UMUR "Concession of Pain" is the first demo release by UK, Coventry based death metal act Bolt Thrower. The demo was independently released in September 1987. Bolt Thrower formed in 1986 (originally as Bolthrower) and released a couple of demos before being signed for the release of their debut full-length studio album "In Battle There Is No Law!" (June 1988, Vinyl Solution).

"Concession of Pain" features five tracks and a total playing time of 19:25 minutes, so there is plenty of time and quantity to get to know the band´s sound and style. Original vocalist Alan West is a thrash metal/hardcore type vocalist with a raw shouting delivery, but he is far removed from the growling vocals of soon to be vocalist Karl Willets. Stylistically the material is also a thrash metal/hardcore hybrid and there´s little here to indicate that Bolt Thrower only a year down the line would sound more brutal. The most interesting thing about that is that all tracks from this demo would eventually be re-recorded and included on the debut album.

The demo features a decent sounding although very raw and unpolished production, which suits the material well. It´s not the most well sounding demo from those days, but it´s decent enough. Upon conclusion "Concession of Pain" isn´t the most interesting extreme metal demo from that that time and it´s not a release which indicates or even hints at where Bolt Thrower would go in the next couple of years. A 2.5 star (50%) rating is warranted.