DEATH STRIKE — Fuckin' Death (review)

DEATH STRIKE — Fuckin' Death album cover Album · 1991 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Fuckin' Death" is the debut full-length studio album by US death/thrash metal act Death Strike. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in August 1991. It´s probably a bit misleading calling "Fuckin' Death" a studio album, as it´s actually more of a compilation. The first four tracks are taken directly off the 1985 "Fuckin' Death" demo, and the four remaining tracks on the 33:26 minutes long release are recorded at another session at a later date.

Death Strike was formed out of the ashes of the first incarnation of legendary US death metal act Master. Master was formed by War Cry members Paul Speckmann (bass/vocals) and Bill Schmidt (drums) after they left War Cry, but as the two weren´t able to get a decent lineup going, Schmidt got impatient and left to join Mayhem (a US band). Speckmann then changed the band name to Death Strike, got a lineup together and recorded the "Fuckin' Death" demo. Shortly after the demo was released Bill Schmidt returned and the band continued under the Master monicker.

Considering that band history, it´s doubtful if the four remaining tracks on this album were actually recorded by a Death Strike lineup, and it´s more likely the tracks were recorded by a Master lineup. There is also a very noticeable difference in sound production, and in overall musical style between the tracks from the demo and the remaining tracks. The demo tracks are raw, energetic, and powerful death/thrash tracks packed in a dark, and brutal production, while the remaining tracks are generally slower in pace, slightly more sophisticated in composition, and delivered a bit tighter. They simply sound more professional.

Professional doesn´t always mean better though, and in this case it´s actually the demo tracks, which are the most interesting material on the album. The slower pace, and less aggressive atmosphere of the remaining tracks, make them a bit more dull in comparison to the vicious attack of the demo material, and they ultimately end up bringing the quality of the album down. The demo tracks fully deserve a 4 star (80%) rating, while the quality of the remaining material only warrants a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating, so a 3.5 star (70%) rating isn´t all wrong.
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