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

.Nema

.Nema hailed from Detroit circa late '90s and laid down these blistering tracks over the course of a few different releases. What we have left is an epitaph of an extremely underrated band that culled from a myriad of different influences without really sounding like any of them. It's sometimes black metal, sometimes hardcore, sometimes anarcho-punk and sometimes crust and although the production is a bit muddied I really wouldn't have it any other way. The song writing is top notch and the overall vibe on this album is just dark as fuck.

.Nema

Skepticism

Skepticism's Stormcrowfleet is the perfect companion piece to the Thergothon album I posted earlier on this blog. Both bands hail from the mighty Finland and offer different takes on the funeral doom genre. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that funeral doom begins and ends with these albums. There...I said it. Get this now.

Doom

Big Bud

Here we have a GREAT drum n' bass record. I don't spin a lot of this stuff but this record in particular was a nightly ritual for me in the summer of 1999. Don't let the genre scare you off though. Listening to this is a hypnotic, mellow affair and definitely worth the time of the casual dnb listener. This one's on the more ambient side of things which is one of the main reasons I think it works so well.

Infinity + Infinity

The Chameleons

This is another album I usually listen to in the fall. I have no idea why this band isn't more well known. The Chameleons were a post-punk outfit from the UK in the '80s and this was their first LP. There is a somber and melancholy tone throughout the music in these songs that is only bolstered by the singing of Mark Burgess who is hands down one of my favorite lyricists and singers. Be advised that the music is not just your standard post-punk fare. These songs are haunting and will stay with you for days, even weeks. In the mid '90s I had seen a L.A. punk wearing a huge back patch for this very album and it caught my eye so I sought it out. I remember the first time I listened to this album. I turned it on expecting to hear some fast UK punk and when I didn't I turned it off abruptly. I later heard them mentioned in the same sentence as Joy Division which caused me to go back and revisit the album as JD are one of my top 3 favorite bands. Luckily for me they didn't sound like them either... The Chameleons are much, much different and stand firmly on their own merits. The song 'Second Skin' is almost deserving of its own post. Coupled with the rest of the brilliance on this album, this one's a no brainer.

Script of the Bridge

Merciless

This one comes just in time for Halloween and October. Merciless were from Sweden and played a relentless brand of black thrash with snarling, raspy vocals reminiscent of some sort of tortured werewolf. The guitars on this album spit venom and coincide perfectly with the frantic pace of the drumming. By the time you reach the end of this record be sure to check in the mirror for any long hairs, sharp teeth or yellow about the eyes. This record has a mean bite.

The Awakening

Fifth Angel

Fifth Angel dropped one of the best U.S. power metal albums ever in 1986. This self-titled debut was instrumental in putting Seattle heavy metal on the map. This is perfectly executed musicianship and I can't say enough about the lead guitar work here. It's really remarkable and never, ever gets dull. These guys rely heavily on the melody and that's a good thing trust me! I've mentioned these guys on the blog before and here is their first album in all its glory. If this is wrong, I don't ever want to be right.

Business as Usual

EPMD are from New York. If you've always wondered what the fuck those letters stand for it's: Erick and Parrish Making Dollars. To me it stands for more than that. EPMD were rap music's best kept secret imho and they put bucket hats on the map back in 1986. The group blazed their own path alongside contemporaries like Tribe, De La and Public Enemy without sounding like any of them. The slang they coined over the course of their early career is astounding and Erick's lisp only added to the charm they displayed on each of the first 3 records. I can't help but smile when listening to this album and I definitely feel it's their strongest effort. If you don't like this all I have are 3 words for you: Get the Bozack!

EPMD

Adrian

No, those aren't giant cucumber slices noob. They are spider eggs and you'd better steer clear before you catch a fatal dose of the white death delivered in a speed metal cocktail headed straight to your nervous system. Adrian hailed from Germany and dropped this particular jewel in 1987. Something about this reminds me of Crom's Steel for an Age - I think it's the singer's delivery. This is a great companion piece to that album now that I think about it although the production on One Step Into the Uncertain is clearly better. The songwriting here is superb and the tracks never get dull at all even on the 6+ minute ones. The dual lead guitars create some memorable melodies and this is a perfect example of classy '80s Euro metal.

Get Some

Demo Hammer

Demolition Hammer were from New York and released this thrashing monster in 1992. The first two songs on this album are like blunt force trauma to the head and really serve as the killing shots. The rest of this album consists of the band dragging your carcass through a gauntlet of hell's fiercest minions literally stomping you into a bloody pulp with their warhorses. You're so far gone at that point that it doesn't even really matter though.

EoV

Thergothon

Finland. Funeral. Doom.

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