UMUR The Facelift EP is a 4-track EP release by Danish death metal act Konkhra. The EP was released in December 1994 as a kind of teaser to Konkhra´s second full-length studio album Spit or Swallow which was released in April 1995. Only the EP title track are included on the original version of Spit or Swallow ( later re-releases include the 3 remaining EP tracks as bonus tracks), so you get 3 exclusive tracks on The Facelift EP. As all tracks are now available on the 2003 re-release of Spit or Swallow the value of this EP isn´t that high today though but back when I purchased The Facelift EP it was a real treat. There´s been an important lineup change as vocalist/ guitarist Claus Vedel has left Konkhra leaving bandleader Anders Lundemark the sole vocalist in the band. New guitarist is Kim Mathiesen.

The music on the EP is brutal death metal with a groove thrash edge. Konkhra would explore the latter style much further on subsequent releases. While the music is well played the technical edge that was a part of the band´s sound on Sexual Affective Disorder (1993) is not as prominant here. The loss of Claus Vedel also means that the high pitched sneering vocal are gone from the music and while Anders Lundemark´s deep guttual growling vocals are really brutal and well performed ( he sounds like he means business), I miss the way the two vocal styles complimented each other on Sexual Affective Disorder. The 4 tracks are all quality death metal compositions but Warzone stands out as the strongest track IMO. Unbelievably heavy and brutal music, clever lyrics and one of the best vocal performances ever by Anders Lundemark. A true Konkhra classic.

The production is professional and powerful. The guitars are brutal and edgy.

The Facelift EP is a great EP release by Konkhra and sets the stage nicely for Spit or Swallow which would be released a couple of months later. As mentioned it´s a fan item today as all tracks are now available on the re-release of Spit or Swallow, but judged on its own merits I think a 3.5 star rating is fair.