UMUR
"Rivers of the Dead" is an EP/single release by Swedish death metal act Sorcery. The EP/single was released through Thrash Records in August 1990. It follows the release of no less than three studio demos and a rehearsal demo released under the Sorcery´s Malediction monicker (all released between 1987 and 1989). "Rivers of the Dead" is Sorcery´s first label release and the last release prier to being picked up by Underground Records for the release of their debut full-length studio album "Bloodchilling Tales" (August 1991). Both tracks from this release were re-recorded and included on "Bloodchilling Tales".
Stylistically Sorcery are now heavier, more brutal and death metal leaning than on any of the previous releases by the band, where they predominantly played a blackened death/thrash metal style. It´s not wrong to say that they still do that here, but the heavier and darker production values provide the music with a more morbid and brutal death metal sound. The sound production is pretty murky and savage, but the unpolished nature of the production suits the rawness and brutality of the material well.
Upon conclusion "Rivers of the Dead" is a warts and all type of early death metal release. It came out almost simultaneously with the earliest label releases from artists like Entombed, Tiamat, and Grave, and it´s fans of the early releases of those artists who will be able to appreciate the sound of this release. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
