UMUR "On We Slay" is the second demo recording by US, Florida based technical death/thrash metal act R.A.V.A.G.E. The demo was independently released in 1987. Since the release of the August 1985 "Rotting in Hell" demo, lead guitarist Mark Schwartzberg has been added to the lineup, making R.A.V.A.G.E. a quartet on "On We Slay". Shortly after the release of the demo R.A.V.A.G.E. changed their name to Atheist.

The demo opens with "On They Slay", which would eventually be re-recorded and included on Atheist´s debut full-length studio album "Piece of Time" (Active Records, May 1990). The song is already fully developed and sounds more or less like the subsequent studio recording would. "Brain Damage" was also included on the "Rotting in Hell" demo, but appears here in a more intense, sharp, and raw sounding version. "Undefiled Wisdom" which closes the three track, 13:20 minutes long demo, is exclusive to this release, but parts of the song were used on other future material. I think the heavy riff after the opening part of the song is for example an early version of the heavy riff from the title track from "Piece of Time".

"On We Slay" features high level musical performances, including an angry and aggressive sounding Kelly Shaefer snarling hiw wrath at the state of the world. It´s also a relatively well produced release, although it´s certainly not a polished studio release. It´s still pretty raw, simple, and unpolished, but the rawness of the sound production suits the material well. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Rotting in Hell" is the first demo recording by US, Florida based technical death/thrash metal act R.A.V.A.G.E. The demo was independently released in August 1985. R.A.V.A.G.E. formed in 1984 under the Oblivion monicker, but changed their name to R.A.V.A.G.E. in 1985 without having released anything under the Oblivion name. "Rotting in Hell" is therefore their first output. R.A.V.A.G.E. themselves would only exist from 1985 to 1987 and then change their name to Atheist. At this point (in 1985) R.A.V.A.G.E. worked as the trio of Kelly Shaefer (guitars, vocals), Steve Flynn (drums), and Roger Patterson (bass).

Stylistically the material on the five track, 21:52 minutes long demo is some pretty raw, brutal, and aggressive thrash metal. Shaefer sounds pissed and there´s some caustic intensity to the performances which brings the right authentic atmosphere. You´ll hear the technical/progressive tendencies that Atheist would be known for on occasion on this demo, but they are not dominant elements. None of the tracks from this demo would survive into the Atheist years of the band´s career.

Considering the young age of the band, they are very well playing and already this early on you´re able to hear that Patterson was a bassist extraordinaire, and of course both Flynn and Shaefer are exceptionally skilled on their instruments too. The sound production is decent for a first demo recording, but it´s arguably a very raw and unpolished sounding production, so don´t expect studio sound quality. All in all "Rotting in Hell" is a good quality first release by R.A.V.A.G.E. and it´s no wonder they are considered one of the seminal proto-death artists from Florida along with artists like Mantas/Death, Massacre, Morbid Angel, Executioner (later Xecutioner and even later Obituary), and Hellwitch. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.