UMUR "Abrah Kadavrah" is the debut full-length studio album by Swedish death/thrash metal act Defleshed. The album was released through Invasion Records in 1996. It´s the successor to the 1994 "Ma Belle Scalpelle" EP and features a change on the drumming position, which would have great impact on the band´s future sound (not so much on "Abrah Kadavrah") as Oksar Karlsson was replaced by Matte Modin. The material from "Abrah Kadavrah" was included in a compilation package with the "Ma Belle Scalpelle" EP released through Hammerheart Records in 2000.

Stylistically Defleshed pretty much continue the brutal yet thrash infused death metal style of the "Ma Belle Scalpelle EP. As both titles suggest Defleshed are a somewhat tongue in cheek death/thrash metal act. At least when it comes to the gory lyrics. Just take song titles like "Beaten, Loved and Eaten" (I love how it rhymes...), "Mary Bloody Mary" and "Gone with the Fæces". The actual music isn´t humorous as such. It´s actually very aggressive and fast-paced with some really caustic snarling vocals performed by lead vocalist/bassist Gustaf Jorde.

While all tracks are good quality compositions, the songs sound a bit too much the same (...and to think this is their most varied album...). There are not many diversions from the formula and that´s actually too bad because the few times something different happens, I´m all ears. For example the spoken part on "With A Gambrel" or the cello on "Body Art...", which make those two songs stand out from the rest (in a positive way).

But when all is said "Abrah Kadavrah" is both decently produced and it also features strong musicianship and some relatively effective songwriting. So while I have a couple of minor complaints, there is enough quality here to warrant a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating.