PHLEGETHON — Drifting in the Crypt (review)

PHLEGETHON — Drifting in the Crypt album cover Boxset / Compilation · 2010 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Drifting in the Crypt" is a compilation album by Finnish thrash/death metal act Phlegethon. The compilation was released through Xtreem Music in January 2010. It compiles all material recorded by Phlegethon from 1988-2007. Phlegethon were initially active from 1988-1992 were they recorded two demos and an EP, then shortly reunited in 1995 and recorded a demo before disbanding again. They finally reunited again in 2006 and recorded a 2006 and a 2007 demo. The material from all those releases are included on "Drifting in the Crypt", but the compilation also features the two bonus tracks from the 1992 reissue of the 1991 "Fresco Lungs" EP and a demo track titled "Circle of Hybrid Statues" which was recorded in 2008, but hasn´t appeared on any demos, so it´s exclusive to this release.

What makes Phlegethon special other than their music, is that they are one of the seminal proto-death metal acts from Finland along with Sacred Crucifix and A.R.G. None of them played pure death metal during their orginal late 80s/early 90s runs, but they played a raw, aggressive, and brutal type of thrash metal which greatly influenced the then burgeoning Finnish death metal scene. The most fast-paced and aggressive Slayer is an obvious influence on the early Phlegethon releases (the first two demos). Then on the 1991 "Fresco Lungs" EP, Phlegethon suddenly shifted gears playing an eclectic death/doom/death´n´roll/thrash metal style with growling vocals. The 1995 "Promo 1995" demo sees the band playing a death´n´roll meets melodic death metal style, while the two post-2000 demos features a relatively fast-paced and energetic thrash metal style combined with melodic death metal traits.

Phlegethon´s had a relatively long career, but with longer pauses and they have never released a full-length studio album, so "Drifting in the Crypt" is the closest you´ll get to that from them. Personally I think this compilation is worth a purchase for the October 1989 "Visio Dei Beatifica" demo alone. It´s such a powerful, raw, energetic, and aggressive piece of late 80s thrash metal that I´m blown away every time I listen to it. It´s a mandatory listen for fans of brutal and aggressive thrash metal/death-thrash metal. The June 1990 "Neutral Forest" demo is definitely worth a listen too, but to my ears the quality drops from there (but that´s still almost an hours worth of high quality material). "Fresco Lungs" is a pretty oddball release, showing a directionless band and the later demos just aren´t up to par with the material from the original run. Still I´d say a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved, and if you´re in doubt about listening to this compilation, promise me you´ll at least give it a go and listen to the material from the "Visio Dei Beatifica" and "Neutral Forest" demos...then I´ll promise you in return that you won´t regret it.
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