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.

UMUR "Sandman's Store" is an EP release by Finnish thrash metal act Protected Illusion. The EP was released through the Öpstone label in August 1991. It´s the successor to Protected Illusion´s debut full-length studio album "Festering Fairytales" from July 1990. The Öpstone label was a label the band set up themselves to release their own music. They also released music on another label they had set up themselves called Real Illusion.

The material from the EP have been included on the 2008 "1989-1991: Watching the Wake" compilation album (Marquee Records) which compiles the material from Protected Illusion´s second demo (the "Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." demo), their two EPs (including this one) and their sole full-length studio album "Festering Fairytales" (Real Illusion, July 1990).

Stylistically the material on the seven track, 12:16 minutes long EP continues the aggressive thrash metal of the band´s previous releases, but adds even more technical playing and experimental songwriting ideas to their sound. It´s no surprise as Protected Illusion have increased both elements on each successive release up until the "Sandman's Store", so at this point their music can be described as aggressive technical/progressive thrash metal. Voivod is obviously an influence (take a listen to the punky "Teenage Pizzaface", which sounds a lot like early Voivod), but Protected Illusion are a much heavier and more aggressive and brutal band than the Canadians.

One of the changes to Protected Illusion´s sound which has happened on "Sandman's Store" (other than the increased use of technical playing and experimental songwriting ideas) is that they have generally lowered the pace of their music. They had heavy mid-paced sections on earlier releases too, but "Sandman's Store" is their most heavy release up until now (just take a listen to the heavy riffs and rhythms on "Me and My" and on "A Rather Charming Day in a Jolly Brutal World"). They still occasionally play their usual energy packed and aggressive fast-paced sections, but it´s now only an element of their sound.

Production wise I think "Sandman's Store" is their most professional sounding production yet. It´s still very raw, unpolished, and at times close to sounding chaotic, but it´s a perfect sound for the material. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved. Although Protected Illusion released no less than three demos after releasing "Sandman's Store" those demo releases have more or less been forgotten by time and Protected Illusion disbanded in 1995 with no further releases under their belt.

UMUR "Festering Fairytales" is the debut full-length studio album by Finnish thrash metal act Protected Illusion. The album was released through Real Illusion in July 1990, and it follows the release of the October 1989 "Swimming in the Moonlight" EP. Protected Illusion followed a DIY approach throughout their career (1988-1995) and set up the Real Illusion label (and the Öpstone label) to release their own music, so while "Festering Fairytales" is a label release, it´s still an independent label release.

The material from the album has been included on the 2008 "1989-1991: Watching the Wake" compilation album (Marquee Records) which compiles the material from Protected Illusion´s second demo (the "Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." demo), their two EPs and the material from this album.

"Festering Fairytales" continues the raw, fast-paced, and aggressive thrash metal style of the January 1989 "Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." demo and the "Swimming in the Moonlight" EP. The album even shares "Decadence" and "Greetings from Hell" from the former and the "Plain Pain" track which the latter, which all appear here in re-recorded versions. While the core of the band´s sound is intact, Protected Illusion have increased the techncial playing and the occurence of experimental musical ideas, and "Festering Fairytales" is quite the eclectic thrash metal release. The caustic aggression of Sadus meets the experimental songwriting of Voivod isn´t the worst description of the music found on "Festering Fairytales", although Protected Illusion aren´t quite as experimental as the latter mentioned act.

The album features eight tracks and a total playing time of 23:31, which makes it only marginally longer than the EP which precedes it, but quality always trumphs quantity, and although "Festering Fairytales" features a raw and relatively thin sounding production job, which most people probably won´t recognise as professional production values, it´s still a quality album release loaded with great fast-paced technical playing, caustic aggression (including screaming rabid dog snarling), and some pretty intriguing and relatively varied songwriting. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Swimming in the Moonlight" is an EP release by Finnish thrash metal act Protected Illusion. The EP was released in October 1989 through the Real Illusion label, which was a label the band set up themselves. It´s the first Protected Illusion release on the label. "Swimming in the Moonlight" succeeds the release of the September "Demo-88" demo and the January 1989 "Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." demo.

The material from the EP has been included on the 2008 "1989-1991: Watching the Wake" compilation album (Marquee Records) which compiles the material from Protected Illusion´s second demo (the "Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." demo), their two EPs (including this one) and their sole full-length studio album "Festering Fairytales" (Real Illusion, July 1990).

Stylistically the material on "Swimming in the Moonlight" pretty much continues the raw, aggressive, and at times even brutal thrash metal style of the "Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." demo, but Protected Illusion have brought more variation and experimental songwriting to the table (the middle section of "Lie on a Bed of Roses" features a Voivod influence). When the band play fastest and most aggressive I´m reminded of the unhinged caustic aggression of early Sadus, but there are a few stomping mid-paced parts on the EP which remind me slightly of early Sabbat (the UK one) too. The material on "Swimming in the Moonlight" is also more technical in style than what came before, and it´s audible that Protected Illusion have evolved as both musicians and composers.

"Swimming in the Moonlight" features a relatively thin sounding production job, but Protected Illusion still manage to sound sharp, intense, and ultra gnarly, so while a bit more bottom end and meaty sounding guitars could probably have made the listening experience even more satisfying, this raw and unpolished sounding production job actually suits the material pretty well.

So upon conclusion "Swimming in the Moonlight" is a good step forwared for Protected Illusion. The band show progress, but their music is still centered around the ultra aggressive and fast-paced thrash metal of the preceding demo. This is for fans of the most fast played, savage, and furiously intense thrash metal out there. As described above Protected Illusion are thankfully a little more than just that, and they succeed in incorporating slightly more experimental musical ideas to their music. As it happens without sacrificing one ounce of energy or aggression it becomes moments of nice variation on an otherwise relentlessly fast-paced and aggressive release. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." is the second demo recording by Finnish thrash metal act Protected Illusion. The demo was independently released in January 1989. It´s the successor to "Demo-88" from September 1988. There´s been a significant lineup change since the first demo as vocalist Sugi has been replaced by Marko Rytkönen. Drummer Jani has also left and has been replaced by Koffi. While the original cassette tape version of the demo is probably close to impossible to find today, the eight tracks from the 18:10 minutes long demo have been included on the 2008 "1989-1991: Watching the Wake" compilation album (Marquee Records) which compiles the material from Protected Illusion´s second demo (which is this one), their two EPs and their sole full-length studio album "Festering Fairytales" (Real Illusion, July 1990).

The addition of Rytkönen and Koffi to the ranks has meant a lot for the sound of Protected Illusion. Rytkönen has a raw snarling and fiercely aggressive vocal style and Koffi is a skilled and fast playing drummer, who drives Protected Illusion´s music forward with great intensity. When they play most fast and aggressive, their music is close to death/thrash metal and artists like Sadus, Dead Head, and Merciless. It´s pretty extreme for the time, but while most of the demo features these gnarly savage tunes, Protected Illusion have also found time and space to include the silly "fun" track "Rap Scappy, Jou!", which isn´t great for the consistency of the demo, but of course it makes the demo a bit more varied.

"Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." features a very raw, unpolished, and trebly sounding production. Most of the time it´s the perfect sound for the savage material, but there are some pretty major flaws in the way the demo is mixed. Most lead guitar parts are completely drowned in the busy and murky soundscape, so it´s not the best demo sound quality. The unhinged aggression and relentless energy of Protected Illusion are two very positive features of the demo though, and the songwriting is relatively memorable too, so upon conclusion "Opulence and Preservation...Poverty and Desperation..." is still a good quality demo from Protected Illusion, showing great progression from the first demo and a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.