UMUR "1987-1989" is a compilation album release by Swedish death metal act Nihilist (also featuring some recordings under the Entombed monicker). The compilation was released through Threeman Recordings in April 2005. It compiles all recorded demo material by Nihilist and the material from Entombed's September 1989 "But Life Goes On" Demo. Nihilist formed in 1987 as Brainwarp, but soon changed their name and worked under the Nihilist monicker from 1987-1989, after which they shortly split-up and reformed the band (minus bassist Johnny Hedlund) now using the Entombed name (an American band had already taken the Nihilist name). Nihilist recorded three demos before they split-up and one demo under the Entombed monicker before being signed by Earache Records for the release of their debut full-length studio album "Left Hand Path" (June 1990). While only releasing demo material, Nihilist is considered one of the seminal Swedish death metal acts along with artists like Treblinka/Tiamat, Grave, Unleashed, and Dismember.

The material is presented in chronological order which means the compilation opens with the material from the March 1988 "Premature Autopsy" demo, followed by the material from the early 1989 demo "Only Shreds Remain", "Morbid Devourment" from the Head Not Found sessions (which has sometimes mistakenly been released/bootlegged with the material from the "Drowned" demo), the two tracks from the August 1989 "Drowned" demo, and closes with the material from the September 1989 Entombed demo "But Life Goes On".

While "1987-1989" of course functions as a valid historical documentation of one of the most influential Swedish death metal acts, there are some quality material here too, which deserve a mention. The "Premature Autopsy" demo is a rather crude thrash metal influenced recording, which only a few times points in the direction Nihilist/Entombed would go, but already on the "Only Shreds Remain" where former Morbid drummer L.G. Petrov had joined on vocals, we hear the buzzsaw guitar tone and death metal growling. Both "Morbid Devourment" and the two tracks from the "Drowned" demo continue that style, and the same can actually be said about the material from "But Life Goes On". The latter is arguably the best produced material on the compilation, but I´d mention the material from "Only Shreds Remain" as some of the standout material too. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Drowned" is the third demo release by Swedish death metal act Nihilist. The demo was independently released in August 1989. It was originally released on cassette tape and sold no less than 3.000 copies. It was also released as a 7" single by Bloody Rude Defect Records. Nihilist formed in 1987 as Brainwarp, but soon changed their name and worked under the Nihilist monicker from 1987-1989, after which they shortly split-up and reformed the band (minus bassist Johnny Hedlund) now using the Entombed name (an American band had already taken the Nihilist name).

The two tracks featured on "Drowned" continues the journey towards the classic Entombed sound which was initiated on the early 1989 "Only Shreds Remain" demo. Unfortunately "Drowned" suffers from a less powerful sound production compared to the raw and brutal sounding "Only Shreds Remain" demo, but you get more clarity instead, so while "Drowned" may lack a bit in the brutality department, it´s audible what´s going on, and that counts for something too.

This would be the last demo released under the Nihilist monicker, as the remaining members of the band had become dissatisfied with bassist Johnny Hedlund, and as they didn´t have the courage to fire him, they simply split-up Nihilist (as mentioned above another band had also already taken the Nihilist name, so a name change would have been necessary anyway) and formed Entombed instead without Hedlund. "Drowned" is a good quality last statement from Nihilist, and as the case is with the "Only Shreds Remain" demo, it´s understandable why so many death metal fans hold these recordings in such high regard. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Only Shreds Remain" is the second demo release by Swedish death metal act Nihilist. The demo was independently released in early 1989. It was a very popular demo release and the band sold 3.000 copies of the demo cassette tape. Nihilist formed in 1987 as Brainwarp, but soon changed their name and worked under the Nihilist monicker from 1987-1989, after which they shortly split-up and reformed the band (minus bassist Johnny Hedlund) now using the Entombed name (an American band had already taken the Nihilist name).

The band went from recording their first demo at Studio Z to recording "Only Shreds Remain" at Sunlight Studio in December 1988, and while this is still a very rough recording, it´s obvious that the change of studio has meant a lot in terms of "Only Shreds Remain" sounding more brutal than "Premature Autopsy". We are beginning to hear signs of the special buzzsaw Sunlight Studio guitar sound, and with the addition of former Morbid drummer L-G Petrov on vocals, the vocal part of the music has now also become more brutal and growling (bassist Johnny Hedlund had also joined at this point). Nihilist (and later Entombed) always held on to their hardcore influences, but compared to "Premature Autopsy" the thrash metal influences are now gone from the music.

While "Only Shreds Remain" is a pretty crude recording, you begin to hear the signs of future greatness, and some of the heavy doomy parts which are featured on the tracks are crushing. The tracks are also a lot more advanced in structure than the material on the preceding demo, so there is great development here and it´s understandable why many hold this demo in such high regard. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Premature Autopsy" is the first demo release by Swedish death metal act Nihilist. The demo was independently released in March 1988. Nihilist formed in 1987 as Brainwarp, but soon changed their name and worked under the Nihilist monicker from 1987-1989, after which they shortly split-up and reformed the band (minus bassist Johnny Hedlund) now using the Entombed name (an American band had already taken the Nihilist name).

Stylistically Nihilist starts out playing a rough type of thrash metal, which has more in common with Sodom/Kreator than to Death/Obituary, just to make an example most people will understand. The three tracks on the 8 minutes long demo are well played considering the young age of the band members, and the rough snarling vocals by Mattias "Buffla" Boström are nicely raw and delivered with the right amount of acid conviction (but they are not death metal growling). The tracks are pretty basic in structure and features both raw thrash metal riffs but also quite a few hardcore influences. It´s nothing too special, but it´s nevertheless still a decent first demo from Nihilist. The sound quality is also decent enough for a 1988 demo, so overall a 2.5 - 3 star (55%) rating isn´t all wrong.