BALVAZ — Phlegm (review)

BALVAZ — Phlegm album cover Demo · 1990 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Phlegm" is the second demo recording by Norwegian death metal act Balvaz. The demo was independently released in July 1990. It´s the successor to the November 1989 "Kællus Tapus" demo. Balvaz formed in 1987 under the Braindead monicker, and released the "Balvaz" rehearsal demo in 1988 before changing their name to Balvaz. After Balvaz disbanded in late 1991, guitarist/vocalist Lasse Johansen would form Disgusting and continue what he started with Braindead/Balvaz.

Stylistically the material on the 5 track, 21:46 minutes long demo continues the raw and aggressive old school death metal style of the preceding demo (and the Braindead demo). It´s raw, brutal, and gloomy death metal featuring both fast blasting parts but also both heavy mid-paced parts and slow death/doom metal parts. The vocals are raw snarling screaming (almost hysterical at times), and they aren´t your regular deep death metal growling.

"Phlegm" features darkness, brutality, and a morbid atmosphere (further enhanced by the raw and unpolished sounding production job), which are some of the neccesary and important ingredients on an old school death metal release, but Balvaz also have an element of uniqueness to their songwriting, and it´s on "Phlegm" you really hear it the first time. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
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