EVILDEAD — The Underworld (review)

EVILDEAD — The Underworld album cover Album · 1991 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"The Underworld" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, California based thrash metal act Evildead. The album was released through SPV GmbH/Steamhammer in March 1991. It´s the successor to "Annihilation of Civilization" from 1989 and features quite a few lineup changes since the predecessor as guitarist Alber Gonzales has been replaced by Dan Flores, bassist Mel Sanchez has been replaced by Karlos Medina and drummer Rob Alaniz has been replaced by session drummer Doug Clawson.

Like many other thrash metal acts who released their debut albums in the late 80s, Evildead ran into issues with their early 90s sophomore album release. The popularity of thrash metal had seriously diminished in 1991, and many thrash metal acts who didn´t have either a sizable following like some of the bigger act in the genre (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth), or a particularly dedicated fanbase (Overkill, Testament, Kreator) who could keep them a float during difficult times, folded or went on a longer hiatus, until the popularity of the genre had a new peak in the early- to mid-00s. "The Underworld" would be the band´s last album in their original run as Evildead disbanded in 1995.

Stylistically the material on "The Underworld" continues the US thrash metal style of "Annihilation of Civilization (1989)", still featuring politically charged lyrics, with subjects like global warming and other social and political issues. In addition to the 10 (one is a short intro) original tracks on the album, Evildead also deliver a cover version of "He's a Woman - She's a Man" by the Scorpions. The quality of the original material is decent but there´s little out of the ordinary for the style featured on the album. The Scorpions cover does not bring much to the album.

Compared to the predecessor "The Underworld" features a less powerful and not particularly well sounding production. It´s not a terrible sound production by any means, but it´s not exactly a sound which enhances the music on the album either. The musicianship is relatively strong, but the performance by all involved is sligthly powerless and uninspired. So "The Underworld" ends up being a step down from "Annihilation of Civilization (1989)", and not a sophomore album where Evildead came into their own and conquered the world. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
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