Jag Panzer

Perhaps you've heard of Jag Panzer and just dismissed them as some power metal band that had a few good songs in the '90s? Well the joke is on you friend-o. Their debut album saw the light of day in the mighty year of 1984 and was titled "Ample Destruction", which is very, very appropriate. The band delivers blow after blow here and never really give you a chance to catch your breath. By the time you realize what has transpired they've stomped your testicles and stolen your girlfriend, only to disappear into the night like some phantom gang sporting leather, Reeboks and weapons gathered from the local junkyard. There's a certain urban warrior mythology they invoke here and the production value is top notch. I think this album has aged extremely well. If you liked Riot's "Thundersteel" this one is for you.

Ample Destruction

X-eryus

Do you like keyboards in your late '80s Euro Rock? Well good 'cause they're all over this album. If you've never taken a stroll over to Strappado's Obscure Metal Blog you should really give it a visit, especially if you are into the real hard to find rare stuff from the '80s. I could spend hundreds of hours dredging the depths of his blog and only scratch the surface. It's a great resource for this stuff. Unfortunately not all of it is great so it's kind of hard to pick out the real gems even though he has a ratings system in place.
This is one album I got from there that just stands out, especially if you're into the old Euro stuff. This particular group was from Switzerland. This album just reeks of cheesy synth, ozone destroying hairspray and unwashed leopard tights. The album cover may be the worst I have ever seen because there is nothing on it except the artist, album and a plain looking diamond shape. However, this is a perfect example of don't judge an album by it's cover because there isn't a bad song in the bunch. The songs range from themes of evil to Russian roulette to love ballads sung in the rain. I never get tired of busting this one out. Out-fucking-standing and catchy as hell.
Expose

Sadistik Exekution

This album's got character. Sure the production is questionable and the song volume shifts a lot...this is one of the reasons it's so great.
What else makes it great?

1. Ambient tracks and interludes that play out like something from Nightmare on Elm Street
2. The quirky bass lines
3. Tempo changes from fever-like intensity to slow as molasses, sludgy dirges
4. Pitchshifted Vocals
5. The album artwork
6. RIFFS

I could go on but you get the point. Anyway listen to this on full blast and scare some children. It's Halloween for fuck's sake!

We Are Death... Fukk you!!

Hamartia

This isn't the usual Wag da Blog fare yet something is compelling me to post this album. I broke it out the other day out of storage and put it on and have played it countless times since. This is Scream-Violence/Melodic Hardcore from 2002 and if that isn't your cup of tea then just stop reading and come back later for something else. Why do I think this is worth your time? Well, it's definitely Iron Maiden influenced stuff here with dual lead guitars, they don't rely on the breakdown to save them, the vocals are awesome and they even borderline on death metal and black metal vocals at times, and these guys write some badass riffs! The lyrics are about heartbreak and loss but hey, that's pretty easy to ignore if you need to and I'm not uploading the lyric sheet so... The production is great and you can hear every instrument clearly here. These guys were feeling it when recording this and you can really tell. This album reminds me of fall.

To Play the Part

Necrosanct

Seething, Riffing Death Metal from 1992. The album cover says it all. This is like entering the lair of the dragon Smaug and then not being able to find the exit.

Incarnate

Prosanctus Inferi

I haven't heard the new full length yet but here is their demo from a couple years ago. Prosanctus Inferi lay down some serious unholy black blasting death here and invoke some sort of malformed spirit animal whose sole purpose is to make the listener bleed out after a frenzied assault of horns, hooves and poisonous fangs. It's a messy death, especially since you shit yourself in the process...

Download

Wotan

Okay so here we have a demo from 1988 by Wotan. There are a shitload of Wotans out there. This was one of the Wotans from Italy...but this particular one gave us Welcome to the Asgard Kingdom. It starts off with a burning fire and some chanting and then kicks off the first song with epic speed metal and a gang vocal chorus. Things really kick of on track 3 where the guitar work gets to shine through. The singer gives some decent power metal vox but he gets gruff, raspy and tired sounding at times, like he's going to pass out. This is a good thing and only adds to the character of this awesome little gem. The drumming is pretty straightforward and it does its job well enough. It's obscure music like this which keeps me wanting to blog and scour other blogs to find stuff just as good. The riffs and leads on this are very cool. I'm pretty sure this isn't the demo cover but it fits, so there you have it...I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

Die.Revive.Destroy

Phantasm

Ok so it's been a minute but I find myself here at work and it's finally fucking dead so I can concentrate on the more important things in life like keeping up this blog! Here is a demo album from 1990 coming from the woodlands of Wisconsin. This is fucking chainsaw death at its finest - please do not pass up this download. If you're into early US death/gore this is right up your alley. By the end of the demo you'll be itching to start it all over again. This is quality. This is sickness. This is horror.

Lycanthropy

Détente

This one has been posted in a shit ton of other blogs but I don't feel like mine is complete without it. Détente coughed this one up in 1986 and this was their sole release. These guys definitely didn't try and reinvent the wheel here. But I'd say this is above average speed/thrash with pretty amazing and unique female vocals. This has a lot of replay value for what it is and I think it fits into this blog perfectly.

Recognize No Authority

Matakopas

This is a swell little chunk of US Heavy Metal by way of New York circa 1987. Every song is pretty well crafted and I'm a little shocked that they never released any other material besides this because it holds up rather well. They even have gang vocals on some of the choruses which is totally bitchin'. You can hear everything pretty distinctly in the mix even though the production isn't top notch. There's great drumming on this as well as some solid guitar work. I'd put this album right up there with any Leatherwolf release...easily.

Coming Out Ahead

Titan Force

You may recognize the lead singer of this band from other better known acts such as Jag Panzer or Riot. Not many people talk about Titan Force at all and that's kind of weird imho. I'm a huge Fates Warning guy and when I first heard this effort I couldn't shake the feeling that I was listening to Ray Alder on a lost FW album. So right off the bat you know you're gonna get soaring vocals and progressive heavy metal... There's something else at work here though. The first 2 tracks have a very sinister element to them. Titan Force may sound like other bands and I'll be damned if they don't have the hook writing capability of a White Lion and a little glimmers of Iron Maiden peppered here and there. What's not to like? It's a very enjoyable effort and just catchy as hell. Get this now.

Winner/Loser

Sororicide

Sororicide were from Reykjavik, Iceland and left us this little known album of down-tuned death metal goodness in 1991 before fading into obscurity some years later. This album belongs on this blog mainly due to its shoddy production values and the dark churning themes contained within. These guys definitely took their cues from some more well known contemporaries but their approach is so unique that it's totally forgivable. Don't make the mistake of passing this up. There's enough riffs and disharmony within to sink an island.

The Entity

Viper

Viper are pegged as an Iron Maiden clone and while that isn't necessarily a bad thing I think it's totally wrong. What you have here is mid-paced melodic speedmetal featuring pretty damn good lead guitar work and power metal vocals. They didn't reinvent the wheel by any means but this is a pretty choice selection of traditional '80s metal and really helped put Brazil's scene on the map. I think this album definitely stands on its own merits and warrants multiple listens over the years. One look at that cover and you know you're in store for an epic treat.

Soldiers of Sunrise

Total.Thrashing.Death

Simply put, this is pure zombie thrashing bliss from 1990. No posers allowed...

Cancer.Fucking.Cancer

Funebre

This is a great album produced by Finland's own Funebre. What we have here is some more early '90s death metal. The music itself has flawlessly executed tempo changes, monstrous riffing, and intricate solo work that doesn't overstay its welcome. Some detractors state that the production is simply ho-hum but as you know, most of the stuff I post here doesn't necessarily fall into the polished area of things. All the better though because with the less than stellar production Funebre creates a superb atmosphere on this release. When listening to this I can't shake the feeling of watching some sort of medieval warfare taking place right in front of me. O! the bloodied hacking of limbs...

Children of the Scorn

Nightmare

I love '80s epic themed metal. I'm not going to call this 'power metal' because that makes people think of bands like Dragonforce, Rhapsody, Symphony X or Edguy. What I'm talking about are bands like Manowar, Fifth Angel, Savatage, Cirith Ungol and Viper. Nightmare from France fall into this category and although this is their second full length album with a completely different singer it's easily my favorite release of theirs. The vocals truly soar on this album and are a perfect match for the catchy music and solos laid down by the rest of the band. Sometimes this is my favorite French album. Today is one of those days.

Power of the Universe

Cemetary

This is early '90s death metal from Sweden. The guitar tone on this is very weird but somehow adds to the great atmosphere on this release. The band later became shitty. At least they left us with this unheralded classic. I'm a sucker for good riffs and this is chock-full of 'em. Thanks Cemetary!

An Evil Shade of Grey

Pain

Thrash love songs? Leave it to Germany. The singer has a distinct raspy style and the riffs on here are awesome. Not everyone's cup of tea I'm sure but fuck 'em.

Insanity