Originally published in ‘zine issue #5, 1992

Abraxas Signs
This is a strong demo of well-played power/progressive metal. Lyrically there’s room for improvement, with songs about various inane events that ultimately go nowhere. I recommend this for those into progressive metal. $8. (Germany)
(by R. Mason) ■

Alice Donut Revenge Fantasies of the Impotent
(Alternative Tentacles)
A twisted array that’s a truly stimulating experience which will have you drooling to rape the neighborhood pets. A pseudo-musical mind fuck that will appeal to the paranoid schizophrenic in all of us.
(by R. Mason) ■

Allegiance Torn Between Two Worlds
Another batch of misled individuals who actually believe that thrash has any validity left. This is unoriginal, uninspired, and overall very bland. It’s all been done before. $8. (Australia)
(by R. Mason) ■

Amorphis ’91 7″
(Relapse)
Finland sludge! An excellent, downtuning, original death metal band which incorporates slow, meat-grinding riffs and various tempo melodic riffs. Incredible vocals added in make a stupendous band!
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Blast Furnace Phalus Knose
This is weird. It’s a ’70s punk-nonaggressive hardcore-rock ‘n’ roll thing. The riffs are very simple and catchy and the singer is really mellow. It’s cheesy but in a good way. Send $6 for the 11 song tape and a lyric book. (USA)
(by Editor) ■

Candiru Disadvantage of Surprise 7″
(Relapse)
Original industrial stuff. The vocals are pretty heavy, and the riffs are quite catchy. I’m not an industrial fan, but this is cool.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Cannibal Corpse Tomb of the Mutilated
(Death)
I won’t talk about the band’s infamous packaging and lyrics here. The music is standard C.C., with triplet runs, crunch riffs, low vocals, and fast/slow tempo extremes. This album flows better than the last one. A few surprises, too. Check it out!
(by Editor) ■

Carnal Dissection Demo 1992
The vocals are a little low in the mix, but audible. The tape has five death metal songs of the average gore genre that aren’t anything new, but it’s a good cassette. $5 USA, $6 world. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Corrosion Of Conformity Vote With A Bullet
(Relativity)
I’m not sure quite how to react to these guys, I’m sorry to say. The EP has some new stuff, live stuff, and old stuff. The music induces no reaction because it’s just “there”; it just doesn’t go anywhere special.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Crobar Obedience Thru Suffering
(Grind Core Int.)
This band has your everyday industrial music with your weak and pathetic James “God, I rule” Hetfield-style vocals. If these two combinations sound good, check your hearing or write to [Grind Core International].
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Crucible A Dying Breed
This thrash piece is another everyday thrash band, but the vocals are worse. The riffs are boring, the percussion is the same for almost every song, and the vocals put you to sleep. If you are into thrash, then write to [Crucible]. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Cryogen Unholy Communion
Parts of this remind me of Deicide, but not all of it. The riffs are jumpy, the vocals are Deicide/generic death metal style, and the lyrics are pathetic. Besides that, this isn’t bad. I’d send $5 USA, $7 world. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Damonacy From Within
This four-song cassette is really original! The vocals are screeching and the riffs are catchy. Plus the production is great! The band sounds like Revenant in an odd sort of way. This is worth sending $5. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Darkened Fate The Only Witness
This band is pretty aggressive as far as the music and vocals go in thrash stuff. If you like thrash, or maybe even if you don’t, you should send $6 USA, $7 world. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Deathrage
Self Conditioned, Self Limited album, Down in the Depths of Sickness album, Demo 1992
What is this I hear? A fierce combo of early Vendetta and Kreator. This band has a distinctive German thrash sound with touches of Slayer and Coroner. The only complaint is the cheesy synth on the demo—it ruins a lot of potentially brutal riffs. One of the few good thrash bands I’ve heard in quite a while. Demo: $5 Europe, $6 overseas; 1st album: LP/MC $12. 2nd album; LP/MC $12, CD $18. (Italy)
(by R. Mason) ■

Decayed Thus Revealed
Bad songs, bad playing, and bad production. Plus the stupid Satanic lyrics should make this all the more appealing to you. A mere $5. (Portugal)
(by R. Mason) ■

Deicide Legion
(RC)
A surprisingly decent release from this lame-ass band. It still sucks, just not as bad as before. Really wimpy black/death metal with an occasional good riff here and there. I hope the band comes to its senses and kicks Glen Benton’s sorry Satan-worshipping ass out.
(by R. Mason) ■

Dethshit demo #2
Noise and humor is an interesting combination, and Dethshit does it quite well. It’s difficult to compare this tape to any-thing, as I’ve never heard anything like it. I think it’s best if you write to [Dethshit]. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Disharmonic Orchestra Not To Be Undimensional Conscious
(Nuclear Blast America)
The second album, recorded at Sunlight Studios, is, as the band likes to say, sick, morbid, and strange. It’s slower and has a few surprises on it. Great artsy death metal.
(by Editor) ■

D.I.Y. Shadows of Grime
This is a two-song pre-demo release. Solid thrashcore with pretty good songs. Unfortunately, this genre’s been raped of all validity and I’m sick of hearing bands still playing hopelessly redundant shit. $3. (Italy)
(by R. Mason) ■

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“Listening to this shit, I gotta wonder what happened to hardcore.”

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Endless Tears The Eye
Decent doomy melodic thrash. Seven bucks for three songs. If you must have every mediocre thrash demo, go for it. (France)
(by R. Mason) ■

Extrema Demo Tape 1991
These guys have been around for god knows how long, and I have no idea why they’re not signed. The demo’s a mixture of hard rock, thrash, and funk. The production could make Scott Burns shit his pants. $6. (Italy)
(by R. Mason) ■

Fatal Aggression Meet Tha Street
Macho crap with a piss-poor attitude and an ego the size of Roseanne Arnold. The lyrics are pathetic. This is a Testament-ish and worthless piece of fuck. Cash/ m.o., $5 USA, Canada, Mexico, $6 elsewhere. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Fat Tuesday Califuneral
(Red Decibel)
My idea of good music doesn’t consist of Guns N’ Roses and Genesis together. Fat Tuesday is rock ‘n’ rollish funky boredom. This is MTV crap. These guys could pop up on your TV between Madonna and Metallica, to give you an idea of their originality.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Fear Of Influence Creation in Question
This band gets a lot from Rush/progressive metal. Somewhere between conception and execution something went wrong. Musically proficient, but the vocals are horrible. $5 Canada/ USA, $6 world. (Canada)
(by R. Mason) ■

Gehenna ’91 demo
Gehenna has its own sound but doesn’t really break any new ground. It’s death metal but nothing innovative. I’m not saying the band has to be original, because I’m just pointing it out. Send $5. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Godflesh Pure
(Relativity/Earache) Those industrial or whatever boys have released the second full LP. It’s sort of along the lines of Slavestate, but less dance/house-like, thank goodness. Paul Neville is out of the band again, and a new guy plays 2nd guitar on four songs. Pure is great.
(by Editor) ■

Goreaphobia Omen of Masochism 7″
(Relapse). Two songs of dreary death metal. The vocals are done in some places with a voice over, for a ghoulish effect. The songs are really great, and from what I can make out, so are the lyrics.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

GWAR America Must Be Destroyed
(Metal Blade)
The Scumdogs have returned and offered up this platter of crunching metal riffs, solid production, stylish vocals, and graphic lyrics. I liked the second album better, but this is still quite good. Don’t forget to vote for Sleazy P. Martini in ’92.
(by Editor) ■

Human Remains
One of the most sick, original, and utterly amazing death metal bands I have ever seen is Human Remains. The production on the band’s four song ’91 demo is great and the performance is expert. Human Remains is what death metal should evolve into after the next wave. Write Dave Witte. Also send $5 Europe, $6 overseas to Cenotaph Records. That will get you the Admirations Most Deep and Foul 7″, which contains three songs and one intro, plus lyrics. More of the same godliness here. Do it today!
(by Editor) ■

Immorally Demonic Justifiable Violence
Mediocre death/thrash with regurgitated riffs and lame vocals. Just a few kids who’ve listened to too much Slayer. Lyrically the band’s actually pretty decent. They’ve potential, but need originality! $5. (USA)
(by R. Mason) ■

Imprecation Ceremony of the Nine Angles
They’ll be signed soon ’cause they sound exactly like death metal on RC or Century Media. It’s not a bad thing; they pull it off well and the tape’s worth getting. $5 USA/$6 world, cash only. (USA)
(by R. Mason) ■

Incantation Onward to Golgatha
(Relapse)
The album is 10 songs of NJ death metal. It strikes my fancy, but doesn’t break any new ground as far as vocals. Incantation has a different sound instrumentally. It’s worth buying!
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Integrity Those Who Fear Tomorrow
(Overkill). A pseudo-religious wanna-be poetic crossover metal bullshit band which needs to learn how to write a riff. Listening to this shit, I gotta wonder what happened to hardcore. $11 for CD. (USA)
(by R. Mason) ■

Inverted Heaven Defied
The Swedes from hell are back with a super follow-up demo. There’s great production and packaging, as well as better Satanic songs than last time. Also, there are a few surprises. Get this for $6 cash or IMO. (Sweden)
(by Editor) ■

Laceration Scabs
Laceration is a slow, grungy, sludge concoction. I love it! The tape contains four well-produced tracks, plus lyrics and professionally printed packaging. If I were you, I’d get out my pen and paper and write to [Laceration]. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Last Rites Agony
This thrash outfit doesn’t really float my boat at all (but I’m not Mr. Thrash either). I myself think they sound like Testament, but a little heavier. If you go for that sort of stuff, write to [Last Rites]. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Lost Innocence Obsession
Great recording, great cover, and great tracks with great texts! The band plays a strange type of music, sometimes thrash, sometimes power, etc. Fantastic demo! Contact the band. (Italy)
(by Max Usseglio) ■

Mercyful Fate Return of the Vampire
(Roadracer). This is a great collection of unreleased material from the early ’80s, with comments on the songs by infamous King himself. A couple of the tracks I could’ve done without, but I gotta say, this is great for the King Diamond/Mercyful Fate fan.
(by R. Mason) ■

Moribund Youth Turk Hardcore
Ah, those wacky anarchists! Standard HC with songs about killing politicians, the upper class, and anyone else they don’t like. Cool! Buy this demo and go slash a cop’s tires! $4 value; trade. (Turkey)
(by R. Mason) ■

Monstrosity Imperial Doom
(Nuclear Blast America)
The Florida band brings us a full-length album. It sounds like a lot of FL death metal, with a little style of its own. The album’s great! Definitely worth picking up.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Morbius The Shades Below
(With Your Teeth)
These death metal mutants have created a magnificent album with a very unique sound, including clean riffs and grunge/doom riffs. I’ll bet the farm you’ll like this. It’s god! $8. (USA)

Mortician Mortal Massacre 7″
(Relapse)
If you liked the band’s demo, you’ll like this. It’s all new material, but the production is lacking in some respects. The vocals are too low in the mix and the guitars are difficult to make out.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Mortuary Death Trap
Another boring thrash creation. The vocals are like pathetic opera and the riffs are cliche thrash trash. At least the production is good. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Mucky Pup Act of Faith
(Century Media)
A few guys with more creativity than talent, trying to cover every possible realm of music they can. This has no direction and the riffs are total ripoffs from lots of bands, but they’re not out to revolutionize music. Amusing, but not much else.
(by R. Mason) ■

Napalm Death Utopia Banished
(Relativity/Earache)
This is the album Harmony should’ve been. It continues in the style of the Mass Appeal Madness 12″, but has more blast beats. The album has 15 songs including an intro, and features “Cause And Effect (Part II)”! Danny Herrera, the new drummer, is great!
(by Editor) ■

Nemesys The Violence Room
This “cassingle” has two songs with really under-par vocals. The music’s nothing special at all. Another boring band with good production. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Nihilist 1992 Demo
This band took the original Swedish gods’ name, and it sucks! This sack of urine was recorded at Morrisound by Scott Burns. These guys remind me of Megadeth and Testament all rolled into one worthless piece of Morrishit. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Oppressor World Abomination
The production here is excellent, but too bad I can’t say the same for the vocals/lyrics. They’re a little lacking. The musical structure is a little bland, but all right. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Phobia All That Remains 7″
(Relapse)
Your average death metal here, with occasional original vocal howls. The guitars are a little low in the mix, but too much.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Prong Prove You Wrong
(Epic)
Moving farther still away from the NYHC than on Beg To Differ, the new one is still good stuff. A little too funky here and there, a little less aggressive in places than before, the band has a new bassist on the album, Troy Gregory from Flotsam & Jetsam. Get it.
(by Editor) ■

Putrid God Forsaken 7″
(After World) These talented Finnish exhumers are “God Forsaken” now. Strong production and song writing and doomy playing make up the recording, and the packaging includes lyrics. Send $5 cash today. (Finland)
(by Editor) ■

Pyrexia Liturgy of Impurity
These New Yorkers can vocally be compared to Suffocation. This is a great demo, complete with lyrics, professional packaging, and printed cassette. Don’t miss out on this superb demo. Send $5, $6 overseas. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Resurrection ’92 demo
This Tampa band is really magnificent! I love it! The vocals sound John Tardy-ish, the actual music is superb, and the production is great! You can’t go wrong with this cassette, so write [Resurrection]. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Sadus A Vision of Misery
(Roadrunner)
The new album has, as Mozart was similarly criticized in the movie Amadeus, too many notes. I’m a Sadus fan to be sure, but there’s too much going on, too many fancy riffs. The death metal aggression is lost in a sea of thrashy, bland music.
(by Editor) ■

Scorn Vae Solis
(Relativity/Earache)
The reunited Napalm Death Scum side 1 lineup has put out a really weird album. The vocals are varied, the music crosses over many boundaries, and the sampling and electronic elements add a strange feel to the whole mess. Pick it up and expect the unexpected.
(by Editor) ■

Solitude Aeturnus Beyond the Crimson Horizon
(RC)
THE doom metal band of the ’90s. It’s surpassed Candlemass, Cathedral, and many other great doom bands by releasing this incredible album of pure, godly doom. I honestly can’t tell you how good this album is. You must buy it.
(by R. Mason) ■

Subjugator Death By Natural Causes
I hate these guys to no end! They’re more like talking than singing. The production is great, but the music is really an annoyance. If this doesn’t phase you, then you may, under unusual circumstances, enjoy this. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

The Dead Youth rehearsal demo ’91
This four-song “live” demo has awful sound, but it’s kinda cool because it’s really raw. If you liked the album, then pick this up. This is very original death metal. [The songs will be on the new LP—Editor] (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Thought Industry Songs For Insects
(Metal Blade)
A raging sex mutant killed and raped Skinny Puppy, Voivod, and Godflesh, and gave birth to Thought Industry. Total god, better than anything Metal Blade put out lately. Lyric-wise, intense and poetic without being pretentious or stupid.
(by R. Mason) ■

Tool Opiate
(Zoo Entertainment)
A very interesting combination of rock, metal, funk, and obnoxiousness, among other things. I don’t know how it compares to the older stuff, ’cause I haven’t heard it. But it’s worth your while if you’re into general strangeness.
(by Editor) ■

Tourniquet Psycho Surgery
(Metal Blade)
I dozed off while tying to review this shit. These guys have managed to rip off Exodus and Sepultura in places. Boring as hell to listen to. Oh yeah, they’re Christian. If you’re into unoriginal, uninspired, dogmatic religious bullshit, you’ll love this.
(by R. Mason) ■

Unleashed Shadows in the Deep
(Century Media)
The sonic equivalent of masturbating with sandpaper. More cool tunes about Satan, Satan, and Satan. Okay, it’s not Where No Life Dwells, but it’s damn good anyway. More fun than a room full of maimed and disfigured children.
(by R. Mason) ■

Von Satanic Blood
This band is monotonous but interesting. The drumming is all one beat, and there are very few riffs, but I sort of like it. It’s a little different from other monotonous bands. It’s definitely worth getting from [Von]. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Various Artists And Death Rose Again
(F.Y.A.F.T. ‘zine)
Here’s a death/grind comp that’s pretty good. Standouts: Nordor, Desultory, Samael, and Convulse (the only waste of tape is Crucifer). A damn fine comp. $3 Europe, $4 world, cash only. (Switzerland)
(by R. Mason) ■

Various Artists Infanticide Volume 2
This is a good death metal comp. with stand outs by Benediction, Carrion Lord, Gorefest, and Immolation. Twenty bands, twenty-two songs. $5 Europe, $6 elsewhere, cash only. (Sweden)
(by R. Mason) ■

Various Artists Metal Massacre XI
(Metal Blade)
This series is now a cheaply thrown-together package to cash in on the declining thrash sound. Thrash is dying and here is the proof. The bands here are bad, sound the same, and are dated by 3-4 years. This is garbage. Save your money.
(by Mike Smith) ■

Various Artists Vol. 1
(Extinction of God ‘zine)
A tape worth buying, this comp has demo tracks from the likes of Grave, Goreaphobia, Mythic, Winter, Autopsy, and many others. A full 90 minutes of music, cut up into a total of 26 songs. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Voivod Angel Rat
(Mechanic)
Well, here it is finally, the new Voivod LP, Angel Rat! After a two-year-plus wait, a new logo, and a loss of founding bassist Blacky, Voivod is back. This is and has been for almost eight years now my favorite band. After glaring at a very disturbing and trippy album cover featuring a couple of characters from the songs found within, and a new logo straight out of the circus, I knew Voivod was not going to be (as the band never is) predictable!

Opening with a nice 30-second intro entitled “Shortwave,” which is made up of shortwave radio frequencies and talking of some sort, bang! Right into the first song, “Panorama.” I noticed right away a more rock ‘n’ roll style throughout the music: less fills, less riffs, and more up-tempo picking. This song to me is a hybrid of old, good Motörhead mixed with hints of Van Halen, say, Women and Children First era. Snake’s vocals as usual are weird and very ragged, giving the album a nice original feel throughout.

Next up is the current video, “Clouds in My House.” Again I noticed a rock ‘n’ roll style: straight-ahead riffing-type structures with weird vocal patterns behind some superb tom work by sticksman Away. This song is very much the single for the LP and a good non-generic one at that.

“The Prow” is next and receives my vote for best song on the LP! Not only does it have a godly groove to it and more sing-along verses than any other Voivod tune to date, but it’s almost a tribute to old Ramones/Sex Pistols-type punk. A masterpiece of ideas, soloing, etc.

Now, “Best Regards.” A song not far from Devo at its best, with a bit more guitar and at times Priest-style heavy metal riffing. Another god chorus and solo.

“Twin Dummy” is a song of odd riffing and time changes, extreme vocal effects, and is a chaotic closing to a fabulous side of an album!

Side two opens with the title cut, “Angel Rat,” which is a Russian folklore character created to stir a boy (stuck on a cliff, wondering whether to leave, and face the angel or rat shape above him, or stay and die) to a fatal decision. It’s in a very quiet, moving way that this story is told, and the answer is left to the listener as is to the outcome. A very emotional tune.

Next is the jumping, moving “Golem,” a song with a groovy drum beat, pounding beneath choppy, mechanical riffs and floating, dreamlike keyboards (the latter of which are actually used quite often and effectively throughout the whole LP).

The next tune, “The Outcast,” brings Technical Ecstasy by Black Sabbath to mind with its constant 1, 2, 3, 4 riffing and Snake’s Ozzy-like vocal approach. A decent rock ‘n’ roll song, but to me it’s the weakest song on this platter.

But “Nuage Fractal” brings me right back to Morgoth (Voivod’s imaginary land) with its extremely schizophrenic-style mix, awkward arrangement, and stunning vocals. This is the LP’s most interesting song. This is also part one of a three-part concept on the chaos theory played out on this LP.

Part two, “Freedoom,” is an almost haunting ballad at first, with more dreamy guitar noises and melodic, quiet vocals. But boom! Suddenly it twists into an early ‘70s Rush-style tune filled with chanting power chords, heavy toms, and crazy vocals. A good time at the very least.

Part three of the concept and the final LP cut, “None of the Above” is another favorite of mine, talking of answers to problems that nobody’s found solutions to. A great chorus and stunning outro make this my second favorite on the LP.

I must say that if you gave up on Voivod after Dimension Hatröss, then this won’t encourage you to listen again, but if you understand the singularity and originality (which is very scarce in music nowadays) of Voivod, you will undoubtedly be sucked deeper into the world of strange, unique, and above all brilliant music that is Voivod. Angel Rat is my favorite LP ever! And that is saying a lot! [On a scale of 1 to 10] I give it a billion!
(by King Fowley) ■

Wicked Ways ’91 demo
If you dig bland thrash stuff, then I suppose you might like this. I’m not big on this kind of stuff. The vocals are quite boring, as well as the musical content.
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Willard Steel Mill
(RC)
Another shitty pseudo-punk export from Seattle. This band is convinced it’s different from the rest of the Seattle slew, but if anything it sucks worse than those other bands.
(by R. Mason) ■

Winters Bane 1991 demo
Let me put it this way: if you like songs entitled “Metal Rules,” then first off I feel sorry for your parents. Second, you might for some strange reason like this. It’s along the lines of late Helloween and opera stuff. (USA)
(by Nick Mertaugh) ■

Zero Tolerance Fuel the Fire 7″
This EP is decent thrashcore inspired by The Accüsed, Sick Of It All, and Pantera. The packaging and production are both really good. Lyric-wise, it’s standard HC/thrash. $4. (USA)
(by R. Mason) ■

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