UMUR "Fatal Judgement" is an EP release by Canadian thrash metal act Strappado. The EP was independently released in 1992. It´s the successor to Strappado´s 1991 debut full-length studio album "Not Dead Yet".

"Fatal Judgement" is a bit of an odd EP release as it features a couple of new original compositions but also quite a few re-recorded slaughter and Strappado tracks. Stylistically Strappado have become heavier, darker, and even more well playing since "Not Dead Yet", but despite these changes to their music, they still sound like themselves, and unfortunately for them this style of music was completely out of fashion in 1992, which probably meant they received little or no attention when releasing this material. Back then slaughter wasn´t considered the cult band it is today, and few people had an interest in following what the former frontman of Slaughter was doing (unless he did something death metal related, which he didn´t).

The new compositions are quite long and structurally more complex than anything Slaughter/Strappado had released before but that doesn´t mean that the material on this EP is any more interesting than the simple and primitive sound of Slaughter. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Not Dead Yet" is the debut full-length studio album by Canadian thrash metal act Strappado. The album was independently released in 1991. Strappado formed in 1990 after the demise of Slaughter. After releasing their 1987 debut full-length studio album "Strappado", Slaughter recorded a second album (titled "Paranormal"), now as a quartet after second guitarist Bobby Sadzak joined , but it ended up being released as a demo instead, because bassist/vocalist Terry Sadler jumped ship, and soon drummer Ron Sumners also left, so vocalist/guitaritst Dave Hewson and new guitarist Sadzak opted for a name change and a fresh start with Strappado.

Stylistically the material on "Not Dead Yet" features a more Bay Area influenced thrash metal style than the more primitive, raw, and aggressive hardcore tinged thrash metal of Slaughter´s releases, although the material on 1988 "Paranormal" demo did show progress towards a more technically well played and complex take on thrash metal...so in that respect the music style on "Not Dead Yet" isn´t a surprise at all.

Hewson have recruited some skilled musicians, so there´s nothing wrong with the musical performances on "Not Dead Yet". These guys can play. The songwriting is maybe a bit more pedestrian, although it´s certainly not bad. It´s just pretty ordinary for the genre. The sound production is of a good quality and while "Not Dead Yet" doesn´t exactly make my blood boil, it´s still a good quality thrash metal release. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.