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TOP 10 EARLY/PRE - DEATH METAL ALBUMS (1985 - 1989)
In the following List I have included My Top 10 of some of the most early appearances in Death Metal in the 80s - which at that time still was a mostly unformed Genre. Only Full Length Albums, No Demos or EPs (there will be a List on those, too) are included.
It should be a known fact to every Fan of Death Metal, that this Genre is rooted in vile and relentless Thrash Metal, that around the mid 80s, partly evolved to something darker, faster and more aggressive, while others still sticked to the traditional Thrash Metal. Well, it was the first group that I've mentioned, that have had a major influence to some of my favorite actual Death Metal Releases of all time.
1.Possessed - Seven Churches (1985) (USA)
Undoubtedly the first Full Length Release in the 80s to fulfill all the criteria, I myself expect from a proper Death Metal recording. Hailing from San Francisco, California , these Guys already gave out serious Warnings to the Metal World, with their demos released one year earlier and previous to their Album release.
This Album merges classic Thrash Metal Elements, with Jeff Becerra's Maniac Vocals, Neckbreaking Tempos (at that Time unheard, I suppose only Slayer's "Hell Awaits" was able to compete - and probably to top that speed) and fucking riffing that was outside of what any Metalhead had known until then. I like to imagine, how a concert-goer at that time must have felt to first witness this brutality live on stage - probably an unforgettable Moment.
Delivering 10 Songs of sheer violence, starting off with the main theme of "The Exorcist" (by Mike Oldfield) dragging you deep into a dark, satanic whirlwind of Riffs, Drum Stampedes and Maniac Mantras that will give every true Metal Head an instant erection and closing this Masterpiece with an Opus entitled "Death Metal" this album has become to a very important Milestone in Extreme Metal History and will always have a High Place in my Overall Top 100 of all Time Releases! Highly Recommended!
2.Sepultura - Morbid Visions (1986) (Brazil)
With a Sound as if it was entirely Recorded from within a coffin and with a fucking Merciless speed played by one of my favourite Extreme Metal Drummers - namely IGOR CAVALERA, reigning until the beginning of the 90s - this release has to be mentioned when you talk to someone about the evolution of Death Metal.
Their EP prior to this release "Bestial Devastation" is of course also a very important mention, but as I said in this TOP 10, only Full Lengths are included. So check out the EP if you don't know it.
What really attracts me to most of Sepultura's early Discography (which is by the way the only true Sepultura in my opinion) is the overall Brutality, I also noticed throughout a long list of other South American Releases (I will talk about this topic in another Article). Pure primitivity in Sound, Speed and Riffing and Vocals so harsh, you almost can feel the pain in your own throat, which were at that time of course a rarity, especially in this extend you can witness on this Album. A nice roomy recording and reverbation on Max' vocals add that extra morbidity to this Killer Album. What I also like about those early Sepulturas is the tempo changing from Ultra Fast Thrashing to Mid Tempo Mosh Parts, that give you enough time to recover for the next Neckbreaking Actions. With around 35 minutes of total playing time this Album is compact, straight to the point, and never gets boring. Always has been one of my favourite's, still is and probably will always be! Hail Sepultura!
3.Vulcano - Bloody Vengeance (1986) (BRAZIL)
What to expect from this Album: Well, at first glance - before listening - it presents itself with a beautiful Artwork, typically showing a Burning Church from the Inside, with a dead priest lying on the ground, obviously after having failed to try defending his life. And this is exactly how the first seconds on this Masterpiece feal: Like a pure outbreak of Evil Forces casting your soul into eternal damnation using all of Death Metal's unique and powerful ways. Unsurprisingly to me, this tension is kept throughout the whole 23 minutes of the Bloody Vengeance LP.
The Vocal Style is also pretty close to the Death Metal you will later get to hear in the early 90s, more Caveman like (Caveman = Primitive), even darker and gruntier, lots of Reverb of course, since shouting out from the fiery pits of Hell and bombing Drums, jackhammering your last braincells away. Combined with Savage and highly mastered Riffery with fierce and high speed chaos soloing showing up in each song. The Guitar Section is also in my opinion very Death Metal, meaning that in comparison to other bands from around that time, it has a big distance from typical Thrash Metal riffing. Of course you can notice how the guitarists are influenced by their predecessors, but now having evolved in such a manner that Riffs are mainly evoked to express pure, sadistic and violent Evil. Just like a Metal Maniac deserves to have his Riffs delivered! So go ahead and check this out if you haven't done until now, truly an underrated Masterpiece with great Work done in Production & Songwriting.
4.Dark Angel - Darkness Descends (1986) (USA)
Some may say it's Thrash Metal at it's best, I say this album is a fucking killing machine that has had a massive impact on later death metal recordings. Insane is the Keyword, that describes this release probably best. Insane Speed, both on Drums and Guitars & Bass and Insane Vocals as delivered to you by Don Doty, who unfortunately only has participated on the legendary "Darkness Descends".
The Production has the perfect Rawness, compared to "Reign in Blood" by Slayer which was released the same year, this one sounds like a giant chainsaw, constantly penetrating your flesh deeper and deeper. Gene Hoglan performs Drumming on this Album, which makes in my opinion look Dave Lombardo like a High School Musician. The Guitar fraction shreds violently and without even taking a brake, clearly moving towards Death Metal, I would say. Of course still obviously notable where these guys are coming from, but also not to be overseen that Dark Angel broke the boundaries of Thrash and made place for upcoming generations to roam in ever darker and more vicious Realms, in order to create pure and vicious Death Metal. Why "Darkness Descends" and not "Reign in Blood"? Well, it's just my personal taste. To me, both of those Albums are Masterpieces, and also both have influenced future Acts to make Death Metal just like I love it, but Dark Angel have in my opinion more of a Death Metal Feeling to their Debut than Slayer, which is probably also due to the Rawer Production on the Album.
Death is Certain (Life is Not) - 5th Track on "Darkness Descends" - Awesome True Words!
5.Sarcofago - INRI (1987) (Brazil)
I think, almost NOBODY would want to doubt that INRI is an important release, both to the Realm of Death Metal and maybe probably even more to that of Black Metal, and also one of the earliest to see the light of the day in the 80s (especially in this extent of Brutality and Insanity). Crashing out of nowhere, you will first be overwhelmed by the primitve and powerful Blastbeats, sick devil worshipping Chants and Lyrics hailing the Devil and Evil Ways just as much as possible. Another Masterpiece from Brazil.
I have to admit, it is not the most innovative Album I have ever heard, but that's not what it's all about here. It is infact just the pureness of this Album that made me fall in Love with it. Simple and Raw production, just perfect! This album is a sheer Killing Frenzy, attacking Christianity and uncovering the primitve Ways of the Human Mind. Levels of Aggressiveness not reached by a lot of Bands, even until nowadays, still influencing a lot of Extreme Metal Musicians WORLDWIDE. A Milestone! Just check it and worship this Monster!
I have to admit, it is not the most innovative Album I have ever heard, but that's not what it's all about here. It is infact just the pureness of this Album that made me fall in Love with it. Simple and Raw production, just perfect! This album is a sheer Killing Frenzy, attacking Christianity and uncovering the primitve Ways of the Human Mind. Levels of Aggressiveness not reached by a lot of Bands, even until nowadays, still influencing a lot of Extreme Metal Musicians WORLDWIDE. A Milestone! Just check it and worship this Monster!
6.Panic - Rotten Church (1987) (Brazil)
Also released in 1987, the same year "INRI" by Sarcofago was released in, these fellow Brazilians have to be mentioned here. I think this release is truly underrated and I don't know how much attention they have gotten back then, since they had to compete with one of the most brutal bands at that time, which was undoubtedly Sarcofago.
I just can tell for myself, that this Album stands in no way behind "INRI" and comes up with an incomparable Level of Brutality. Tending to have more Thrash Metal influences, Panic have still managed to maintain a perfect Mixture of Blackness and Primitivity and High Speed Thrash Metal throughout the whole playing time. The Guitars have a really crunchy sound and really help a lot to make the Album sound as primitive and aggressive as Thrash Metal could possibly get. So obviously these Guys weren't trying to create another Thrash Metal Album but rather like their other South American Brothers just to sound as aggressive as possible. Drums pound and crush like a high velocity train with by times slower parts that still sound heavy as shit, and what really got my Attention - those Caveman Vocals. Primituive as Man Himself! Really makes this Release outstanding compared to a lot of other Thrash Metal Releases in the late 80s, which in my opinion marks a clear evolution towards making Raw Death Metal. SINISTER, RAW, BLAZING and fucking FAST. This is what you get here. An essential Recording in Death/Thrash, and another Milestone in the History of Death Metal evolution.
7.Pestilence - Malleus Maleficarum (1988) (NL)
It is the year 1988 - Thrash Metal is not what it used to be, something is happening in the Extreme Metal World ... it seems like an evercreating womb of foulness has opened end is spitting out infinite Acts, delivering more brutal and intense Thrash Metal. Bands like Death appeared and handed out their manifest "Scream Bloody Gore" writing Death Metal History. Amongst Death and other Bands, Pestilence easily managed to draw the attention towards their Musical Work, composing one of the most furious Albums in early Death Metal Times. Sick Ass Production and macabre Atmosphere, Martin Van Drunen shouting out of the depths of his Throat, as usual just performing the best he can and contributing a damn lot to the Brutality of Malleus Maleficarum.
Also making this one a unique Masterpiece is the genius songwriting of Patrick Mameli on this Album, his Guitar Work is just awesome and he always knew how to create abstract and dark ambience in his works, at that time already indicating that he later would move on into a more progressive/fusion like vein of music making. Nonetheless, on this release all Musicians were at their Zenith of performance and this Pestilence Debut remains until this Day an extremely important release in the History of Brutal Music/Death Metal. "Subordinate to the Domination", "Chemotherapy" and "Bacterial Surgery" are my highlights on Malleus Maleficarum. This album simply soaks you into a Vortex of never ending Brutality, raising your Adrenaline Levels up to infinity and leaving you behind with one of the sickest orgasms you will experience in OSDM. Strictly Recommended!
8.Death - Leprosy (1988) (USA)
I think not much Words are even needed to describe this Gem. Leprosy begins in a slow manner, perfectly expressing that slow rotting of a Leper, miserably deteriorating - helpless - left alone to accept his destiny ... Chuck's at that time still evil Grunts appear out of the Void - in my opinion, the most brutal vocals at that time - introducing all of you Death Metal Lovers to what I define as probably the first real Death Metal Recording Ever, effortlessly overshadowing "Scream Bloody Gore" (which I personally never got too much into - hate me for saying that)
The Listening Experience is obviously driven by the Philosophical Ways of Death Metal, experiencing Darkness in Reality and Life. It is just a Masterpiece of Art, from Ed Repka's awesome Artwork, the Band Name itsself to the Sound evoked on the Final Product - a higher Concept seems to be behind this Musical Gathering. Crazy Guitar Solos by Rick Rozz combined with Chuck Schuldiner's passionate and melodic Solos, followed by crunchy and shredding riffs and primitive drumming - those Elements always attract me like a moth to bright light while I listen to Leprosy. Without exception every Piece on the Album is Killer, but If I needed to Highlight some, it definitely would be "Left To Die", "Pull The Plug" and "Leprosy". I guess most of you know and have been loving this Album for ages, and most will probably agree that on the long road death metal has walked until now, this is by far one of the most impressive and important Albums.
9.Autopsy - Severed Survival (1989) (USA)
Chris Reifert's Brainchild is until this day the undefeated Master of foul and rotten Funeral Death Metal. After leaving Death, he formed his own group Autopsy, and refreshingly managed to come up with a Death Metal Masterpiece that not tried to impress with ultra-fast speeds, but Instead delivering Horrific Death Metal at average to slow speeds, helping to create an even darker Atmosphere than other Pioneers at that time did.
Chris Reifert spews out Vocals that just sound sickening and perverted, and all this while desecrating his primitive Drum Kit which was tuned to sound like it was geared with drumheads made out of human skin, played by drumsticks carved out of human bone.
Steve Digiorgio, who was helped Autopsy out as a Studio Musician for Severed Survival, does not disappoint at all with his appearance. Rumbling bass lines until the last second, mixed with a presence as it is known from most of his projects.
Steve Digiorgio, who was helped Autopsy out as a Studio Musician for Severed Survival, does not disappoint at all with his appearance. Rumbling bass lines until the last second, mixed with a presence as it is known from most of his projects.
The Guitars - Downtuned and Shattering, Raw as fuck and created to deliver pain unto the Listener.
Combined this results in one of the Sickest Pre-90s Death Metal releases ever and an important work in extreme Music genres in General.
10.Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness (1989) (USA)
One of my favourite Albums from one of my favourite Bands, which unfortunately in the End decided after a series of stupid decisions to start creating some kind of experiment in Death Metal, which I cannot support and understand until this day ... but that is another Topic.
With "Altars Of Madness", Morbid Angel have created a lunatic Sonic display of Demonic Worshipping and Intense Blasphemies ... on top of that they have introduced - thanks to Pete Sandoval - the proper usage of Blast Beats to the Death Metal World. Pete's Blasts are just unbeatable and were always an important Element to Morbid Angel's Songs - with Time even getting more intense and fast. Also the incredible Work of Trey Azagthoth and his genius Guitar worshipping on a Level that Is not to be witnessed by many acts in the World of Extreme Music has to be mentioned here. Very innovative and advanced, outside of what most Musicians were influenced by, Trey invites you to a journey into the dark and obscure Realms that dwell in his Mind.
10 unforgettable Hymns of surreal Death Worshipping are delivered with this Masterpiece and seem to be beaten in intensity with every song. The Lovecraftian influenced Lyrics and Dave Vincents Maniac shouting make the blood freeze in my arteries and after the years never got boring to me, in contrary, I keep loving this Album more and more. Until to the End 90s, in my opinion Morbid Angel managed to keep on Pioneering Death Metal Music and the creativity never stopped. They Sound itself is really nothing too special, the drums sound very natural and the bass drum keeps pounding until the end, the guitars already had that "Lava" feel to them, as Trey describes his Musical Flow. They Bass is very subtle, but Dave's main purpose isn't being an outstanding Bass player anyways, so it does the job quiet well on this Album. All in All we could describe the Birth of an entire Genre with this Album, at least that remains for me to say, after years and years of intense studies with this Album. Long live Morbid Angel! Long live the Madness!
"It’s been an evolution, beginning with identifying and connecting with the pure flow of the music I grew up on. I think that back then I used what would be called Creative Visualization: using my mind and my imagination to access a deeper place within myself, to open myself and allow myself to be moved by the vibes coming out of the speakers—not thinking in terms of notes and keys but rather just riding the waves." - Trey Azagthoth
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Pantalgia - An International Death Metal Compilation (1992)
Tracklist
1 –God Macabre Ashes Of Mourning Life 4:32
2 –Malediction Longterm Result 4:08
3 –Rottrevore Disembodied 3:25
4 –diSEMBOWELMENT Extracted Nails 3:45
5 –Cadaver Ins-Through-Mental 4:02
6 –Crematory Mastication 3:38
7 –Pan-Thy-Monium* Klievieage 3:02
8 –Cenotaph Evoked Doom 4:48
9 –Hydr Hydr Revel In Extinction 3:03
10 –Therion Time Shall Tell 5:06
Label:
M.B.R. Records – MANGLED 2
Format:
CD, Compilation
Country:
Germany
Released:
1992
TOTTEN KORPS - From The Crypts, Putrid Cadavers Rise (1991)
Taken from their second demo "For the Infernal Insurrection" (1991)
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