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metal music reviews (new releases)

CANCER Inverted World

Album · 2025 · Death Metal
Cover art 3.50 | 1 rating
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"Inverted World" is the seventh full-length studio album by UK death metal act Cancer. The album was released through Peaceville Records in April 2025. It´s the successor to "Shadow Gripped" from 2018. There have been quite a few changes since "Shadow Gripped", which was a comeback album for Cancer and their first release since their 2013 reformation. While "Shadow Gripped" featured the original trio lineup of John Walker (lead vocals/guitars), Carl Stokes (drums), and Ian Buchanan (bass), "Inverted World" only features Walker and three new Spanish musicians. Walker has lived many years in Spain and is married to a Spanish woman (Raquel Walker who performs with him in Liquid Graveyard), so relocating Cancer to Spain in 2022 and hiring Spanish musicians were logical choices when the original trio lineup fell apart again.

...and if we start with the musicianship, the new cast of Spanish musicians have boosted Cancer´s sound. No disrespect to the two original guys who left, but it´s like Cancer have been given a kick in the butt with the addition of some younger performers. Walker sounds rejuvenated too and his voice and growling/snarling delivery haven´t sounded better or more vitale since the mid-1990s. The songwriting is effective and Cancer have produced some pretty memorable material too. The political/world-history themed lyrics are also interesting. "Ampute" is for example a song about the incredible horrors of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then called Congo Free State) during the late 1880s/early 1990s rule of Leopold II of Belgium, and "Test Site" tells the story of the Manhattan Project and the first Nuclear bomb test.

The material is predominantly heavy mid-to fast-paced death metal with thrash metal traits here and there, and in that respect Cancer sound a lot like they did on their first couple of relases. Of course age has given Walker more experience and more stylistic elements to pull from and his voice is also deeper and slightly more death metal oriented compared to his more raw snarling of the past.

"Inverted World" features a heavy, meaty, and powerful sounding production job, which suits the material well. I´ve been waiting to say something positive about a Cancer album for many years now, as they really haven´t produced anything much of real quality since the mid-1990s, and it´s therefore with great pleasure that I can announce that "Inverted World" is a high quality death metal release from Cancer. Finally the potential they´ve always had (and showed in the early part of their career) shines through again. The new musicians have brought energy and a few contemporary playing ideas with them, which make "Inverted World" a strong death metal release, which may be old school in the way it combines death metal and brutal thrash metal with an intelligible growling vocalist in front, but still brings enough fresh ideas and quality songwriting to the table to make it a worthy release. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

BENEDICTION Ravage of Empires

Album · 2025 · Death Metal
Cover art 3.64 | 3 ratings
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"Ravage of Empires" is the ninth full-length studio album by UK death metal act Benediction. The album was released through Nuclear Blast in April 2025. It´s the successor to "Scriptures" from 2020, which was a comeback album for Benediction after a 12 years recording break. "Scriptures" also saw the return of lead vocalist Dave Ingram, who previously fronted Benediction in the 1990-1998 period and who appeared on some of the group´s most well known releases like "The Grand Leveller" (1991), the "Dark Is the Season" (1992) EP, and "Transcend the Rubicon" (1993). There has been one lineup change since "Scriptures" as bassist Dan Bate has been replaced by Nik Sampson.

Other than the lineup change, very little has happened since the release of "Scriptures", as "Ravage of Empires" is very much formed from the blueprint of the preceding album. Everything from the cover artwork, the powerful and punchy sound production, to the songwriting are all almost copies of what Benediction presented to us on "Scriptures". It´s usually not an issue when an old school death metal act releases similar sounding albums, but in this case I would have preferred that Benediction at least had chosen another cover artists (or at least some other colours), and especially that they had chosen a new studio and a different producer.

I understand that when you feel safe and comfortable recording at a specific studio with a particular producer (in this case Grindstone Studio, Suffolk, England and producer Scott Atkins) that you instinctively want to go back there, but there is a danger in stagnation, and although "Ravage of Empires" in itself is a good quality old school death metal release (there is a good energy and plenty of aggression and brutality here), and Benediction as always deliver the goods with an intelligible growling vocalist like Dave Ingram in front, "Ravage of Empires" just doesn´t move them forward one bit.

So, if you enjoyed "Scriptures", this sister album release will undoubtedly be right down you alley (as it is down mine), but viewed upon in a broader perspective, I hope Benediction opt to change things up for their next release (a bit more filth and grit wouldn´t be bad choices). Just because you´re an established and by now legendary death metal act it doesn´t mean that you can just lean back and expect your fans to praise every decision you make. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

MACHINE HEAD Unatøned

Album · 2025 · Groove Metal
Cover art 3.21 | 3 ratings
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Unatøned by Machine Head is a mixed bag. For this album it saw them shorten their songs to make it more accessible creating one of the bands shortest albums and returning to their more basic alternative metal sound. While there are heavier moments that shine, the weakest moments are where they play it incredibly safe. Rob Flynn's vocals are weaker than they've ever been, with his shouts and growls being very weak but his cleans are still rather good. There is some great lead guitar work from new member Reece Scruggs. I'd give this a low 6 out of 10

ALARUM Recontinue

Album · 2024 · Progressive Metal
Cover art 4.00 | 1 rating
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"Recontinue" is the fifth full-length studio album by Australian technical/progressive metal act Alarum. The album was independently released in November 2024. It´s the successor to "Circle's End" from 2020 and the trio lineup who recorded "Circle's End" have now been joined by drummer Jared Roberts, making Alarum a quartet on "Recontinue". Session guitarist Ryan Williams (Aeon of Horus) performs leads on the songs "Introspective", "Imperative", and "Zero Nine Thirty".

Opening with a melodic jazz/fusion influenced progressive metal instrumental in "Introspective" and then segueing into a technical/progressive death/thrash metal track like "Imperative"...yup it´s Alarum alright. Powerful, melodic, and intriguing technical/progressive metal with death/thrash metal brutality. Alarum still excel in the dynamics of shifting between melodic jazz/fusion influenced progressive sections and more staight forward technical death/thrash metal. It´s one of the great strengths of Alarum how well they make the different elements of their sound naturally flow together. You don´t question the relevance of a an atmospheric jazzy fusion part in the middle of a death/thrash metal dominated song (or visa versa). Alarum combine the two styles in a seamless manner.

If I have to compare "Recontinue" to "Circle's End" I´d say that the death/thrash metal parts of the band´s music have become slightly more punchy and straight forward, but then again Alarum have lost none of their progressive mindset, so in many ways "Recontinue" is just the natural continuation of the music style found on "Circle's End". The quality of the songwriting, the performances, and the sound production values are just as high as on the preceding album, so upon conclusion "Recontinue" is yet another high quality release from Alarum and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

DARK ANGEL Extinction Level Event

Single · 2025 · Thrash Metal
Cover art 3.67 | 2 ratings
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"Extinction Level Event" is a one-track single release by US, California based thrash metal act Dark Angel. The single was released through Reversed Records in April 2025 and functions as a teaser release for Dark Angel´s forthcoming fifth full-length studio album bearing the same title. Dark Angel formed in 1981 under the Shellshock monicker but changed their name to the current one in 1983. They released four full-length studio albums between 1985 and 1991 before disbanding in 1992. Especially drummer Gene Hoglan went on to become one of the most prolific musicians on the scene subsequently playing with artists like Death, Strapping Young Lad, Dethklok, Testament, and Fear Factory (among others). Dark Angel reunited in 2013 (in the same quintet lineup who disbanded in 1992) initially playing sporadic shows, but after some years they started writing new music. Tragedy struck when founding member/guitarist Jim Durkin suddenly passed away in March 2023 at the age of 58, but the band soldiered on replacing Durkin with Hoglan´s wife Laura Christine.

Stylistically "Extinction Level Event" isn´t a continuation of the technical multi-riff/multi-section thrash metal style of "Time Does Not Heal" (1991), and if comparisons have to be made I´d place the musical direction to somewhere between the aggressive raw thrash metal of "Darkness Descends" (1986) and the slightly more sophisticated and technically leaning thrash metal style of "Leave Scars" (1989), probably leaning more toward the latter than the former. We can establish right away that Dark Angel haven´t included any contemporary influences and other than a more detailed and well defined contemporary production style (although still with an old school organic touch), "Extinction Level Event" could well have been released in the 1980s. So, Dark Angel aren´t here to revolutionize thrash metal, but rather just play the music style of their youths with the right amount of skill and aggression. After getting used to Ron Rinehart having a more worn and raw voice and vocal style than his 80s/90s self, "Extinction Level Event" grew on me after a couple of listens and Dark Angel arguably still have their place on the thrash metal scene. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

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metal music reviews (older releases)

SORCERY Rivers of the Dead

EP · 1990 · Death Metal
Cover art 3.00 | 1 rating
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"Rivers of the Dead" is an EP/single release by Swedish death metal act Sorcery. The EP/single was released through Thrash Records in August 1990. It follows the release of no less than three studio demos and a rehearsal demo released under the Sorcery´s Malediction monicker (all released between 1987 and 1989). "Rivers of the Dead" is Sorcery´s first label release and the last release prier to being picked up by Underground Records for the release of their debut full-length studio album "Bloodchilling Tales" (August 1991). Both tracks from this release were re-recorded and included on "Bloodchilling Tales".

Stylistically Sorcery are now heavier, more brutal and death metal leaning than on any of the previous releases by the band, where they predominantly played a blackened death/thrash metal style. It´s not wrong to say that they still do that here, but the heavier and darker production values provide the music with a more morbid and brutal death metal sound. The sound production is pretty murky and savage, but the unpolished nature of the production suits the rawness and brutality of the material well.

Upon conclusion "Rivers of the Dead" is a warts and all type of early death metal release. It came out almost simultaneously with the earliest label releases from artists like Entombed, Tiamat, and Grave, and it´s fans of the early releases of those artists who will be able to appreciate the sound of this release. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

SORCERY Unholy Crusade

Demo · 1989 · Death Metal
Cover art 3.00 | 1 rating
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"Unholy Crusade" is the fourth demo recording by Swedish death metal act Sorcery. The demo was independently released in August 1989. It´s the successor to the early 1988 "Ancient Creation" demo, although Sorcery did record a rehearsal demo in January 1989 which was released under the Sorcery's Malediction moniker. The Sorcery's Malediction rehearsal demo is not a widespread demo recording and very hard to find, but some of the tracks are included on the 2011 "Unholy Creations" compilation album, along with all the material from this demo.

Sorcery formed in 1986 and released several seminal Swedish death metal demos (including the rehearsal demo under the Sorcery's Malediction monicker) before being picked up by Underground Records for the release of their debut full-length studio album "Bloodchilling Tales" (August 1991). Sorcery subsequently put out the 1992 "Maculated" demo but eventually disbanding in 1997 without any further releases under their belts.

Stylistically "Unholy Crusade" shows a more mature Sorcery compared to the relentlessly fast-paced and fiercely aggressive material featured on the "Ancient Creation" demo. A less technically accomplished Morbid Angel isn´t the worst description. This is blackened death/thrash metal with both fast-paced and mid-paced heavy parts. The vocals are blackened snarling and if you´re only familiar with Sorcery through "Bloodchilling Tales" this sounds quite different from that album, and the two releases even share several tracks. Those tracks just sound vastly different in the subsequent studio album versions.

"Unholy Crusade" features a well sounding demo quality production job, and it´s overall a good quality demo recording from Sorcery. They have obviously honed their playing skills, their songwriting, and had access to a better recording facility and it pays dividends. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

SORCERY Rehearsal

Demo · 1989 · Death Metal
Cover art 2.50 | 1 rating
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"Rehearsal" is the third demo recording by Swedish death metal act Sorcery. The demo was recorded in January 1989 and at that point Sorcery had shortly renamed the band Sorcery's Malediction. They would change their name back to Sorcery in time for the August 1989 release of their fourth demo "Unholy Crusade". You can find some of the tracks from this rehearsal demo on the 2011 "Unholy Creations" compilation album.

As the title suggests this is a rehearsal recording and it´s a relatively raw and unpolished release. You can still hear what´s going on though and Sorcery are a pretty well playing band considering that this is a live rehearsal room recording. Only "Obscure Beauty" and "Kill, Kill, Kill and Kill Again" are exclusive to this demo, as the three remaining tracks ("Count of Hades", "Dragons of the Burning Twilight", and "At the Rainbow's End") would all appear in re-recorded studio versions on "Unholy Crusade".

Stylistically this is relentlessly fast-paced, aggressive, and energetic blackened death/thrash metal with a raw snarling vocalist in front. At this point Sorcery (Sorcery's Malediction) were still in that proto-death metal territory where the music is probably better described as blackened thrash than pure death metal. A 2.5 star (50%) rating is warranted.

SORCERY Ancient Creation

Demo · 1988 · Death Metal
Cover art 3.00 | 1 rating
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"Ancient Creation" is the second demo recording by Swedish death metal act Sorcery. The demo was independently released in early 1988. It succeeds the release of the April 1987 "The Arrival" demo. Sorcery formed in 1986 and released several seminal Swedish death/thrash metal demos (one under the Sorcery's Malediction monicker) before being picked up by Underground Records for the release of their debut full-length studio album "Bloodchilling Tales" (August 1991). Sorcery subsequently put out the 1992 "Maculated" demo but eventually disbanding in 1997 without any further releases under their belts. All material from the demo is included on the 2011 "Unholy Creations" compilation album.

Stylistically the material on "Ancient Creation" is noticeably more brutal, aggressive, and relentlessly fast-paced than the blackened thrash/speed metal material on the first demo. I´d probably label "Ancient Creation" with a blackened thrash/death metal tag but they are now closer to the death metal band they would become only a few years down the line. This is really extreme and brutal music played with great energy and intensity.

Sorcery have become much better musicians in the months between the first demo and "Ancient Creation" and add to the more accomplished musicianship, that the sound production values are also of a higher quality (although still incredibly raw and unpolished) and the songwriting is more effectful and memorable, "Ancient Creation" is a good quality sophomore demo recording from Sorcery. Fans of early black metal and blackened thrash metal is probably the main target group today rather than old school Swedish death metal fans, but no matter your preferences this is a good quality release and a 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

SORCERY The Arrival

Demo · 1987 · Death Metal
Cover art 2.00 | 1 rating
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"The Arrival" is the first demo recording by Swedish death metal act Sorcery. The demo was independently released in April 1987 and it´s actually a full album length demo featuring 12 tracks and a total playing time of 53:30 minutes. Sorcery formed in 1986 and released several seminal Swedish death/thrash metal demos (one under the Sorcery's Malediction monicker) before being picked up by Underground Records for the release of their debut full-length studio album "Bloodchilling Tales" (August 1991). Sorcery subsequently put out the 1992 "Maculated" demo but eventually disbanding in 1997 without any further releases under their belts. All material from the demo is included on the 2011 "Unholy Creations" compilation album.

Considering the release date it´s no surprise that the material on "The Arrival" isn´t exactly pure death metal. Instead it´s a hybrid blackened thrash/speed metal style with proto-death metal tendencies. Artists like Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and Bathory haven´t lived in vain. The recording quality is amaturish and lo-fi although it´s clear enough for the listener to hear all details. The drums are actually produced pretty well but the guitars sound thin and the bass is a distant rumble. The vocals are a raw snarling which is almost spoken with a rough voice distortion. Upon conclusion "The Arrival" is more interesting than great, but it´s still obvious why Sorcery are counted among the earliest extreme metal acts from Sweden. A 2 star (40%) rating is warranted.

SORCERY Necessary Excess of Violence

Album · 2019 · Death Metal
Cover art 3.50 | 2 ratings
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"Necessary Excess of Violence" is the fourth full-length studio album by Swedish death metal act Sorcery. The album was released through Xtreem Music in August 2019. It´s the successor to "Garden of Bones" from 2016. Sorcery formed in 1986 and released several seminal Swedish death/thrash metal demos (one under the Sorcery's Malediction monicker) before being picked up by Underground Records for the release of their debut full-length studio album "Bloodchilling Tales" (August 1991). Sorcery subsequently put out the 1992 "Maculated" demo but eventually disbanding in 1997 without any further releases under their belts. Years went by but in 2009 Sorcery opted to reunite and "Necessary Excess of Violence" is now their third studio album after their comeback.

Stylistically the material on the 10 tracks, 46:03 minutes long album is relatively standard old school Swedish death metal. The vocals are aggressive and intelligible growling, the HM2 buzzsaw guitar tone is in place and so are the occasional morbid harmonies- and lead guitar parts. To my ears Sorcery sound a lot like Dismember on this album and while Dismember isn´t the worst group to be influenced by, a more personal sound would have made "Necessary Excess of Violence" an overall more interesting release. But of course you can´t fault a dog for being a dog, and Sorcery have earned their credibility being one of the seminal Swedish death metal artists and they can can play the music style they want.

The sound production is exactly what you´d expect from a release like this. Raw, brutal, and with that dominant HM2 guitar pedeal turned to 11 tone which pretty much defines the whole soundscape. Fans of the genre will love this one, while more casual fans will probably just listen to the classics of the genre instead (which includes "Bloodchilling Tales"). When that is said "Necessary Excess of Violence" is still a good quality old school Swedish death metal release and a 3.5 star (70%) rating isn´t all wrong.

THE HIRVI Violence Stays in Fashion

Album · 2022 · Thrash Metal
Cover art 3.50 | 1 rating
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"Violence Stays in Fashion" is the second full-length studio album by Finnish thrash metal act The Hirvi. The album was released through Inverse Records in July 2022. It´s the successor to "Old School Killspree" from June 2018. The Hirvi formed in 1987 and released a demo in 1989 before disbanding. Although they were an influential band on the brutal thrash metal scene of late 1980s Finland, they never managed to release anything other than the 1989 demo. The Hirvi reunited in 2017.

"Welcome to the Wonderland" is a re-recorded track from the 1989 demo, but the remaining tracks are new original compositions. Stylistically The Hirvi continue to play an aggressive thrash metal style with experimental/progressive leanings. Sort of like if Kreator had a Finnish child with Voivod (a contemporary artist like Vektor is another valid reference). Lead vocalist/guitarist Juha Virtanen has a raw snarling vocal style which isn´t far removed from Mille Petrozza fra Kreator, and his vocals are very well performed and convincing (his occasional clean singing is also well performed). The rest of the band are incredibly well playing too, shifting between different riff styles and tempos with natural ease.

"Violence Stays in Fashion" features a slightly more raw and unpolished sounding production compared to the sound production on "Old School Killspree", and it´s not a bad idea to remove some of the polish and present The Hirvi´s music in a more raw sounding environment. It arguably works in favor of the material. Upon conclusion "Violence Stays in Fashion" is another quirky and creative thrash metal release from The Hirvi. They are definitely one of the more unique sounding thrash metal acts out there, and although the experimental/progressive songwriting ideas sometimes make "Violence Stays in Fashion" a bit inconsistent in style, those ideas are also quite charming and they are what make The Hirvi the distinct sounding act they are. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

THE HIRVI Old School Killspree

Album · 2018 · Thrash Metal
Cover art 3.50 | 1 rating
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"Old School Killspree" is the debut full-length studio album by Finnish thrash metal act The Hirvi. The album was released through Inverse Records in June 2018. The Hirvi formed in 1987 and released a demo in 1989 before disbanding. Although they were an influential band on the brutal thrash metal scene of late 1980s Finland, they never managed to release anything other than the 1989 demo. The Hirvi reunited in 2017.

Two of the three tracks from the 1989 demo have been re-recorded and included on "Old School Killspree" ("Satan´s Back" and "Killer Instinct"), and although they are obviously older tracks than the remaining tracks on the album, they seamlessly melt in with the new material (although admittedly I have no information about when the remaining material was composed, so it could have been written in the late 80s/early 90s before the band split-up). The Hirvi have managed to create "Old School Killspree" to sound like it´s the natural successor to the 1989 demo although 29 years have passed. It´s only the more crisp, detailed, and professional sounding production values, which give away the fact that "Old School Killspree" was released in 2018. The sound production is raw and powerful suiting the material well.

Stylistically The Hirvi play an aggressive thrash metal style which is influenced by an artists like Kreator but with experimental/progressive ideas thrown in and when those ideas and dissonant chords appear I´m thinking of Voivod. A contemporary act like Vektor is also a valid reference. There´s an odd "fun" edge to the music too, which includes rock´n´roll solos and other non-thrash metal traits, and to my ears The Hirvi take it a bit too far during those sections as the album becomes a little inconsistent in style. So, while this is at its core still aggressive thrash metal, it´s not an abrasive all out furious affair. There are way too many experimental/progressive elements to make such a simple description of the music. The highly experimental "Dance Dance Dance" is probably the best example of how eclectic The Hirvi are.

Although "Old School Killspree" is certainly both well performed (the raw snarling vocals are a real treat), well produced, and also well composed, it is the songwriting which will cause confusion among some listeners. You have to be an open-minded thrash metal listener to be able to appreciate all aspects of The Hirvi´s music. When that is said "Old School Killspree" is overall a high quality release and it´s certainly challenging the boundaries of what thrash metal can be. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

AGHORA Entheogenic Frequencies

Album · 2019 · Progressive Metal
Cover art 3.33 | 2 ratings
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"Entheogenic Frequencies" is the third full-length studio album by US progressive metal act Aghora. The album was independently released in December 2019. It´s the successor to "Formless" from 2006, so it´s been quite a few years since we´ve last heard from Aghora. Guitarist Santiago Dobles and bassist Alan Goldstein remain from the lineup who recorded the predecessor, while drummer Giann Rubio has been replaced by Matt Thompson (King Diamond, Imagika...etc.). Lead vocalist Diana Serra has left and has not been replaced, and as a result the music on "Entheogenic Frequencies" is fully instrumental.

Changing from an act featuring a vocalist to playing fully instrumental music would be a major change for most artists but Aghora already played a music style on their previous releases, which could well have worked without the vocals. In fact the vocals were often a distraction and felt like an afterthought on the preceding albums, so the lack of vocals on "Entheogenic Frequencies" is to my ears a bit of a blessing.

The jazz/fusion/world music influenced technical/progressive metal style of the preceding releases is continued in all other departments, and Aghora are still an incredibly well playing band. Thompson surprises me here, as I´m only familiar with his playing from the King Diamond albums he plays on and the King Diamond concerts I´ve attended through the years, and I´ve always felt that he had a stiff, unimaginative, and sligthly tedious playing style which held King Diamond´s music back, but his playing on "Entheogenic Frequencies" has given me another view on his abilities and the dynamics of King Diamond as a band (clearly Thomson just plays what he is told, and is not allowed much imput and creative playing), because this guy can play and there´s nothing wrong with the creativity and power of his playing. In fact the playing from all involved is amazing.

"Entheogenic Frequencies" features a detailed and well sounding production job too, so upon conclusion it´s a good quality release from Aghora and fans of artists like Cynic and the related Portal should find lots to appreciate here. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

THE HIRVI Demo 1989

Demo · 1989 · Thrash Metal
Cover art 3.50 | 1 rating
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"Demo 1989" is the first demo recording by Finnish thrash metal act The Hirvi. The demo was independently released in 1989. It was the band´s only release during their original run from 1987 until their break-up in early 1990s. They reunited in 2017 and have released a couple of full-length studio albums since.

Stylistically the material on the 3 tracks, 15:58 minutes long demo is aggressive and technically well played thrash metal. There´s even a progressive edge to some parts and it almost sounds like Kreator and Voivod merged and created a band in Finland. The lead vocalist sounds a lot like Mille Petrozza from Kreator with his raw screaming delivery, which I might add is quite effective and convincing.

The demo is well produced, featuring a powerful, detailed, and well sounding demo quality production which suits the material well. The musicianship is on a high level on all posts. I´ve mentioned the vocals which are raw and snarling, but the riffs are also worth a mention as they are incredibly sharp and the drumming is organic and powerful, yet precise. The songwriting is of some note too, as the furiously fast-paced thrash metal sections are often paired with more technical thrash metal sections and even the odd progressive metal moment here and there.

Upon conclustion "Demo 1989" is a high quality first demo recording by The Hirvi and it´s too bad they never mananged to get a recording contract and release more during their initial run. This is a bit more than just promising and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

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