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.

UMUR "Ma Belle Scalpelle" is an EP release by Swedish death/thrash metal act Defleshed. The EP was released through Invasion Records in 1994. Defleshed formed in 1991 and released three demos, a single, and this EP, before finally releasing their debut full-length studio album "Abrah Kadavrah" in 1996. "Ma Belle Scalpelle" was included in a compilation package with the material from "Abrah Kadavrah", which was released by Hammerheart Records in 2000.

The music on "Ma Belle Scalpelle" is brutal yet thrash tinged death metal. The growling vocals, the morbid atmospheres and leads definitely belong in the death metal catagory and so does the most heavy and brutal riffs, but Defleshed also deliver som fast-paced thrash tinged sections. This is probably their most death metal oriented release though and the thrash metal influences which they would use as a dominant element later on their career are very limited on "Ma Belle Scalpelle".

There are 5 tracks on the 19:44 minutes long EP and they are all good quality death metal tracks. I wouldn´t call this an exceptional death metal release but there are enough intense energy, skillful playing, and effectful songwriting for this to be an entertaining listen throughout. The whole thing is packed in a pretty raw, unpolished but also well sounding production job, so that part of the EP is decent too.

Upon conclusion "Ma Belle Scalpelle" is a good quality EP release by Defleshed and a promising start to their career. Of course they had already released quite a few demos and the September 1993 "Obsculum Obscenum" single, but this was their first longer label release. Although this is a far cry from the sound (and to some extent the quality) Defleshed would develop in 1997 and be known for onwards, there´s still something special about this band (even on these early releases). A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Obsculum Obscenum" is a three-track single release by Swedish death/thrash metal act Defleshed. The single was released through Miscarriage Records in September 1993. This is the band´s first label release after releasing two demo cassette tapes in 1992. The three tracks featured on the single are not new recordings though, as the title track is culled from the December 1992 "Abrah Kadavrah..." demo while "Satanic Source" and "Phlegm" are both culled directly from the July 1992 "Defleshed" demo. It´s the exact same recordings which originally appeared on the demos, which also means that there´s a noticeable difference in sound production values between the title track and the two remaining tracks.

Stylistically this is fast-paced, brutal, and aggressive death/thrash with the pendulum swinging mostly towards death metal. There is a lead vocalist change between the two demos so "Obsculum Obscenum" features slightly more aggressive and expressive growling vocals delivered by Johan Hedman, while the two remaining tracks feature more regular growling vocals by Robin Dohlk. Upon conclusion it´s no wonder Defleshed took the first chance they got to have some of their music released by a label, but the difference in sound quality and vocal styles make "Obsculum Obscenum" an uneven quality release and while this is still good quality death/thrash metal, "Obsculum Obscenum" is not Defleshed´s greatest release. A 2.5 - 3 star (55%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Abrah Kadavrah..." is the second demo recording by Swedish death/thrash metal act Defleshed. The demo was independently released in December 1992. It´s the successor to the July 1992 eponymously titled demo.

Stylistically Defleshed continue their hybrid death metal/thrash metal style, but with a strong emphasis on the death metal side of their sound. It´s interesting how early Defleshed started out predominantly influenced by thrash metal but quickly picked up a death metal influence which became their dominant influence until after the release of their 1996 debut full-length studio album "Abrah Kadavrah" (Invasion Records, 1996), where the core trio lineup was established and Defleshed returned to a more evenly distributed death/thrash metal hybrid style.

The demo features 5 tracks and "Obsculum Obscenum" would subsequently appear on the September "Obsculum Obscenum" single along with two tracks culled from the July 1992 "Defleshed" demo. Compared to the first demo this is slightly more death metal influenced and brutal. But other than that this is a pretty natural follow-up release. The change on the lead vocalist spot is audible as Johan Hedman is a more aggressive growling vocalist than Robin Dohlk, who performed on the first demo, but it doesn´t change the core elements of Defleshed sound. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Defleshed" is the eponymously titled first demo recording by Swedish death/thrash metal act Defleshed. The demo was independently released in July 1992. Defleshed formed in 1991 and released three demos, a single, and the 1994 "Ma belle scalpelle" EP, before finally releasing their debut full-length studio album "Abrah Kadavrah" in 1996. So they had a longer pre-album streak featuring quite a few minor releases.

The demo features 7 tracks and a total playing time of 17:06 minutes. This early incarnation of Defleshed only featured one of the future core trio members in guitarist Lars Löfven, while none of the remaining members would be featured on anything after "Abrah Kadavrah", so naturally Defleshed sounded a bit different in their formative years, than they did after the trio lineup was finally establised in 1997 on the band´s second full-length studio album "Under the Blade".

But on the other hand Defleshed already this early on had their combination of death metal brutality and thrash metal aggression, pace, and riffs in place. They just leaned a bit more towards death metal here and occasionally even deathgrind than they would later on. The vocals are also closer to death metal growling, than the later rabid dog snarl of Gustaf Jorde (who wouldn´t fully take over the lead vocals until 1996).

Upon conclusion it´s easy to hear the great potential of Defleshed on this demo, althrough it´s still early, raw, and unpolished days. The demo actually features quite the powerful and well sounding demo production values, so that part of the demo is of a good quality. The promise of something greater to come is certainly there and a 3 star (60%) rating isn´t all wrong.