UMUR "1989-1991: Watching the Wake" is a compilation album release by Finnish thrash metal act Protected Illusion. The compilation was released through Marquee Records in 2008 and features the material from the following releases: "Opulence and Preservation…Poverty and Desperation…" (January 1989, demo), "Swimming in the Moonlight" (October 1989, EP), "Festering Fairytales" (July 1990, full-length studio album), and "Sandman's Store" (August 1991, EP).

The tracklist is not chronological, but it does not feature a completely reverse chronology either as it opens with the material from "Festering Fairytales" followed by the material from "Sandman's Store", continues with the material from "Swimming in the Moonlight", and concludes with the material from "Opulence and Preservation…Poverty and Desperation…".

Stylistically Protected Illusion play an aggressive, raw, and energy packed type of thrash metal which is in the more brutal end of the scale. It´s not 100% death/thrash by any means, but it´s understandable why many Finnish death metal artists mention Protected Illusion as a great inspiration on their development towards a more brutal sound (along with other Finnish thrash metal artists like Sacred Crucifix, A.R.G., and Phlegethon...etc.). Already on the "Swimming in the Moonlight" EP, Protected Illusion however started toying with more techncial playing and experimental songwriting ideas and that tendendely continued and increased on the material from "Festering Fairytales" and especially on the material from "Sandman's Store". Voivod is definitely an influence on both "Festering Fairytales" and on "Sandman's Store", although Protected Illusion are generally a much more brutal and aggressive sounding act than the Canadians. Sadus is another contemporary act which Protected Illusion have some similarities to.

It would be stretching the truth to claim that Protected Illusion had pristine production values on any of the releases included on this compilation, but the raw unpolished nature of the productions add an authentic charm to the material that you can´t reproduce today. Probably because these releases were recorded with whatever recording equipment Protected Illusion could get their hands on. So this is just how it organically turned out.

"1989-1991: Watching the Wake" is a good quality compilation album featuring 28 tracks, and a total playing time of 72:08 and I dare say not a second of it is filler. All tracks (and all four releases) included here are well worth your time if you´re interested in the more brutal and aggressive thrash metal of the late 80s/early 90s, and in the case of the later releases technical thrash metal with an experimental edge (but still raw and aggressive), this compilation is recommendable listening material. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.