UMUR "Gallery of Pain" is the debut full-length studio album by Finnish thrash metal act A.O.D. (Altars of Destruction). The album was released through Violent Journey Records in April 2010. A.O.D. formed in 1986, released two 1988 demos and the 1989 "Painful Awakening" EP before disbanding (a cassette tape compilation album titled "Altar of Destruction" was also released in 1988 containing the material from the two demos). Obviously feeling that their story was not finished, A.O.D. opted to reunite in 2008 and record this debut album.

"Gallery of Pain" contains re-recordings of quite a few tracks from their first 1988 demo and both tracks from the "Painful Awakening" EP, so it´s sparse with new original material, but as the demos are now rare collector´s items and the "Painful Awakening" EP isn´t exactly easy to get a hold of either, most people probably aren´t familiar with the original versions of the tracks.

Stylistically the material is strongly influenced by the mid- to late 80s raw and aggressive US thrash metal scene (but there´s some 90s aggression here too). Artists like Slayer, Dark Angel, and Devastation are valid references (the actually sound a lot like the Danish thrash metal act Sacrifical, but as very few people have probably heard about them, they aren´t the best reference point). Solstice´s eponymously titled 1992 debut album is a valid reference too. This is sharp, brutal, and aggressive thrash metal with little room for melodic elements and other distractions. The vocals are angry shouting, the guitars are both fast-paced and sharp but also crushingly heavy and the rhythm section follow suit.

"Gallery of Pain" features a raw, gritty, and detailed sound production and it´s overall a good quality thrash metal release from A.O.D. and while it´s a debut album it naturally doesn´t sound like it. It´s obvious that these guys are seasoned musicians. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Painful Awakening" is an EP release by Finnish thrash metal act A.O.D. (Altars of Destruction). The EP was independently released in 1989. A.O.D. formed in 1986, released two 1988 demos and this EP before disbanding (a cassette tape compilation album titled "Altar of Destruction" was also released in 1988 containing the material from the two demos). A.O.D. would emerge again many years later and release their debut full-length studio album "Gallery of Pain" (April 2010, Violent Journey Records).

Stylistically A.O.D. play a thrash metal style both influenced by the rawness of the German scene, but also and more prominently by the slightly more technical but still aggressive US scene (Slayer, Dark Angel...etc.). While the demos still featured some traditional heavy metal and speed metal elements, those elements are gone from the two tracks on the 7:24 minutes long EP and this is a pure thrash metal release.

The rawness and aggression of the music is fully in line with the direction taken by fellow contempoary Finnish thrash metal acts like A.R.G. and Phlegethon and this part of Finnish metal history holds quite a few examples of artists similar to A.O.D. In that respect they don´t bring anything new to the table and although the material is well written, the sound production is above standard for the scene/time and A.O.D. are a well playing band too, "Painful Awakening" isn´t the most unique or intense thrash metal release from that time. It´s still a decent quality release showing that A.O.D. were a force to be reckoned with in their day. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.