and the playing is great also, so what are you waiting for? True grindcore death from Repulsion! $4 U.S., $6 elsewhere to Relapse.
(by Editor) ■
Scat Opera About Time
(Metal Blade)
First off, the geometrically colorful and pathetically immature packaging would only be appealing to a clown-loving four year old. Second, the simply sorry lyrics (to such songs as “Be Mine” or “Family Man”) go nowhere whatsoever. This wannabe funk moron band ignorantly tries to incorporate talentless babbling, repetitive bass lines, boring guitar interruptions, and faulty drums beats which all comes out to be one big irritation. This band is one of the biggest failures I have ever heard in my life. Do not under any circumstances even consider glancing at this album. It sucks.
(by Nick Meraugh) ■
Suffocation Human Waste
(Relapse)
Talk about your meteoric rise to the top! After recording an incredible demo, the band recorded Human Waste, a six-song (if you have the CD, otherwise five) EP that is even better than the demo. The title track is from that tape and the rest is all new, grinding, very technical, erratic death metal. The oft-used “brutal” comes immediately to mind. The production, songwriting, and musicianship are all top notch, so what are you waiting for? Get it!
(by Editor) ■
Suffocation Effigy of the Forgotten
(RC)
Suffocation raced down to Morrisound Studios with the infamous Scott Burns to record its debut album. The production isn’t half bad, actually. There’s songs from the original demo and the EP that are redone, and all-new material as well on this ripping slab of death. As with the EP, the songwriting and musicianship are totally amazing and heavy! Bleah! Get it also!
(by Editor) ■
Transgressor Twisting Brochus
This death metal band’s second demo is just amazing! The production is really strong (the bass is nice and full in the mix), the playing is intense, the music is quite original, and there’s plenty of doom parts and grind parts. There’s two standout songs, “Disembodied” and “Transmigration.” This is a must have from a talented band! Send $5.
(by Editor) ■
Ugly Kid Joe As Ugly As They Wanna Be
(Stardog)
The story behind their name is that they were going to play a show with another band before they themselves had a name. It just happens that the other band’s name was Pretty Boy Floyd. That should just about give you an idea of the type of music Ugly Kid Joe plays. Yeah, you guessed it: pretty fucking worthless! The band sings about liquour, women, and partying. Wow, isn’t that just original. It even uses dirty words like “fuck,” “shit,” and “goddamn.” I guess that makes the band cool. Buy it if you want to waste some money!
(by Mike Goettl) ■
Various Artists Music from the Motion Picture Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare
(Metal Blade)
Let’s just hope this is the final nightmare, because the last thing we need is another soundtrack like this. Is this a joke? It consists of ballads and dance mixes, so the last thing I think of is a fucking horror movie. A word of advice for those who picked the music for the Freddy movie: if you want to portray something evil, play something evil! But then I guess you need mainstream music for a movie that’s gone totally mainstream. Don’t waste your money on this failure of a soundtrack.
(by Mike Goettl) ■
Photo: Transgressor (courtesy Takashi Tanaka)
