Blasphemy - Blood Upon The Altar demo [1989]

The surprising thing about this demo, the precursor to the legendary album Fallen Angel of Doom, is that its production is actually clearer than that of the full-length. Certainly, when just getting into Blasphemy, it helped me personally to overcome the murkiness of the full-length, especially with my then-predisposition to more overtly melodic forms of black metal. That's not to say it isn't completely ferocious - it is - but it's a little more accessible than the album. But it's more than just alternative recordings of the songs found on FAoD - not only do four of its full tracks not appear on the album, but the structure of the recording offers an entirely different perspective. Really, this is, if not equally seminal, almost as seminal as Fallen Angel of Doom. It's worth a listen if you have any interest in black metal (and for what it's worth, it's also easier to get on CD due to the 2007 Osmose reissue with Gods of War).

v1 VBR

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Re-re-upload: Blasphemy - Fallen Angel Of Doom [1990]

Another debut, Fallen Angel Of Doom should be played to all poseurs at maximum volume. Ahem. Now banned from playing in the USA, Canada's Blasphemy were surely one of the best early black/thrash bands, not to mention the pioneers of the whole bestial black metal scene. Although much aped since, especially by their countrymen, Fallen Angel Of Doom remains untouched in its pure uncompromising aggression and quality. Not to be passed up upon.

Re-upload notes: I've added a little bit to the description to reflect the general higher quality of the bios of recent uploads, but I'm not sure I'm going to do this for every album as it would simply take too long. Also, it's a different rip with a better bitrate.

320 kbps

Mediafire

Foreskin - Anger Management demo [2012]

Trying to catch up a little on my backlog of band submissions - I've got a new rule, if you haven't noticed - I'll post it if I think it's good (and I'm unlikely to listen to it if I don't like the genre it's described as - take note, the guy who sent dubstep). Sorry to all those who have been waiting. Anyway, Foreskin are a crossover band from Lahore, Pakistan, and this is their fourth demo (although I was unaware of their existence until now). It consists of two tracks - the first is a little slower and seems to have a little black metal influence (although thrash is still the primary factor) and next to no hardcore, whilst the second, title track sounds like a mixture of Crossover-era DRI with a little bit of Sabbat (Japan) mixed in.

Unfortunately, the songwriting is a little bit lacking and doesn't really have anything to set it off, or indeed to set it apart from other bands of the style. Ultimately, the reason is the lack of hooks in much of the music - there's nothing which really drags the listener in (and I don't necessarily mean a chorus, it just seems like background music to me). That said, it's better than a good deal of material being produced by better-known thrash bands today (the recent Testament album being a good example), and is more than good enough for background music.

Members of the band have numerous other projects between them - the vocalist, Hassan Umer, sings for a crust band called Choots (and in all honesty, the Choots material sounds better to me), and he and guitarist Sheraz Ahmed were also members of a death/grind band called Multinational Corporations (production lacks a little bit, but it's solid deathgrind and heaven knows this author appreciates the Napalm Death reference). Ahmed is also in death metal bands Marwolaeth and Dionysus (from the tracks of the other bands I've listened to, I think Foreskin is actually my least favourite but it's still good material).

Anyway, I recommend this material to anyone who just can't get enough thrash in their life. Don't go out of your way to get it, but now you're here you might as well have a listen. Have fun.

Bandcamp
Mediafire

Re-upload: Syphilitic Vaginas - Complete Studio Collection [2008]

All the craziest music seems to come from Japan, and this is no exception. Steaming black/thrash with some eccentric moments, in the vein of Abigail or the Japanese Sabbat, this is not one to miss; and they get extra marks for their name!

Re-upload notes: The reason why uploads are coming fairly slowly at the moment is that I think my laptop's still slightly fucked and I'm in the middle of exam season.

128 kbps

Mediafire
Zippyshare
Depositfiles
iFolder

Court In The Act Thrash Week: Sodom - In The Sign Of Evil [1984] (re-upload)

Sodom were probably the most extreme of the 'big three' of German thrash (for the unenlightened amongst you, that's Sodom, Kreator and Destruction), and this little gem is arguably their best release. It comes together slightly more coherently than Obsessed By Cruelty, but has more edge to it than Persecution Mania, and certainly is not the more mainstream thrash of Agent Orange. There is no question that this is raw and aggressive, and the critical acclaim it has received since it was released makes this one of the absolute classics of the thrash metal genre. Next time you meet someone who claims to like 't3h thrash methulz' because they like The Black Album (or even worse, As I Lay Dying), play them some Sodom and watch them squirm.

320 kbps

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Depositfiles
iFolder

REVIEW: Wyrdforge - Wyrdforge demo [2012]

Full disclosure: The instrumentalist on this demo is a friend of mine (and a contributor to this blog, in fact). I believe my opinions to be impartial though.

The opening chords of this, Wyrdforge’s first (and only, thus far) demo, scream of Triptykon. It’s a bit of a false introduction in that way, because the rest of the demo has very little to do with that style. Anyway, this intro/opening track (it could conceivably be viewed as a full song) gives little indication of the style which is to come. In fact, it’s probably the weakest track on the demo, which is a shame, as many will hear this, presume it’s intended as a full song, and move on to their next bitesize chunk of music. It offers very little variation – only one riff is used, and it’s not particularly exciting.

Starting with track two, however, the demo is very exciting stuff indeed. ‘Invisible Mastery’ opens with a riff that could quite easily be prime-era Slayer, and continues with a display in sheer aggression balanced with sufficient melody to keep this from becoming a mud of indistinguishable riffs. The production is appropriately raw for this sort of release, and complements the varied vocal style (from standard OSDM style grunts to harsher, blackthrashy screams).

The centrepiece, ‘Necromancy And Napalm Bombings’ is clearly the best track of the demo. Juxtaposing a thrashy style with blasts and truly catchy riffwork, one hears d-beats blended seamlessly into blastbeats and thrash beats and fills, without any sense of the disjointedness that is often produced by this sort of attempt. Again, it’s clear that Wyrdforge are at their best when going at full tilt; the effectiveness of the more mid-paced songs is hampered a little by the lack of the exhilaration that’s often needed for this sort of thing to work well.

What this is not is original. If you want new, original albums, go listen to Abyssal or Dodecahedron. If what you want is old-school worship which wears its influences on its sleeves and is well-written, then Wyrdforge will please you a lot. The main similarities are the aforementioned Slayer, with a little bit of Aura Noir and perhaps Kreator in there as well. This is a tried and tested combination, but one that Wyrdforge use to devastating effect. The occasional blastbeat with a more melodic riff bears heavy resemblance to Fukpig’s Belief Is The Death Of Intelligence.

When you reach the closer, ‘Leeching Spell’, you’ll realise that it’s essentially the culmination of all the bases visited across the duration of the previous tracks. Perhaps the dilution of these styles reduces their effectiveness a little, but it’s a catchy tune, and one that will stay in your head for a while. My main problem is the abrupt ending – although I was assured this was intentional, I don’t think it works – it seems that the song simply cuts out where some kind of more musical progression to end the demo would be more appropriate. Put it this way – it gives the impression of the band shouting ‘there’s our ideas guys, now fuck off’ at the end. A small problem, but one that leaves a slightly bitter taste in the mouth.

Bandcamp (and download) 

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Re-upload: Nifelheim - Nifelheim [1994]

If there was one certain word to describe Nifelheim's stunning debut, it would be 'bad-ass'. This vile concoction of black and thrash metal fell just about into the second wave of black metal, and stands proudly alongside the greats.

Re-upload notes: I still feel Nifelheim are horribly underrated, and whilst that's perhaps due to their somewhat small discography, each and every one of their albums is at least good.

320 kbps

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Fuck Off And Die! - No Peace. No Love. No Whores. No God. [2005]

I'd say that the presence of a Blasphemy cover on this, the Lithuanian band's debut album, was telling, but it isn't really. Although one can draw parallels between this and the Canadian bestial black metal masters, they don't exist to that great a degree - this is far more influenced by thrash metal, and is altogether more 'fun'. Well, as fun as songs with names like 'I Hate Homosexual Metalheads' can be.

N.B. The final track on this is incorrectly tagged - it should be 'Better Alone Than With You'.

~195 kbps VBR

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Celtic Frost - Emperor's Return EP [1985]

Something of an odd album cover that one. Anyway, this is Celtic Frost's least appreciated EP from the 80s (although I personally think it to be better than Tragic Serenades). I love the EP format, and Celtic Frost here have delivered greatness in it - cracking tunes throughout.

128 kbps

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REPOST: Bathory - Bathory [1984]

There is little argument that this album is one of, if not the only, key album of the first wave of black metal. Tomas 'Quorthon' Forsberg unfortunately passed away, however, in 2004, due to heart failure. RIP.

192 kbps

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REPOST: Bathory - The Return... [1985]

Bathory's second album in 1985 featured a more refined approach than their debut, although not by much, as this is still a raw black/thrash assault. It's a real shock that so much destructive power can be fit into 36 minutes of music.

320 kbps

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REPOST: Sarcófago - INRI [1987]

Sarcófago's debut album from 1987. Includes 11 tracks of pure raw black/thrash metal, and some spectacular Engrish to boot! An indisputable classic.

128 kbps

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Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales EP [1984]

Don't be fucking with Celtic Frost. This is perhaps their best EP (although I also love Emperor's Return (coming soon) and Tragic Serenades. Straight off the back of Hellhammer, this blends that style with the more refined sound that was to come on To Mega Therion.

128 kbps

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Hades Archer - For The Diabolical Ages [2011]

So I am back. Not sure why I even left, but I did. Anyway, I felt compelled to return to share with you all a legit Album of the Year contender from Chilean Bestial Black Thrashers Hades Archer.

I did not come in with sky high expectations, but boy did this album make me want to sacrifice some unspoiled virgins to Satan. Everything about this album is completely brilliant: from the production to the riffs to the fantastic vocals. This is some seriously evil shit. The band move from Blasphemy-style Blackened Death Metal to Destroyer 666 style Black Thrash various times throughout the album. And it has GOOD SOLOS! I know right? It is that good. It's hard to come up with a lot of superlatives for this album, mostly because it has turned my brain into Luciferian mush. It just flat out slays.

Fans of Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal... ya know what, fans of Metal, just give this one a listen.

320 kbps

Mediafire

Bathory - Blood Fire Death [1988]

I'm not sure whether I prefer this or Hammerheart out of Bathory's legendary Viking trilogy, but both are fantastic. This is certainly closer to the first-wave BM of Quorthon's first three, and I wouldn't have the album any other way. Irrefutably a classic. Get it, savour it, love it.

128 kbps

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Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark [1987]

The last part of Bathory's famed black metal trilogy, and it's rightly seen as one of the best BM albums of all time. Over the years, other bands have imitated, but never matched Quorthon's first-wave style; this gave rise to many of the second wave, even if they deny it.

192 kbps

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Court In The Act Presents Thrash Pt. III: Left Hand Thrash

Part 3 of Court In The Act's thrash series, this is predominantly those who got to the scene too late to truly influence extreme metal (predominantly, there's some spillover from 'Precursors...', but played extreme forms of thrash nonetheless.

Tracklisting:

1. Pestilence - Parricide (from Malleus Maleficarum)
2. Nifelheim - Unholy Death (from Nifelheim)
3. Demolition Hammer - Aborticide (from Epidemic Of Violence)
4. Deströyer 666 - Australian And Antichrist (from Unchain The Wolves)
5. Forbidden - Step By Step (from Twisted Into Form)
6. Impaled Nazarene - Whore (from Motörpenis)
7. Skeletonwitch - Soul Thrashing Black Sorcery (from Beyond The Permafrost)
8. Blood Tsunami - Let Blood Rain (from Thrash Metal)
9. Dew-Scented - Arise From Decay (from Invocation)
10. Deiphago - Angel RapeSlay (from Satanik Eon)

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Court In The Act Presents Thrash Pt. II: Precursors To Extremity

This is the second part of the thrash compilation series, and it largely focuses on thrash bands who were either influential on or in extreme metal scenes. The reason for Slayer's lack of inclusion is that they were in 'Legends Of Thrash'.

Tracklist is as follows:

1. Hellhammer - Maniac (from Triumph Of Death)
2. Celtic Frost - Procreation (Of The Wicked) (from Morbid Tales)
3. Bathory - Bestial Lust (Bitch) (from The Return...)
4. Venom - Countess Bathory (from Black Metal)
5. Possessed - Death Metal (from Seven Churches)
6. Dark Angel - Darkness Descends (from Darkness Descends)
7. Sarcófago - Nightmare (from INRI)
8. Morbid Saint - Lock Up Your Children (from Spectrum Of Death)
9. Sadus - Torture (from Illusions (Chemical Exposure))
10. Vulcano - Spirits Of Evil (from Bloody Vengeance)

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Abgott - Godfather In Black [2009]

Abgott are a UK based black metal band that draw members from Italy, Greece, The UK and South Africa. This eclectic mix of nationalities mirrors their music's dynamic sounds. As Previously stated they are a black metal band but there's no Gorgoroth rip-off bollocks here. Godfather In Black is what I would term 'technical black metal', in that it possesses the same eerie foulness that we all love but it delivers this through interesting music (something all too absent from a lot of black metal). Technical riffs throb through the veins of these songs, topped with snarled vocals and an appropiate amount of guitar wankery. The rabid torrent of riffs is broken up by interludes that I think provide a nice respite and add to the tension of the inevitable oncoming storm. A great album worth downloading (and buying) if only to experience how black metal, a stagnating genre, can still be innovative and interesting.

200+ kbps VBR

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200 POSTS! Vulcano - Bloody Vengeance [1986]

Given that my first post was Cogumelo-thrash, erm... at 128 kbps, it seems appropriate that my 200th should also be so (although this is at 192). And it's just as bloody good as INRI, which is a recommendation if there ever was one.

192 kbps

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