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Bands are listed alphabetically, with individuals listed by last name.

Review Archive: D

D.A.B. - Alice in Horrorland · DEMO
There is a lot of power and energy in these four songs. The recording quality is pretty good for a demoÐ certainly good enough. Musically, speedy Death. The vocals are raw, but not as heavy as most Death Metal. This style really fits the music, and I can understand most of the lyrics. I even remember the songs after they're done. Very cool. Check this out. Favorite song: "Nuclear Error." - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC7**

D.A.B. - Abyssus Abyssum Invocat · DEMO
More Death Metal than their last demo, Alice in Horrorland, and also more intense. Everything is heavier, although a little less memorable, but not much. One of these four songs was written for them by Lars Rosenburg (ENTOMBED), and it fits right in with the others. This should get them signed. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

D.A.B. - Best of the Blood Angels 1992-1997 · Lard
After hearing, reviewing, and loving their first 2 demos, I never again heard from D.A.B.. In the meantime they've released two CDs - neither of which I've even seen (will somebody help me out with this?). Now at long last, I'm brought up to date thanks to my pals at Lard. This disc compiles all of their Alice in Horrorland and Abyssus Abyssum Invocat demos with 2 tracks from their Stormbringers album and 4 from Beyond the Mirror. Obviously I've long been a fan of the Thrashy Death Metal of DELAYED ACTION BOMB, so I'm very happy to finally hear some of their newer songs, and also to have the demo tracks on disc. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

D.A.M. - Inside Out · Noise
This is heavy Thrash with melodic vocals, somewhat like FORBIDDEN. The songs remind me a little of OVERKILL, but not enough to be upset about. To be honest, I like Jason's vox, he adds something to the music. All the songs are memorable and heavy at the same time. That's a hell of a combination. The last song, "Inside Outro", is a bass instrumental and is really cool. This is the first thing I've ever heard from D.A.M., I plan to find out a lot more about them. You should too. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC5**

D.F.L. - My Crazy Life · Grand Royal
Pretty speedy and Thrashy, with distorted vocals - which in this case sound odd. Interesting, but not very convincing. - 6 - <Ray> **MC8**

D.H.I. - Pressures Collide · Fringe
Weird Industrial, with possibly Techno and Ambient elements thrown in. Sometimes interesting sounds are produced, although not very often. I don't have a lot of knowledge about this style, but this did very little for me. - 6.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

D.I.Y. - Shadows of Grime · DEMO
Only two songs, but both are excellent. Good production and a lot of energy. 'Nuff said. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

D.O.P.E. - Resination · Anti Gravity
Not unlike a heavier, groovier SOUNDGARDEN, right down to the vocals. Funkier bass-lines, though. Some of the tracks were recorded by a Mr. Steve Albini, which may or may not be good news for you. They have exactly the same sound as the other tracks, though, so it doesn't really matter, I guess. I am really tired of this pro-pot hysteria, but other than that, this is not bad at all. I just skip track 4. - 8 - <Ray> **MC9**

D.R.I. - Definition · Rotten
You have heard of D.R.I., right? They are one of the first Crossover Punk/Thrash bands, and as of their last release, Thrash Zone, added a little Death Metal to the mix as well. Punk vocals and Hardcore-like music, but with Death style guitar sound and drums. Everything combines to make this LP a must for everyone that still likes the vocal style and maybe a few that don't. I kinda dig it, myself. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

D.R.I. - Full Speed Ahead · Rotten
I've always been a D.R.I. fan, so I knew what to expect, but this just went ahead and kicked my ass anyway. In all their years these guys only get more and more intense. This is just beyond belief in some places, while the rest is merely amazing. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

D.R.I. - Live · Rotten
Some live recordings sound really terrible, and some sound like the studio versions of the songs with 2 seconds of crowd noise between them. D.R.I. manage to really pull off a difficult trick, and have recorded a live album that actually sounds live, but still clear. They also amazed me when I discovered that the lyrics for all the songs are included. That's certainly a first in the history of live albums. Hey, I don't really have to tell you what probably the first Punk / Thrash crossover band sounds like, do I? - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAEMONARCH - Hermeticum · Century Media
This is a side project of MOONSPELL that, according to the little sticker on the front, explores their darker side. In other words, it's MOONSPELL's Wolfheart album mixed with more than a little BATHORY. As a matter of fact, they even cover a BATHORY song. This is Black Metal in the traditional sense as it is Metal music with Satanic lyrics. Face it, with songs like "Hymn to Lucifer," "Lex Talionis," "Incubus" and "The Seventh Deamonarch," you don't really have to guess where they're coming from. This is kind of primitive, older sounding in more than one way, but with some modernisms included. The problem I had with it was that it sounds contrived. They seek to regress from their Gothic tendencies and go back toward their demo days. If you want to hear the genuine article, their demo or 7" should have been repressed instead. On the whole, this isn't a bad album but as I mentioned, it sounds a tad fake, if you ask me. - 7.75 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

DAEONIA - Craven · Candlelight
Gothic Death Rock. This has its somewhat more Metal moments, and it's well played, but I'm having a hard time getting really excited about it. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

DAHMER - Promo 1998 · DEMO
Very energetic and well played Thrash. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

DALMEROT'S KINGDOM - Ha'mistorin Ha'nitzchi · MDMA
Formerly known as ADVERSARY, this Israeli band plays an interesting style of Black Metal that combines elements of faster raw bands, with more melodic, majestic keyboards. The results are pretty impressive. - 9 - <Ray> **MC12**

DAMAGE - Damage · DEMO
This is an above average Thrash demo. All four songs remind me a lot of early METALLICA and early MEGADETH. The vocals sound similar too. DAMAGE shows a lot of energy and all the songs sound good. I have no real complaint about the music or vocals. This is good, solid, basic Thrash. - 8 - <Ray> **MC6**

DAMAGE - Demo '93 · DEMO
The vocals are a little too rough for me to feel exactly right about saying that DAMAGE are a Thrash band, but the music would certainly give that impression. Not really anything new going on, but they play with great conviction, and that counts for something. - 8 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAMAGED - Token Remedies Research · Rotten
This Australian band has a really cool Hatecore sound, but I could do without the vocals. Their lyrics are powerful, borderline political and somewhat dated. If you're into vocals that make your throat bleed just by listening to it, you can appreciate this band's latest work. The music is loud, fast and brutal. It may even give you a seizure. - 8.25 - <ANG> <Ray> **MC11**

DAMIEN THORNE - Former Life · DEMO
The name of this demo pretty much sums up the style of Glam Metal that these complete fucking jokes play. The vocalist sounds like he is trying out for a MOTLEY CRUE cover band. I really should have been able to tell that this was gonna be bad by a.) Cheesy Butt Rock band name, b.) Complete absence of dignity or originality with desperate song titles like "Enter The Nightmare" and "Exit Jekyll, Enter Hyde," and c.) The band's photo. The drummer has the gayest white trash haircut I've ever seen in my life. I bet you all these guys wear huge white high-top basketball shoes with the tongues sticking out over their pants which are 3 sizes too tight. Call me anything you want, this clown should be beaten down and shaven. C'mon you dorks, the early 80's are long gone. Let's learn from our mistakes, okay? - 1 - <Jack> **MC12**

DAMN THE MACHINE - Damn the Machine · A&M
Chris Poland's new band is way closer to DREAM THEATRE than it is to MEGADETH. The disc is nothing at all like I expected. It is closer to Return to Metalopolis than to his stuff with the CIRCLE JERKS. Make no mistake, this is a Progressive Metal album, despite the lack of keyboards. The band is tight, and Chris shines with his sometimes crunchy and sometimes Jazzy solos. - 8 - <Greg>

DAMNAGE - The Harsh Reality · DEMO
Fairly awesome 5 song Thrash demo. Influences of early EXODUS & IRON MAIDEN can be detected. So basically, the energy of early Thrash, a Harris disciple bassist (which is cool, Mr. Tuggle), and a powerful vocalist that is occasionally pretty raw. All 5 songs are memorable, heavy and speedy. The musicianship is great, especially the bass. Pro copied, color cover & lyrics. One of the best remaining Thrash bands. - 9 - <Ray> **MC7**

DAMNAGE - Bludgeon · DEMO
I was wondering how this band would progress. They have replaced a guitarist and a bassist, since I last heard from them, but the new guys seem up to the job. Troy's vocals are a little deeper this time out, while the music is a bit more groove-oriented. This has given DAMNAGE a more unique sound, and the excellent production allows the listener to delve more deeply into it upon repeated listens. Lookin' good, guys. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAMNATION - Damnation · DEMO
The balance on my copy is fucked-up, and so I have way more right-channel than left. Hopefully not all the tapes sound like this. Other than that somewhat severe problem, this demo is decent Deathrash: Some speed, and some brutality. But really, I've heard stuff that is heavier, faster, slower, more brutal and still more memorable. They need something to make them stand out from the hundreds of other good Death bands. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

DAMNATION - Coronation · Last Episode
Yet another Polish band, this time a Death Metal band in the (you guessed it…) same vein as fellow countrymen VADER. This band also has the evil Nergal of Black Metallers BEHEMOTH on bass, for added enjoyment… Anyway, musically, they are very tight and aggressive. Unfortunately, they sound a whole lot like VADER does. As a matter of fact, I think they sound like VADER in the same way that VADER sounds like MORBID ANGEL - close enough to make you say, "Hey, these guys sound just like…" but play with enough conviction to convince you that they're legit. - 8.75 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

DAMNATION - Resist · Dark Realm
Perhaps one of the most underrated bands in the Death Metal scene today, DAMNATION have returned with their third full-length effort, Resist. This release sees Les stepping down from his spot in front of the mic and marks the debut of vocalist Raven whose voice fits the band's style perfectly. These technically proficient musicians from Poland really know how to hammer out some complex yet memorable tunes. The guitar-sound is heavy and also gives the music a somewhat eerie atmosphere. The highlight of this release, though, has got to be drummer Varien's performance. His blasts and fills are jaw-dropping! The production appropriately complements the drum-sound as well. The songs themselves vary in structure and complexity, but all possess speed, aggression, and brutality. DAMNATION have always delivered chaotic, challenging, and adventurous music. They are easily one of the best bands to ever come out of Poland. - 9.25 - <Painkiller>

DAMNATION ARMY - The Art of the Occult · God Is Myth
A second rate rip-off of equal parts Under a Funeral Moon-era DARKTHRONE and Nightwing-era MARDUK from this one-man Swedish Black Metal band. At least he picks good bands and albums to steal from, and the playing, vocals, and drum programming are all done convincingly well. Still, why you would need this over the originals is a mystery to me. - 8.5 - <Jack>

DANZIG - Danzig II-Lucifuge · Def American
This is the second LP from DANZIG, and is no huge departure from the first. One thing that everyone seems to have missed is that this is a concept album: the songs collectively tell a story, at least I think so. I think it's about someone that is sent to Hell and fights his way back out to say good-bye to his wife or lover, and then is sent back to Hell. Listen to the LP with this in mind and see if you can get all the songs to fit in with the concept. I have an explanation of how I think each one fits, but space prohibits a lengthy interpretation here. I would like to hear what you have to think about this, so send me a letter! Anyway, most of the songs are what you would expect from DANZIG, but there is one that is strictly Blues: "I'm the One." A ballad, and I mean a real ballad, Gus: "Blood and Tears." And a couple of more experimental tracks: "777" and "Girl." This LP tries to do a little too much sometimes, combining Blues and Metal along with Glenn's Punk roots into an original sound. This is a damn fine LP, but it could have been more focused. - 8.75 - <Ray>
{The funny thing about this album is that it was released before DANZIG got more well known with their video for "Mother." But that's a song from their first album... Weird, huh? And now only Mr. Danzig is left out of his formerly all-star line up, and the MISFITS are back together without him. More weirdness. And to top it all off, the latest (although already pretty old by the time of this writing) DANZIG album is a complete departure towards Industrial, I guess you'd call it. I followed Danzig's career all the way up to this most recent abortion of an album, but it seems that the evil Elvis may have finally lost his dog gone mind.} **MC3**

DANZIG - Thrall - Demonsweatlive · Def American
The 2 new tracks are both great. Classic DANZIG, I think. The cover tune, "Trouble," is pretty cool, although I am getting a little weary of hearing how "evil" Glenn is. The four live tracks are the weird part for me, though. Uncle Glenn's vox are not very strong on them. It sounds like he was pretty tired. And there is an awful lot of crowd noise. It sounds like a good bootleg. Oh yeah, the song choice is peculiar too. They didn't include "Dirty Black Summer" which was the first single from the last album, but "Sinistas" is here. Strange. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

DANZIG - Live on the Black Side · Restless / Evilive
I've been a big Danzig fan since the first time I heard the MISFITS. Keep in mind that I'm an old bastard, so that was a long time ago. Anyway, I was really excited about checking out this live album. But, as with more or less all live recordings, there is just too much history to sort through, even if you only consider the band DANZIG and not MISFITS and SAMHAIN, and I'm always a little disappointed that some songs weren't included. However, this two-disc set, recorded at three distinct times in the band's career ('92, '94, and various times turning 2000), covers most of the bases (including a nice rendition of "Halloween II"), probably better than most live albums do. It is somewhat strange to me that this isn't all one show - even the second disc (all from the 2000 Satan's Child tour) has songs recorded from three different gigs. But the most strange things about this set are, first that sometimes the guys sound sort of exhausted, especially Glenn at the beginning of the first show form '94, and second the quality of the recording itself is sometimes lacking. It never sounds as bad as some bootlegs I've heard, but then again, I have a couple bootlegs that sound better. If they were going to takes songs from different shows anyway, and had a decade of live recordings to choose from, I'm surprised that this collection was the best they could come up with, both sonically and performance-wise. I guess that might make you think that I don't like this album, but that's not true. I do like it quite a lot, and think it's obviously a must-buy situation for any fans. But, I do think that it could have been better. Maybe after the machine-like (and disappointing) Blackacidevil and somewhat "modern" sounding not-quite-return-to-form Satan's Child, Glenn decided that a "raw" sounding live album would be a good idea. I agree with that conceptually, but this is a little too far in the other direction to be the flawless masterpiece that I was expecting. - 8.25 - <Ray>

DANZIG - 777 I Luciferi · Evillive / Spitfire
In what might be a first for DANZIG, the song "Black Mass" has some limited (both artistically and in duration) double bass drum action! But don't take that to mean that Glenn and company have super-heavied things, because they haven't. In fact, the very next song, the embarrassingly titled "Wicked Pussycat," is pretty lame. I guess this album is about covering as many bases as possible, with heavier moments, some goofy stuff, Industrial elements, and so on, encompassing the entire DANZIG life-span, and in some ways sort of SAMHAIN, too. I'm glad that the Evil Elvis is still at it, and there are still quite a few gems on here. Pretty good, but not exactly a career highlight. - 8.5 - <Ray>

DARK AGES - Saturnalia · DEMO
This has excellent production and eight songs. The style is more commercial Metal with some Thrashy elements. The musicianship is excellent, and the songs are all pretty catchy. I think there are two vocalists, and I like the female vocals much better than the male. Different, but pretty cool. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

DARK ANGEL - Live Scars · Combat/Relativity Records
First of all, this is DARK ANGEL's second live recording from their Leave Scars LP (the first being on Ultimate Revenge 2), so I don't see why it was found to be necessary to record this. Anyway, the sound quality is about as good as a live recording can get. Those Westwood One guys know their stuff. The CD contains some extra songs, including a cover of FEAR's "I Don't Care About You," which is a cool tune and a break from the relative "sameness" of the other songs. Now don't get me wrong, I like DARK ANGEL, it's just that this album doesn't capture the energy of their live show. It seems to be missing something, I'm not sure exactly what. Live recordings rarely capture the "feel" of a band. By the way, the package is very interesting, reminds me of RIGOR MORTIS's Freaks, you also get a "free" sticker. Big fucking deal! If DARK ANGEL is one of your favorites, then pick this one up; on CD if you have a player (for the extra songs). If you just want to find out what DARK ANGEL sounds like, I would suggest getting The Ultimate Revenge 2 video or soundtrack instead. <Ray> {DARK ANGEL was certainly an inspirational band, although this live album wasn't exactly their crowning achievement. But perhaps even more inspirational than the band is their drummer, Gene Hoglan, who emerged as one of the very top Metal drummers. His deadly skin beating has been featured in such bands as DEATH, TESTAMENT, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, and OLD MAN'S CHILD, and has influenced legions of drummers worldwide.} **MC2**

DARK ANGEL - Time Does Not Heal · Combat
DARK ANGEL. Think about that name. It suggests power, evil power. You don't know the half of it. I wasn't too impressed by Live Scars (DARK ANGEL's live LP), so I can't honestly say that I rushed to my tape player and popped this in the second I got it. OK, so I'm a fuck up. This LP is unbelievable! No shit. Now you have to understand that Ron actually sings, but this is more like a heavy FORBIDDEN sort of thing. It's not wimpy singing at all. In fact, it's extremely effective and almost always adds to the music's power. Which, by the way, is nuclear. Now, about the music: Gene Hoglan is the best drummer on Earth or in Hell. I would not lie! The music is very complex, heavy, powerful and fast. This is one of the best LP's I've ever heard. Awe-fucking-some. Don't pass this one up. Highly Recommended. - 9.5 - <Ray>
{I'll probably get some arguments over this, but I still think that is one of the best albums of it's genre of all time. And yeah, I've heard Darkness Descends and We Have Arrived.} **MC4**

DARK ANGEL - We Have Arrived · Dark Realm
Cheers to Dark Realm for re-releasing this 1985 Thrash classic! - 9 - <Ray>

DARK FUNERAL - The Secrets of the Black Arts · Metal Blade / Death / No Fashion / House of Kicks
Having recently had the perverse pleasure of seeing these goat fuckers live, I am proud to report that they are every bit as good on stage as on this masterpiece. Their epic, majestic, yet furious, Black Metal onslaught is captured here in near perfection, thanks to the amazing production of Abyss Studio. But the real praise must of course go to the band themselves for coming up with songs of such power and emotion. This insures that DARK FUNERAL must be considered one of the top Black Metal bands on the planet. "Lay down your souls." - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

DARK FUNERAL - Diabolis Interium · Necropolis
While other well-known Black Metal acts have either sold their proverbial souls to the almighty dollar or drifted down the path of Electronic and/or Goth commercialism, DAK FUNERAL has stayed the course and continues to feed the flames of Hell with blinding speed, intricate melodies, and all-out aggression. Diabolis Interium, the band's third full-length, shows maturation in song-writing abilities while still retaining their raging, brutal intensity. Featuring hyper-fast drumming courtesy of DEFLESHED's Matte Modin, Lord Ahriman's speedy yet melodic guitar-riffs, and the demonic screams of Emperor Magus Caligula, this is DARK FUNERAL doing what they do best - Black fucking Metal! Recorded in Abyss Studios and produced by genius Peter Tägtgren, the production is dead-on. These guys are seated firmly on the throne of the Swedish Black Metal scene and show no signs of being usurped anytime soon. - 9.25 - <Painkiller>

DARK FUNERAL - Diabolis Interium · No Fashion
Many people are hailing this as the best DARK FUNERAL album of them all and after giving this a spin, I can definitely say that all the hype is well deserved. This is probably one of the tightest albums on the market right now. I don't know if this is the best album of 2001 but it sure comes close. Compared to their previous two full-length albums, this is much more varied in terms of speed, mixing slower, heavier parts with hyperspeed guitar-work. Where the previous albums failed was in the speed department. Vobiscum Satanas and The Secrets of Black Arts were both so fucking fast and furious that you had almost zero song memorability. Rest assured, however, that these guys have not slowed down that much. There is just enough variety to make the songs stand out but not enough slowdowns to change the band's sound. Add to all of this the golden touch of Peter Tagtgren and you have a well produced, well executed gem of an album that adds luster to the blackened crown of our master Satan. - 10 - <Ychoril>

DARK MILLENNIUM - Of Sceptre Their Ashes May Be · DEMO
Fast, well produced Death. Memorable songs and the occasional stylistic variation, make this pretty cool. Excellent vocals: Very raw, yet understandable. The lyrics are included, which is always a plus when they're good. Impressive. - 9 - <Ray> **MC8**

DARK MOOR - s/t · Arise
Take the theatrical prowess of QUEEN, the sap of IRON MAIDEN’s career lows, the melodic hooks of AIR SUPPLY, the modern Choir Metal feel of newer THERION, and the polished finesse of NELSON and you have a nauseating, operatic blend of Power Glam so overwhelmingly gay that it may prove to cause erectile dysfunction in heterosexual males. - 1 - <Jack>

DARK PSYCHOSIS - Profane Hallucinations · demoThe obscure one-man Black Metal side project of Xaphan from SUMMON. Well, while SUMMON are releasing albums in 5.1 Dolby sound, Xaphan is apparently using a 17-year old answering machine to record his solo work. This production is BAD! What I can make out seems to have an old MAYHEM-like quality, but it could just be the evilness of the unholy tape hiss. I really would like to hear something a bit more polished before I make a proper judgment, as the sound here is just too fucked up to decide either way. - 6.5 - <Jack>
splashofcolor@sprynet.com

DARK TRANQUILLITY - Projector · Century Media
This retains a little aggression and rage, but I think that D.T. have wandered away from their past, towards almost a Progressive Metal direction. This can be great, but despite their obvious ability, it also seems to miss its mark just as often, leaving the album sounding confused. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

DARK TRANQUILLITY - Haven · Century Media
This is not an easy album to describe. D.T. seems to be channeling the spirit of CEMETARY's Godless Beauty, but perhaps a little more consistently aggressive, despite the use of acoustic guitars layered over the top of everything else. This band's current Thrashy approach to darkness takes a few listens to really appreciate, but after a few listens, I was glad I gave Haven the time. - 8.75 - <Ray>

DARKANE - Insanity · WAR / Century Media
At times reminding me of TESTAMENT, while others, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARKANE is difficult to describe. And even more problematic is the fact that there is something about this album that doesn't sit will well with me, but I can't tell you exactly what that is. Everything is played well, the recording is good, and the energy is high. But something's not right. The staccato vocals, maybe? The riffs? Perhaps it's a lot of little things adding up, and dragging this down... - 7 - <Ray>

DARKANE - Layers of Lies · Nuclear Blast
Another album of continuous filler from the champions of gay album covers. This time around we have a guy with horns and leopard leotards tied up in a dingy bathroom while a load of cum is shot into his mouth from deep space. Genius! Musically these guys have undergone monumental changes. Not just a HAUNTED rip-off anymore, they now rip-off newer IN FLAMES as well. Talk about dynamics. The vocals are fucking terrible! Jesus Christ, do they ever fucking suck! Shut this guy up, please. Shoot a load of cum in his mouth from deep space if you have to, but shut him the fuck up. - 4.25 - <Jack>

DARKEN - Reign From Funeral Thrones · DEMO
This two man band has clearly been listening to EMPEROR. But DARKEN is no mere clone. They slow things down occasionally & inject their own musical personality into this style. I hear a lot of potential, & they're good now, but a more individual sound would help. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

DARKEN - Darken EP · Defiled
This melodic, technical Black Metal is all the more impressive considering that DARKEN is a two man band, with one guy playing all the instruments. It's really a shame that there are only three songs on this (although they're long - this EP clocks in at about 23 minutes), because I'd like to hear more. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

DARKEST HOUR - So Sedated, So Secure · Victory
The forging of melodic Swedish Death Metal and Hardcore has reached a plateau untouchable by most in the suicidal beauty of DARKEST HOUR. AT THE GATES and DISSECTION meets MORNING AGAIN, and if that only came close to summing up the total package here. I could write volumes praising this band's aggressive majesty and grace, but for the sake of space, I assure you wholeheartedly, this is absolutely essential. - 9.75 - <Jack>

DARKEST HOUR - Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation · Victory
Not that DARKEST HOUR need all these guest appearances to boost the cred of their patented melodic Gothenberg-inspired Deathcore, but I admit it was a treat to hear Tomas Lindberg lend his trademark scream to the authentic hybrid. By now, what else can be said about this band that hasn't been said already? I've been hooked since their flawless full length debut, Mark of the Judas, and while in my eyes they still haven't topped that album, I have yet to be let down. With this band you know what you're going to get, and that's a good thing. All you Metalheads that miss the glory days of AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, and DARK TRANQUILLITY take note, this is the new blood. - 9.5 - <Jack>

DARKLANDS - Chronicles EP · Heathendoom
Very heavy, well-played Doom, with goofy vocals. I'm sort of reminded of LEFT HAND SOLUTION, but with the bastard 3-way child of Pete Steele, Glenn Danzig, and Lee Dorian singing. There are times when it's okay, but it's never really great, and that holds DARKLANDS back. - 7 - <Ray> **MC12**

DARKLANDS - Darklands · Heathendoom
We start out with piano. So many bands start out with piano nowadays it's kind of difficult to predict what's next. Song two brings us some slow groovy Doom that isn't bad, but can't save the songs from the horribly cheesy vocals. The nicest thing I can say about them is that they are a Danzig rip off that falls somewhere between truly pathetic and hideously lame. I get the same irritable feeling I got when I heard LIFE OF AGONY try to cover The Breakfast Club theme song. With a strong Death Metal voice, this might have stood a chance. Why do people who can't sing try? - 5.25 - <Jack> **MC12**

DARKLANDS - A Memory of You EP · Heathendoom
As you can see, I'm a little more tolerant of the vocals than Jack is, and the title track was one of the ones I liked the most from their self-titled album. And one of the other two songs on here is pretty good. Maybe after hearing them so much in preparing for these reviews, I've gotten a bit more used to Barthold's vocals, or maybe he's getting better -although I like the track from '95 ("Verkörpern") the best, so maybe he's getting worse... - 6.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

DARKLIN REACH - Where Evil Dwells · Progressive / Tombstone
Musically, this might be okay, but the vocals sometimes sound like SKID ROW or some other such weak shit. Fuck that. Then we have the lyrics: Regurgitation of ancient lyrical themes. Yawn. Here is what I think happened with band: They used to be more commercial, a bar band that covered POISON maybe, then they decided that playing heavier might get them signed. Unfortunately it did. And what is worse yet, is that great cover art was wasted on this crap. - 4.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

DARKNESS ENSHROUD - Winter of Sorrow · DEMO
A Black "Metal" band from Indiana?! Yes, it's true. "Corpse paint" and all. These are not really songs in the traditional sense. They are more experimental than probably anything you've ever heard, and maybe better described as "experiences". Very weird. You were warned. - 7 - <Ray> **MC8**

DARKNESS ENSHROUD - Ancient Kingdoms · Moribund
A Black Metal band from my home state of Indiana? Yes. But we're not too proud of the fact, let me assure you. These guys create only noisy, poorly recorded, "soundscapes." When done right, that can be a very honest and interesting form of expression, but these guys do it because they want to say that they are "too evil" to write actual songs, and that if you were as "evil" as they are that you would like this bullshit. The only evil thing about these guys is the spell they cast on Odin [the owner of Moribund] to get them signed! - 2 - <Ray> **MC9**

DARKNESS ENSHROUD - Unveiled Ghostly Shadows · Moribund
More very minimalistic "evil" Ambient soundscapes. At least the recording is better than on their debut insomnia-cure, Ancient Kingdoms. Hey, Baron Michael, what exactly are "trance inducing vibes"? By "Trance" do you mean "sleep"? Great layout, logo & pictures, though. - 2.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DARKSEED - Spellcraft · Nuclear Blast
A bit like PARADISE LOST's Shades of God LP, but wimpier. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

DARKSEED - Diving into Darkness · Nuclear Blast
Death Rock, maybe like CEMETARY, but with even worse Pop vocals, and some Techno tendencies. This doesn't deserve a longer review. - 1 - <Ray>

DARKSIDE - Melancholia of a Dying World · Conquest/Impact
From the name of this album, I had expected a more depressing band. DARKSIDE surprised me; they are actually a fairly technical Death outfit, and sporadically kind of speedy at that. However, sometimes they do slow it down and that's when their vast skill really comes to the front. Towards the end of the first track, "Deadly," there is a slow atmospheric passage with a guitar solo woven through it that would do Steve Harris and Adrian Smith proud. If every second of this album were that good, it would be flawless. As it stands, there are some things that could use a touch of work, but considering that this was recorded in 1994 (and just now seeing the light of day here in the U.S.), I would think that DARKSIDE have probably perfected their sound by now, and I'm very anxious to hear their next release. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC10**

DARKSTYLE - Black Crystals EP · Some Place Else
The use of very simple drum programming and endless repetition of riffs might make you think that DARKSTYLE is an Industrial band, but nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, this is sort of a Doom band. The tempos are kept slow, but the riffs are not exactly crushing. However, the haunting keyboards certainly add an ominous feel, as do the expertly whispered vocals, which turn out to be the thing that makes this worth having. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11**

DARKSUN - El Legado · Goi Music
Hey, now I have something to listen to when I'm in the mood for keyboard-driven Power Glam sung in Spanish. Which I'm assuming is the same mood most folks are in when they decide to join NAMBLA. This record is the aural equivalent to having R. Kelly pee on you. - 1 - <Jack>

DARKTHRONE - Soulside Journey · Peaceville
I must start off by saying that 1991 is quite a year for Death Metal! Left and right, quality bands are being signed. And, to me, this is the best one. DARKTHRONE is so ahead of most bands due to their musicianship and great composition. There are a lot of "good" musicians, but only a handful of good composers. I mean, each member of this band is very adept at his instrument. Especially the rhythm section. Now this album was done at Sunlight Studios in Stockholm, which seems to be very popular with Scandinavian bands. It has that "ENTOMBED sound," but in no way do they actually sound like ENTOMBED (except, maybe the vocals). I don't think you could compare songs like: "Neptune Towers," "Grave with a View," or "Nor the Silent (Whispers)" to anything! This band flat out reeks of originality. Only a few debut albums have impressed me like this one (Malleus Maleficarum, 7 Churches, Slowly We Rot, and Left Hand Path, to name some). So buy this, or hate yourself forever! - 9.75 - <George G> **MC6**

DARKTHRONE - A Blaze in the Northern Sky · Caroline/ Peaceville
Oh, like wow! I'm so scared of DARKTHRONE's stupid make-up and their switch to "Unholy Black Metal." Golly, let's pretend that they always had the desire to paint their faces, play Black-Not-Death Metal, and use slow stage names, so I don't have to deal with the poseur issue, OK? This LP has little resemblance to their debut. No longer a Death band, they seem to have lost quite a bit in the transition to what they call Black Metal. Well, I don't think so, sisto. VENOM invented Black Metal more than a decade ago, and, while Satanic, this ain't it. It sounds more like Death Metal, with a thin production, noisy guitars and only a small amount of double bass. And also boring. - 7 - <Ray> **MC7**

DARKTHRONE - Transylvanian Hunger · Peaceville / Fierce
Somewhere under the 666 layers of tape hiss is DARKTHRONE's 4th album, and sad to say, it's the worst yet. I worshipped these guys' first two albums, but this is just ridiculous. The first song, which is the title track, displays two riffs. Both riffs contain two notes a piece, and are repeated a combined 44 times (yes, I counted)! And this is the album's best tune. I can't understand why this LP only has one drum beat, or why the production is so horrible that it's degrading at best. The only cool thing about this record is that BURZUM mastermind Varg Virkenes wrote the lyrics for the last four tracks. Too bad he couldn't have written the music also. - 6.75 - <Jack> **MC9**

DARKTHRONE - Panzerfaust · Moonfog
Let's run through the list: Tape hiss - check. Terrible mix - check. "Atmosphere" - check. Vocals which totally drown out the music - check. Was this recorded using two microphones in DARKTHRONE's practice space? Or maybe it was the classic direct to stereo jam box, with Intellivision sound blocker controls... Whatever the recording method was, these desecrators are adamant that their music be buried behind multiple layers of tape hiss (I swear that it sounds like they added extra hiss, or maybe used a 10th generation analog tape for their master copy), and terrible production. And that's really a shame, since when there are no vocals to hide them, the riffs almost obliterate the hiss, and the drums can sometimes be heard. Why they think that "true" Black Metal must have terrible production is anyone's guess, but if they would have recorded in a studio more suited to music than Necrohell (which is clearly the studio to use if you ever want to get a great hiss sound), and didn't use all their recording money for hookers and Ripple, this might have really been the unholy monster they wanted it to be, rather than the noisy mess it is. - 7 - <Ray> **MC9**

DARKTHRONE - Total Death · Moonfog
Apparently it has finally dawned on these blasphemers that a good production is sort of fucking important. Total Death's greatest strength is in its thick, powerful sound. DARKTHRONE have always been able to produce the necessary massive riffs, but sometimes it was pretty tough to hear them over all the white noise. Let me assure you that this is their best since Soulside Journey. Finally they have an album that lives up to their reputation. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DARKTHRONE - Ravishing Grimness · Moonfog
This album was hyped as a "return to form" for DARKTHRONE. When I heard that, I wondered to myself, "Did they pull out their old AUTOPSY shirts and start worshipping Swedish Death Metal a-la ENTOMBED's Left Hand Path again?" Most people don't remember Soulside Journey's blatant ENTOMBED worship but I do. Hell, I still listen to that album! But this isn't a return to it. This is just a continuation of the direction that they were headed with their last several releases. The production is better and the guitar tones are thicker than the old lo-fi Black Metal days of Under a Funeral Moon and A Blaze in the Northern Sky. The songs themselves are still in the same vein as the older stuff. If you played the new stuff and compared it to stuff from, say Transylvanian Hunger, you would generally find the same style of structures and patterns in the music. If you love DARKTHRONE, then you'll love this album to no end. If you think DARKTHRONE sucks big fat donkey dicks, then this album won't change your mind. At least they aren't trying to be NINE INCH NAILS or MARILYN MANSON like so many other Norse bands these days! - 9 - <Ychoril>

DARKTHRONE - Plague Wielder · Moonfog
In these times when Black Metal is clearly dying of suffocation from a global plethora of bands all competing to sound the same, and longtime pioneers of the genre unsuccessfully trying to pave new paths using everything from Electronica masturbation to Ass Rock splicing. Somehow, Norway's DARKTHRONE sounds as raw as ever by changing practically nothing. They can take the most simplistic hook and make it the coolest riff of all time, a continuance of the tactics employed by their previous album, and possibly finest moment ever, Ravishing Grimness. The most significant of changes for this band the last couple of years is the clear, solid production that was abandoned after their first album. It works wonders with the primal instinct this band has at making truly evil-sounding melodies. They actually give their music a personality; a misanthropic charisma that so many of today's Black Metal bands lack. With DARKTHRONE it seems to come effortlessly. If Ravishing Grimness re-ignited that miscreant flame in your soul, Plague Wielder will keep those embers burning brighter than an 18th Century Norwegian church in the pale Scandinavian winter. - 9.75 - <Jack>

DARKTHRONE - Plague Wielder · Moonfog
This latest album by DARKTHRONE is... Well, it's a DARKTHRONE album. It sounds like a DARKTHRONE album and it has that DARKTHRONE feel, but at the same time it doesn't go anywhere that previous DARKTHRONE albums haven't gone before. The speed is almost uniformly mid-paced and if you've heard one song off of this album, the rest sort of sound similar. There are no acoustic bits, no clean vocals, no keyboards, no female vocals or even very many tempo changes. There is an occasional use of flange on the guitar but essentially, if you have Goatlord, Total Death or even Under a Funeral Moon, this doesn't sound all that much different that those albums. I get the feeling that DARKTHRONE is in a rut, much in the same way that I feel INCANTATION is in a rut. They've defined their sound and now they really can't go anywhere else. You can mix and match songs off of this album with songs off of the other albums in their back catalogue and if you look at structure, nothing has changed in almost a decade. Let's face it folks, MOTÖRHEAD and AC/DC can get away with releasing the same album over and over, year after year because people want to see them live and they need an excuse to keep touring. DARKTHRONE doesn't tour much - if at all - and face it, I already own five or six albums of this already. That's not much of an incentive to run out and buy this album and I can't honestly recommend this to anyone who already owns a couple DARKTHRONE albums. - 6 - <Ychoril>

DARKTHRONE - Hate Them · Moonfog
I wish that I knew how to best describe this album, but I really don't - it's complicated in its simplicity. I suppose that the occasional slower pace is nothing too new for DARKTHRONE. And neither is the raw-yet-clear recording, nor the super memorable riffs that seem to be impervious to wearing out no matter how many times they're repeated. And of course the raspy vocals are the same, too. But, somehow everything seems to come together in just exactly the right way. The resulting Black Metal is so close to a grotesque, decayed form of perfection that language itself fails me. - 10 - <Ray>

DARKWELL - Suspiria · Napalm
Doomy Gothic Metal, that's usually kind of light on the Metal, I guess. But in this case, that's really not as bad as it might sound. The female vocals are very well done, and occasionally the drummer just totally cuts loose, but the mournful guitars might be just slightly too much in the background. If all the songs were as fucking awe inspiring as the title track this would be an easy ten. - 9 - <Ray>

DARKWELL - Metatron · Napalm
I liked 2000’s Suspiria quite a bit, although it did take several listens before I figured it out, and 2002’s Conflict of Interest really kicked my ass, especially the live tracks. And now DARKWELL is back with a new singer, which had me a little concerned. I guess that I don’t like this new chick as well as the old one, but she’s not bad. Normally, I’m not a big fan of chick-fronted Gothic Metal, but DARKWELL’s earlier releases had such high energy, especially in the drumming, that they were impossible for me to resist. Metatron, however, is somewhat mellower, and that plus the new diva has brought things down for me. This isn’t bad, but it does make me concerned about how lame the next album might be if the trend continues. - 8 - <Ray>

DAVID LA DUKE - Rock Hard Rocker · Sinbad Productions
The thick production saves this. David's a good guitarist, but way too mainstream Metal as far as his singing is concerned, at least for me. This is way better than what you would expect from the title, and I really like parts of it, but it's just too "poppy" for the most part for me to dig all of it, which is too bad, since David is really cool and tries damn hard. - 7 - <Ray> **MC8**

DAVID LA DUKE - Absolute Rock in the Buff · Sinbad
For being recorded live, using only two microphones in their practice room, this sounds great! David is the hardest working man in Rock, and it always shows in his music. If you like plain Hard Rock, then look no further, as it shall not get better or more honest then this. I, however, do not like Hard Rock, but I do respect this man and his work. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAVID LA DUKE - Absolutely Raw Nothin More, Nothin Less!!! · Sinbad
Another live recording, including a cover of the STONES' "Satisfaction." These guys are more raw live, which is a plus for me. I would imagine that seeing them play would be a seriously good time. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAVID LA DUKE - Heywire · Sinbad
This is a weird release. It has out-takes of various tracks, and the guitar solo title track. It's interesting to hear all this, but I can recommend it to guitar worshippers only. - 7 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAVID LA DUKE - Rock With Balls · Sinbad
More Hard Rockin' songs. The vocals grate on my nerves, but if you like this sort of thing, then this is the one. - 6.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAWN - Fucking in the Wood · DEMO
This is more like actual music than anything Steinbock has ever done (that I know of). Of course, it's still totally weird, and not really too musical at all. Rat again screeches some sick vox, and Steinbock whispers some himself this time, also. I miss the chainsaw, but this is interesting. Cool lyrics. - 7.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

DAWN - The Wizard Meadow · DEMO
Not really as Noisy as I expect from my pal Steinbock. In fact this is pretty different from what he usually does. It's still really weird, and these songs are utterly unique, but. Oh, wait, there's the chainsaw. For just a second, I was worried. Vocalist Rat adds a degree of sickness with her shrieks. Interesting. Favorite track: "Pale Lady." - 6 - <Ray> **MC8**

DAWN - Treestory · DEMO
DAWN is a more "musical" project from the Steinbock camp, but his Noise influence is still strong. The collage of sounds is harsh and not always as well assembled as, say, SMELL & QUIM. But the really fucked up part is that every now and again, Rat will sing over the top of it all, in a sort of nursery rhyme voice, and that sounds really crazy, but it's evil. An almost scary release. - 6.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAWN - De Eerste Sneeuw · DEMO
I don't know what effect was use on the vocals in the first composition, "The Dead Lady of the Breakwater," but they're the most disturbing, frightening vocals I've ever heard. The next track, "Lusty Mountain Traveler," is sung by both Steinbock and Rat at the same time, and sounds like a sing-along. Each of these songs is different. The next is a poem, read kind of behind an absolutely ominous flute. After that, a spoken-word intro to Rat fisting herself while the soundtrack to a nightmare plays in the background. There is more. This is the darkest, most intense and horniest thing I've ever heard. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAWN - Live in Ternat op 30 Juli 1994 · DEMO
This is more ambient than the De Eerste Sneeuw recordings, and is almost like being in a room with the members of DAWN while they try out various sonic experimentations. Some work well, such as the track which has a dully throbbing synth sound, with screaming in the background - almost as if you were hearing a murder in the next room. But not everything is as dark or scary as that track. I do think that every recording is supposed to be different, and they certainly accomplish that. - 7 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAWN - Amanita Muscaria · DEMO
About the first 40 minutes of this are comprised of a slowly mutating drumbeat, and nothing else. At first I was interested, and kept waiting to hear what was going to happen, but after ten minutes or so, this sort of faded off into the background. Then it abruptly ended, and the tape had to be flipped over. The 3 cuts on side two were a bit closer to what I was expecting of DAWN, but now that I think about it, having expectations of a band that's known for constantly altering their style is probably not wise. Anyway, the remaining tracks return to the eerie instrumentation and creepy vocals of both Steinbock and Rat. A very dark and odd release, and certainly not for everyone. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DAWN - Live in Herenthout op 2 Juni 1995 · DEMO
In a live setting, DAWN stretch out their compositions to make them more Ambient. I was going to say that doing this makes them somewhat less ominous, but that's not really the case. This is some evil-sounding stuff, especially the long instrumental passages, or when Rat softly invokes some evil spirits in the background. For this recording, the band forgot their drum-machine, so there is absolutely no percussion, and its lack serves to add to an already suffocating feeling of hopelessness. It's strange that Cold Meat Industry hasn't discovered the weirdly sexual, suicidal soundscapes of DAWN. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DAWN - Live Into 1996 · DEMO
I would imagine that watching DAWN perform would be quite an experience. Maybe one day I'll get over to Belgium to see them. Until then, I must be satisfied with these live recordings, which is a shame, because if the visual aspect is half as disturbing as the audio, the combination might drive the weaker members of the audience insane. This is a particularly important live showing, as it features an especially intense rendition of one of my favorite DAWN compositions, "I Crawl Horny and Dead on the Floor of the Old Room." - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

DAWN - Trollkarlens Vördaggen · DEMO
Here we have more excursions into the minds of Steinbock and Rat. Minimalistic music (drum machine, bass, flute) and subdued vocals (except in the strangely obvious "I Lick Your Cunt") are the norm, but this pair is certainly not afraid of trying some other things, such as varying the vocals from tortured spoken passages and whispers to Black Metal like shrieks, and even a more rough, low-pitched, style. This recording is not as eerie is their earlier material, nor really as overtly sexual (although I can't translate Rat's lyrics, so I might be wrong about this part), but it is every bit as eccentric. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

DAWN - The Darkness Within · DEMO
Regular readers of Metal Curse know how stupid I think it is when bands rhyme "fire" and "desire." At least DAWN (not to be confused with the above band of the same name) waited until the last verse of the last song to do it. Other than the occasionally dual-tracked vocals, this is not much above the ordinary, as far as brutal Death, with clear production, goes. - 8 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAWN - Trespass Infinity · self released
Good, clear production graces these two straightforward, but fairly intense, Death Metal tracks. There is really nothing special to be found here, but these songs are well written and played. The band simply needs a little time to develop a more unique sound and identity. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

DAWN - Sorgh Pa Svarte Vingar Flogh EP · Necropolis
These guys have an advantage over quite a few of their Black Metal peers: They can play their instruments. This really allows their unholy speed riffing to stand up and be counted. They're murderous on "Soil of the Dead Earth," and the rest are nearly as excellent. As an added plus, they cover INFERNAL MAJESTY's "Night of the Living Dead," and make it their own. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

DAWN - Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy) · Necropolis
These blasphemers play fairly straightforward fast, "majestic" Black Metal, but are helped by their mastery of their instruments. Plus there's just something about them that I like. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

DAWN OF DECAY - New Hell · VOD
Damn, the last time I heard Deathrash this awesome was probably the first DESULTORY album, Into Eternity. While New Hell is occasionally faster than the aforementioned classic, it's understandably not as perfect. But really, what could be? And this is still a worthy heir to the throne vacated by DESULTORY's very disappointing third album. I may be mistaken, but I think this disc is already a couple years old (hey, I just now got it!), and DAWN OF DECAY might well have a new one out by now. If so, I'd be really interested to hear how they have refined their already deadly sound. - 9.25 - <Ray>

DAWN OF DEFIANCE - Summoning Death · demo
Just two songs to go on here, but the strengths and weaknesses of this one-man band are instantly recognizable. The bright side is the music, Thrash with a Death tint not too far removed from the feel of old SEPULTURA, and the melodic, clean guitar passages are done very well. The downfall here is the horrible vocals. He sounds like Jamez Hetfield in mid-gay love coitus. The production here could use some cleaning up as well. Overall, this guy has some talent and some good ideas, but he needs to save up some cash and recruit a good singer. His voice makes this intolerable. Plus, he thanks god ("the supreme energy that enables me everyday to achieve my dreams"). What the fuck is up with that? Real defiant, fag. - 4.75 - <Jack>
www.dawnofdefiance.com

DAWN OF DREAMS - Amber · Candlelight
If you can, imagine combining a Gothic Rock style with some slightly more Metal elements, and the occasional Death growl kind of vocals. It's a strange brew that never seems to be perfectly blended, but there are quite a lot of good bits floating around in this. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11**

DAWN OF DREAMS - Darklight Awakening · WWIII / Mercenary Musik
Imagine some atmospheric Black Metal unearthed from the '93-'94 era, laced with brutal Death vocals a la SEPTIC FLESH and you have DAWN OF DREAMS. Very well put together and tightly executed shit here, folks! - 9 - <Jack>

DAWN OF RELIC - Of the Ambience... · DEMO
From the title, I was expecting much Doomier Metal, but was pleasantly surprised by this "Dark Metal" masterpiece. This band starts this demo out with fast Black / Dark Metal blitzkrieg, then slow things down to an acoustic crawl for the intro to the second song. And so it goes for the remaining cuts. Their writing and playing is such that the different speeds and styles are seamlessly welded together into an easy to remember whole. But the best is yet to come - the vocals. Of course, they're tortured and raspy, as they should be, but I usually make out what is being sung (yelled), and that's uncommon, but cool. I'd imagine that DAWN OF RELIC will be signed soon. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

DAYLIGHT COMMUNION - Alienate · DEMO
I only wish I knew where these guys are from, since I'd love to tell them how much I like this demo. Interesting riffs, and excellent playing are the key to this talented Death band. The vocals don't hurt, either. Someone find these guys and have 'em write me, or send me their address. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

DAYLIGHT TORN - Death Alone from Life Can Save · CCP
Sad and depressing, but not in a crushing Doom kind of way, more like a Metalized version of THE CURE with both male and female vocals, that for once don't compete, but rather compliment each other. There are a few Rock inspired riffs that I could have done without, and drag things down a touch, but for the most part, this is pretty damn good. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

DEAD AND GONE - God Loves Everyone But You · Alternative Tentacles
This has its sludgy, NEUROSIS-like moments, but the band's Punk / Alternative tendencies are a lot more easily noticed, which isn't necessarily bad. The more extreme parts sound a bit forced, but I appreciate the heaviness. An interesting, if not totally successful, attempt. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEAD BY DAWN - After I Eat Your Brains · DEMO (CD)
Pathetic try at ripping off WHITE ZOMBIE. - 1 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

DEAD FLY BOY - Self-Titled Debut · Sector II
Kinda groovy, but heavy music. The vocals are mostly yelled, but occasionally sung in a smoother style, and sometimes quickly rapped. It's an interesting sound, something like EXHORDER. Pretty cool, and the songs are fairly memorable, too. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEAD HEAD - Come to Salem · Hammerheart / Unveiling the Wicked
I love stuff like this. Here we have DEAD HEAD's great The Festering demo from 1990, along with seven bonus tracks recorded throughout their career, including a deadly cover of SLAYER's "Die by the Sword." This kind of Thrash, with these sick raspy vocals, just isn't really heard anymore, and that's a real shame. It's good to see that someone is smart enough to reissue this. - 9.5 - <Ray>

DEAD HORSE - '90 demo · DEMO
Impressive, diverse and sinister. The double bass, especially during the "down" part of the cover "Rock Lobster" is murderous. From the first second of the first song, "Turn", I knew this was it. self-described as "Horsecore", this band and this demo show exactly what you can accomplish. DEAD HORSE are now signed to Big Chief Records, so order this damn fast. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC5**

DEAD HORSE - Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers · Big Chief
This is the second dead horse LP (yes, it's supposed to be in lower case, so complain to the band), but it's their first for Big Chief. This is an interesting band and they won't be limited to only one style of music. There is everything from a B-52's cover, "Rock Lobster," to the Noise tune "Sawbone," which is a bunch of screams and noise kind of thing. However, the majority of the music on this LP is pretty heavy Thrash with powerful, raw vocals. Sometimes Michael sounds like he's in a Death band, sometimes he's a lot more melodic. The guitar sound is thick and heavy, and there is plenty of double bass action. And it's all done dead horse style. This is an album you have to listen to, there's a lot going on that's easy to miss on the first few listens. It would be difficult to pick a favorite song, but my top three are (in no order): the mighty "Turn," "Cod Piece Face" (formerly "Waiting for the Sun") and "Like Asrielle." There is one song, "Snowdogs," that just doesn't grab me for some reason, but that's only one song out of 13. All things considered, this is a diverse and impressive effort. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC6**

DEAD INFECTION - A Chapter of Accidents · Morbid
Anyone for a little gory Death/Grind? The weird cymbal sound annoys the hell out of me (it sounds like beating two thin metal sticks together, in the bad way), but other than that (which is pretty hard to just ignore), this is okay, but really nothing too special. - 8 - <Ray> **MC9**

DEAD INFECTION - The Greatest Shits EP · Obscene
After a weird chanted intro, the Grindfest starts. DEAD INFECTION blast their way through covers of REGURGITATE, EXTREME NOISE TERROR, AGATHOCLES, GENERAL SURGERY, ULCEROUS PHLEGM, NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS, and the BEE GEES (sort of...), as well as treat us to a couple really different tracks of their own that were clearly meant to fuck with anyone trying to take this too seriously. DEAD INFECTION prove once again that they are a force to be reckoned with. Needless to say, this is essential. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

DEAD INFECTION - The Lethal Collection · Obscene
This is a great collection of this Czech Grind band's EPs and other rare tracks, all remastered! Featuring the gore-soaked songs from the Poppy-seed Cake EP, No Pate, No Mind EP, Party's Over EP, The Greatest Shits MCD, and the Grind Over Europe '96 cassette, this disc is non-stop ultra-brutality from start to finsh. - 9.25 - <Ray>

DEAD MEADOW - Dead Meadow · Tolotta
Retro Stoner Groove Rock can, I suppose, be done well. It could be heavy, it could be interesting. DEAD MEADOW is not any of the above. - 4 - <Ray>

DEAD SILENT SLUMBER - Entombed in the Midnight Hour · Hammerheart
NAGLFAR main-man Jens Ryden's solo project, DSS combines Death, and Thrash with some modern Black Metal vibe and slick keyboards. It's a good hybrid, and expertly executed. Also, very impressive if Jens really did do everything himself. - 9 - <Ray>

DEAD TO FALL - Everything I Touch Falls to Pieces · Victory
I think I'm shock! Somebody help me pick up my jaw off the floor. The sheer simplicity and overwhelming brutality of this band's Victory debut can only be compared to that of the Death Metal classics of the early '90s. Without so much as a baby step outside the framework of the modern Metalcore formula, DTF has crafted a flawless album overflowing with teary-eyed rage and unparalleled bitterness. Take the mosh-pit tactics of UNEARTH and 18 VISIONS, the Euro-Metal melodies of HEAVEN SHALL BURN, the big production of DIECAST, and the bleeding-throat vocals, and you have an impenetrable forcefield of negative energy. Lyrically, I feel this band's pain and you will, too, as their heart, passion, and fury go unmatched. Highest surges of adrenaline: "Eternal Gates of Hell," "Graven Image," and "Cost of a Good Impression." - 10 - <Jack>

DEAD WORLD - Collusion · Relapse
Fuckin' psycho. Industrial uhh, Doom. Heavy and kinda slow, this creates a feeling not of slam-pits, but of a huge crushing force descending and obliterating everything in its way. The album is really mean sounding and sets an evil mood, but something seems to be missing: maybe it's not heavy enough. No, I don't think that's it. Maybe it's the "borrowed" SABBATH riff. I'm not exactly sure what's missing, but this is still close to greatness. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC7**

DEAD WORLD - Dead World / Song of Age 7" · Relapse / Release
Heavy, mechanical, emotional, perfect, Industrial Death on side one. Clearly Relapse spends the money on quality, as this is one of the best sounding 7''s I have ever heard. Completely stunning in it's intensity and clarity. Side two is a spoken word poem set to eerie, haunting music. It is extremely effective and moving. Inconceivably supreme. I don't see how this could be better at all. - 10 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEAD WORLD - The Machine · Relapse / Release
Not as Death Metal as half of their Dead World 7", but still plenty heavy. I miss the Death element, but I do dig the more experimental/Industrial stuff. These guys evolve somewhat with each release, which is necessary for a band, and somehow they have managed to change in the right ways - which seems to be impossible for a lot of bands. Favorite track: "Kill." - 9 - <Ray> **MC8**

THE DEAD YOUTH - Intense Brutality · Grind Core
Well, first of all, even though they are signed to Grind Core, THE DEAD YOUTH are not a Grind band. They are a Death Metal band, albeit a pretty fast one. Occasionally their bassist, John, will do something really cool and sometimes the guitarist, Rick, will too. Usually I am very happy with the music in general, although there is a rough spot here and there. Dave's vocals are, for the most part, more than acceptable, but they range from nearly awesome to simply wrong. But like I said, usually everything is cool. This LP shows a lot of potential and they just need a little more time to perfect everything. This is a solid debut. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC6**

THE DEAD YOUTH - Rehearsal Demonstration Cassette 1991 · DEMO
The production on this tape is easily the best I have ever heard on a "rehearsal." That's not to say it's great, but it gets the job done. And that job is to give us a taste of what THE DEAD YOUTH's next album will be like. Well, if it's like these four songs, but with better production (which, of course it will have), it will fucking destroy everything. These new songs show a marked improvement over the already good songs on their debut album. My favorite here is "Family of Sodom," simply because Dave (vox) Death-screams the word "cunts" for about 25 seconds. It completely rules! I'm really dying to hear these songs with quality production. If you don't get this tape, you must be insane (in a bad way). - 9 - <Ray> **MC7**

THE DEAD YOUTH - Writhing · Grindcore
THE DEAD YOUTH are, with out a doubt, one of the sickest bands out there. This album is much better than their debut. It starts out with a demented intro, and then goes directly into the kind of repulsive Death/Grind these freaks are known for. Everything has improved, from the guitar riffs, to the drums (which are incredible). And of course John's twisted bass-lines, and Dave's unholy vocals are as great as everything else. No one can hold a growl as long as Dave. A must. - 9.5 - <Tom> **MC8**

DEADBODIESEVERYWHERE - Deadbodieseverywhere · Deathvomit / Necropolis
After hearing that this was supposed to be Crust, I had high hopes for its coolness. It's fast and can be intense, and naturally the vocals are raw, but everything seems completely uninspired. - 7 - <Ray>

DEADGUY - Fixation on a Coworker · Victory
As far as Hardcore is concerned, this might be as balls-out as it gets. Musically very intense, but vocally even more so. I have seldom heard anyone sound this pissed off, and this level of ferocity remains a constant for the entire album. Very impressive release. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC10**

DEADGUY - Screamin' With the Deadguy Quintet EP · Victory
Damn, I thought their Fixation... album was ferocious, but this beats it - even the vocals are somehow more intense, although that may be due to them being multi-tracked (some tracks sounding Death or even Black Metal like). DEADGUY have retained their title of "hardest Hardcore." - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DEADLY BLESSING - Psycodrama · DEMO
DEADLY BLESSING are: Tony Sgro (guitar), Tony Umba (guitar), Larry Betson (vocals), Dan Pettolina (drums) and Mark Vincent (bass). This band is very intricate, yet tight. They seem very polished as well. This may be due to the fact that they have been together since 1985 without a lineup change. Larry is extremely talented, being able to hold a note (not a scream) for an extended period of time. This is not a Death Metal band and the vocals reflect that. However they are generally speedy and at times instrumentally raw. To describe them, you could say... mix QUEENSRYCHE and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, but that isn't exactly right. You have to hear them for yourself. - 8.25 - <Lar> **MC4**

DEADSPOT - Built in Pain · C/Z
I wasn't sure what to expect from these guys, but I was pleasantly surprised. DEADSPOT are not super heavy, but they do have a lot of energy. It's something like GANG GREEN meets BLACK FLAG, with a bit of Thrash thrown in. They are enjoyable to listen to, and the title track really stands out. They even cover THE DAMNED's "New Rose". Very Cool. Anyway, DEADSPOT is unusual and I like 'em. So check them out. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC6**

DEAF AND DUMB / IMPERIAL FOETICIDE - Split · Epidemie
D&D deliver massively brutal Death Grind guaranteed to crush the spirit of even the most jaded listener. The always impressive I.F. are just as furious, but also more technical & experimental. It would be difficult to find a better extreme Death combo than what's on this disc. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEATH - Spiritual Healing · Combat / Relativity Records
This is DEATH's third LP. It is different from their earlier work in only two ways: a new member (James Murphy, on guitar. Who has since left to join OBITUARY), and more importantly Chuck's singing is more understandable! He has not lost the Death-Rattle style, he has not done a Tom Araya (SLAYER) and tried to actually sing. You can just understand him a bit better now, that's all! It's not the fastest album in the world, but DEATH has always been known for power not speed, and Spiritual Healing is the most powerful, tightest, heaviest album to come from DEATH yet. Everything is as close to perfect is it can be, and none of the rawness of the classic DEATH sound has been lost. The guitar work is intricate, and effective. This is the best album of the year (so far). This is the one you have been waiting for! If you don't own Spiritual Healing yet, fucking buy it! This is it, this is DEATH! <Ray> {Through many line-up changes, Chuck has managed to keep DEATH alive, and at the time of this writing, they have recently released a new album, The Sound of Perseverance. Too bad they're still "cry-baby momma's boys," but I have enjoyed the majority of their music. Looking back, it is pretty hard to believe that I claimed that this album was their heaviest...} **MC1**

DEATH - Human · Relativity
This is the fourth LP by Chuck Schuldiner's DEATH and it features an all new line up. Chuck recruited Steve DiGiorgio from SADUS to help out with the bass tracks, and Sean Reinert & Paul Masvidal from CYNIC on drums and guitar, respectively. I'll give Chuck credit, he knows how to pick 'em. Sean's drum-work is nothing short of perfect. Chuck and Paul work perfectly together on the guitars. Their sound is not really that heavy, though. It's more akin to FORBIDDEN than to one of the founding Death Metal bands. But this is more precise than brutal. Like surgery instead of a nuclear strike. Steve's bass tracks are inspiring. Chucks vocals continue to become less raw and more understandable, although they are still far from smooth. For the most part, I like the lyrics and there is even an instrumental, "Cosmic Sea." But this is not the DEATH of old, Chuck traded aggression & brutality for technicality, complexity & precision. If he could've stayed as brutal as Scream Bloody Gore and had this precision, then this would be a ten. Although it's still pretty close. And yes, I still think Chuck is a dick. - 9 - <Ray> **MC6**

DEATH - Individual Thought Patterns · Relativity
Chuckie's back. Call this Human, part II. The sound of DEATH gets better with time, but 1988's Leprosy is still the cream. Andy Larocque (formerly of KING DIAMOND) throws in his wailing two cents along the way, as do DARK ANGEL's Gene Hoglan, and SADUS' bass master, Steve DiGiorgio. My advice is to give this a couple honest plays to grow on you before you write it off. - 8.5 - <Lar> **MC8**

DEATH - Symbolic · Roadrunner
I think that this must be the album that Chuck has always wanted to make. The production is flawless, as is the playing. I noticed the loss of Steve DiGiorgio on bass, but new guy Kelly Conlon is no wimp, to be sure. Gene Hoglan has remained on drums, and his playing is beyond belief. I'll put Gene up against Pete Sandoval, or anyone else, whenever you want. This is the best DEATH album since Leprosy, and although certainly not as heavy, maybe even better. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

DEATH - The Sound Of Perseverance · Nuclear Blast
I'll give Chuck credit for coming up with an LP that retains the aggressiveness of the older DEATH material but shows some progression at the same time. Some of the song structures are kind of strange, but I think this album's grown on me after a couple listens. I still miss Gene "the human tornado" on the drums, but I guess he's too busy with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD to hang with Chuck this time around. The Sound of Perseverance is technical, that's for sure, but it follows the same vein as Symbolic in that it has that memorable aspect as well. For all you PRIEST freaks out there, DEATH were even cool enough to cover "Painkiller." Chuck doesn't have the piercing wail of Halford, but Hell, how many guys in Death Metal ever have that kind of range? - 9 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

DEATH - Live in L.A. (Death & Raw) · Nuclear Blast
I hate to say anything less than 100% positive about DEATH's main man, Evil Chuck, considering his fight with brain cancer and all - but as far as I'm concerned, this live album could be better. Sure, DEATH knows to end a live set with "Pull the Plug," and we're treated to good renditions of "Suicide Machine," "Together as One" and the classic "Zombie Ritual," but I would have liked some more older stuff on here. I guess that's just showing my age, or maybe it's that this band has gotten less heavy and intense with every release. Still, this is an excellent recording and Chuck could certainly use the money. Live in L.A. is also available on VHS and DVD, so provided I can locate one (Nuclear Blast DVDs are impossible to find!), I'm going to check and see what, if any, extras the digital video format has to offer. - 8.5 - <Ray>

DEATH MACHINE - s/t · Sensory Dark
"Death machine, infest my corpse to be"? Nope, not that cool. These guys take more of a MESHUGGAH approach. Heavy, layered, angular, and with vocals that are abrasive but totally understandable, which isn’t always a good thing in this case. They make it clear that they are not above borrowing a few Nu-Metal tactics, but I guess they have to eat. Not really my thing, but talented without question, and recommended underground exploration for fans of MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, SLIPKNOT, and other safer Metal bands. - 7.75 - <Jack>

DEATH OF MILLIONS - Ritual Killing · DEMO
The (minimum) things necessary for a Death Metal band to kick ass: Crushing riffs, raw vocals, intense drumming. This band has mastered all of these elements, and have used them to create some very brutal, yet somewhat catchy, music. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEATH PENALTY - Bitter · Wild Rags
Passible Death Metal with homoerotic "tough-guy" vocals. - 5.5 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

DEATH PENALTY - Conviction · Wild Rags
After reading the press release, I learned something: These guys think they're a Hardcore band. I didn't know that when I reviewed their Bitter CD last issue, but it does make a difference, I suppose. They're still way too interested in "groove" for me, and the vox are what might be known as "trailer park tough guy," but at least they're not trying to pass this off as Death Metal. And it is an improvement over their last CD, so if that trend continues, I might even like the next one. - 7 - <Ray> **MC12**

DEATH SQUAD - Split You at the Seams · Ever Rat
Good bass sound. Bad guitar sound. Decent drums. Annoying vox. Not exactly a great combination. I think part of the problem is in the mix. Perhaps if the guitars were louder, or something. They sound way too thin. And the vocals could be mixed a little lower. That might help a lot. The song "Instrumental Death Pt. III" is cool, and I think that decides it - it's the vox. They don't really suck, they're simply too fuckin loud. When the vox are gone, the guitar even sounds better. To sum: more guitar, less vox. Also, thumbs up to Ever Rat for printing the title "Mind Fuck" completely uncensored on the cassette J-card. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC7**

DEATHCLUT - Sodomy / Repulsive In My Ways · Wild Rags
I suppose the lyrics are fairly juvenile, but these songs are really memorable, and also raw. This is as it should be. I was pleasantly surprised by this release. It's nothing new at all, and a little more originality would lift them above the crowd, but they still do a fine job. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEATHEVOKATION - Blood · demo
Holy Hell, how long has it been since I saw professionally duplicated a demo tape?! Or a tape of any kind? I had to check three times to make sure that I hadn’t just left this in the "to be reviewed" stacks for like 10 years. But you don’t just get the cassette! This comes with a "business card" sized CDR with mp3s of the entire demo mp3, plus some extra stuff. So, you get the best of both the analog and digital worlds. That's cool. Also cool is the decidedly old school Death Metal found here. From the first time I saw the band’s logo, I knew that UNLEASHED must be an influence, in addition to the obvious DISMEMBER. I hear a little ASPHYX in there, too. Some assholes I’m sure will say that DEATHEVOKATION isn’t a very original band, with their influences so clearly on their sleeves. And that’s true, but who the fuck cares? Embrace the Death! Hopefully a deal and an album will be coming soon, because like a zombie chewing a mouthful of brains, I crave more. - 9 - <Ray>
www.deathevokation.com

DEATHWITCH - Triumphant Devastation · Desecration/Necropolis
Although very simple, the style of Black Metal employed by DEATHWITCH is at least energetic, and there are two chicks in the band, so I guess that's a plus. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DEATHWITCH - Dawn of Armageddon · Necropolis/Desecration
More or less as much simple Black/Death as their first album, Triumphant Devastation, but maybe a bit more Death oriented, and certainly more memorable. Some demo tracks are included as a bonus. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEATHWITCH - Monumental Mutilations · Necropolis
Continuing to get just a little more Death Metal influenced with each release, DEATHWITCH returns with a revamped line up and not a bad effort. You know, it's not that I don't like really fast stuff, it's that only a handful of bands - just the very best ones - can make the super-speed stuff memorable, so that's why when a band like this slows things down a little, they seem to get better. On another note, I don't have the lyrics, so I can't be sure (I would have checked them if I could have), but I think they rhyme "fire," "higher," "desire," "liar," "pyre," and "gay porn buyer." I had hoped that all bands worldwide had stopped that sort of thing by now. But, anyway, this is pretty intense, and does continue with their improvement. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC12**

DEBAUCHERY - Stimulus · DEMO
Eerie keyboards haunt these songs and draw the listener into the complexity of the music. Vocally, this could be a bit too screechy for some, however I find that the vox fit seamlessly into this Deathrash onslaught. Everything is used precisely to cause an effect that when combined create an intricate whole. Strangely, no brutality is lost to this, and the songs manage to be memorable as well. Clearly experimental, and clearly an experiment that has succeeded. - 9 - <Ray> **MC8**

DECADENCE - Dancing on the Edge of Dawn · DEMO
Five pretty intense Thrash songs. This sorta reminds me of XENTRIX (who I like). This style isn't too popular right now, but they really do a great job with it. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

DECAPITATED - Winds of Creation · Wicked World / Earache
There must be something in the water in Poland. I don't know how else to explain the emergence of so many talented Death Metal bands from that country. DECAPITATED was formed in 1996, the youngest member at the time being a mere twelve years old! Listening to Winds of Creation, you would never guess that these guys have only been playing together for four years. They play better than bands that have been in the scene for over a decade! This band plays a style of Death Metal that brings to mind a more brutal version of VADER. This is especially true of the vocals, which are monstrous growls. Although there is a VADER influence, these guys inject their own ideas into this style of music, and their sound is absolutely crushing! These guys can play at a skin-peeling pace, throw in some tempo changes, and then grind your bones to dust for good measure. They even do an impressive cover of "Mandatory Suicide." The production is handled by none other than Peter of VADER. He does an absolutely flawless job with the material. DECAPITATED's music hits you in the chest like a jack-hammer! They display a level of technicality unimaginable for their age. Each member of DECAPITATED could hold his own against some of the better-known musicians in the scene. This band is just incredible in every sense of the word! - 9.5 - <Painkiller>

DECAPITATED - Nihility · Wicked World / Earache
As expected, this is intense Death Metal, and very well executed and constructed. But the production leaves a little to be desired, with the kick drums sounding more like snares. It's... weird. Otherwise fine, though. - 8.25 - <Ray>

DECAY - Rebirth · DEMO
The intensity meter is off the scale! This may take the coveted "best sound on a demo" award away from SINDROME's Vault of Inner Conscience. But, like that demo, despite the awesome sound, and exact playing, this could be more memorable. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

DECAY - Decay (limited edition advance copy) · DEMO
The production isn't quite up to that of Rebirth, although it's still better than most demos. Anyway, these two songs have lost no intensity, and are a little heavier. And Randy, who always had an excellent sound, treats us to some very interesting basslines, which, being a bassist myself, is what I always listen for. The first track, "Self Hate," is, like before, not all that memorable. However, the other track, "What You Fear Most," certainly is. Have they discovered the secret? Their next release will tell the tale. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

DECAYED CATACOMB - Gates of Doom EP · Pighouse
Three studio and 4 live cuts. Not bad for an EP. The sound quality isn't great, but it's not too bad. As for the music, DECAYED CATACOMB play somewhat Thrash influenced Death Metal, with maybe a touch of Doom. It is darkly atmospheric, but manages to keep moving at the same time. Not an awesome release, but interesting nonetheless. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11**

DECAYING CORPSE - Morgue of Breasts · DEMO (rehearsal)
No. - 1 - <Greg> **MC8**

DECEASED - Nuclear Exorcist · DEMO
DECEASED is composed of Les Snyder (bass), Doug Sather (guitar), Mark Adams (guitar) and King Fowlay (drums and vocals). King doesn't let his singing get in the way of his drumming, which he excels at. All of the songs on the tape are cool, the only problem is it's sometimes hard to tell where one song ends and the next one starts. This is NOT because all the songs sound the same, but instead because so much is happening in each song: tempo changes galore & breaks of varying lengths as well as tons of different riffs. Perhaps it would be helpful to put a bit more space between the songs. Also the quality of the recording left something to be desired, but this is a demo. Vocally King seems to combine a Death raw growl and a sort of Hardcoreish kind of yell, and it's cool as Hell. Musically DECEASED reminds me of SLAYER, VIO-LENCE and NUCLEAR ASSAULT all combined into one. DECEASED shows a lot of promise. - 8.5 - <Ray>
{I'd like to think that everyone reading these unhallowed pages knows what has happened to DECEASED. To make it short, they were signed by the then small label Relapse, and have had a very impressive series of releases, most notably 1997's near perfect Fearless Undead Machines. DECEASED main man King Fowley also went on to play with the bands DOOMSTONE and OCTOBER 31, as well as running With Your Teeth Records, Old Metal Records, and publishing the zine Stay True, Stay Ugly, Stay Underground.} **MC3**

DECEASED - Gut Wrench 7" · Relapse
OK, DECEASED has finally got this damn thing out! It features a re-mixed version of "Planet Graveyard" (at least I think it's remixed, 'cause it sounds better than the demo version), and 2 old songs recorded live, "Gut Wrench" and "After the Bloodshed." So I was somewhat disappointed that there wasn't any new material. Guess I'll have to wait for the LP. Well, to wrap things up; if you have never heard DECEASED, then I would recommend this 7" more than their demos, because of the better sound quality. But for those of us who haven't been in a cave, it's a cool addition to your collection. It's got a really sick cover of this guy on an operating table with his whole chest ripped open. - 8 - <George G> **MC6**

DECEASED - Luck of the Corpse · Relapse
DECEASED are a pretty good Death Metal band, and their singer (also drummer), King Fowley, sounds something like the singer of AUTOPSY (who also plays drums). The guitar sound is heavy and I really like it. The drum sound is also heavy and very cool. The only song on this album I don't care for is "Futuristic Doom." And that's only 'cause the lyrics are stupid. But all the other songs are great. Although I did not care for the Gutwrench 7", I really like this LP. - 8.5 - <Tom> **MC7**

DECEASED - The Thirteen Frightened Souls EP · Relapse
The kings of Death continue their assault. Five choice cuts of classic Death Metal, including an outstanding cover of "Voi Vod." Great EP, great band. - 9 - <John T> **MC8**

DECEASED - The Blueprints for Madness · Relapse
King Fowley and company return with some more Death Metal from the grave, as they say. This is their best album yet, which is saying a lot. The songwriting, intensity, and musicianship are all turned up a notch or two, and King is as sick a vocalist as he was from day one. Miss it not. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

DECEASED - Up the Tombstones!!! Live 2000 · Thrash Corner
The only thing not to like about this, is that each song seems to be completely separated from the rest by a second or two of dead silence. It's as if they were all recorded at different shows, or at least edited into a different order than they were played. It's a weird and very distracting thing to do to a live album, and when they mastered this, they should have at least added in some extra crowd noise so that it seemed as if it were all one continuos performance. Other than that bit of insanity (which may or may not have been corrected in later pressings...), we have excellent live versions of songs from the band's entire career, including the demo track, "Sick Thrash," and a good cover of the KROKUS stinker "Headhunter," wherein the band manages to inject a touch of VENOM to finish it off. - 8.75 - <Ray>

DECEIVER - Riding with the Reaper · Iron Fist
I really miss MAZE OF TORMENT and was psyched to discover this band features Pete Flesh on guitars. Imagine my disappointment in realizing that this is nowhere near the Swedish Black/Death fury of MAZE OF TORMENT, but rather a dated, lame Thrash album. Their cited influences had my hopes up as well. MOTORHEAD, MERCYFUL FATE, JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA, VENOM, fuck yeah! As long as we’re talking Ozzy-era SABBATH and pre-Smell the Glove METALLICA, I say bring it on! The thing is, these guys aren’t as memorable as those bands’ filler. With better vocals, it might have worked. - 6 - <Jack>

DECEMBER - Praying, Hoping, Nothing · InZane
Any time a press release mentions something like "DECEMBER is not just a Metal band," it clues me in that the disc might well be terrible. And this is certainly no exception. Praying... is like a textbook of everything that's wrong with new "Metal." I try to distance myself form that crap as much as possible, so I'm not sure if this sounds more like PANTERA, KORN, SEVENDUST, or whatever, but all their attempts at heaviness and extremity fall completely flat and are very unconvincing. - 1.25 - <Ray>

DECEMBER - The Lament Configuration · Earache
Fortunately I have not been forced to listen to this band's earlier album, Praying, Hoping, Nothing, since I reviewed it. And I've been doing my best to try to drive all thoughts of it from my besieged brain. But still... I've got to think that this album is a lot better. Not that this is very good, but it's decidedly not utterly horrible, which is what I was expecting. So, either these guys got their heads at least somewhat out of their asses and improved, or I was too mean to their earlier work. If I hadn't shattered that CD into a billion pieces while playing backyard Tron, I might even consider giving it a second spin, just to be sure. Probably not, though. - 4 - <Ray>

DECEMBER BLEEDING - December Bleeding · DEMO
Depressing Death / Doom Metal that is honestly majestic. Believe it or not, but I'm actually reminded a little of the new VENOM album (Cast in Stone) in some of the slower moments. The vocals range from deep clean to deep growls to yells and sound very natural at all times. The monstrous riffs are backed up by precise drumming and ubiquitous keyboards. This results in songs that demand to be listened to over and over, and a truly impressive demo. My only criticism is in the recording, which has been mixed to highlight the vocals at the expense of the guitars. But a problem that trivial could be fixed easily, and shouldn't stop you from checking this out immediately. - 9 - <Ray> **MC11**

DECEMBER WOLVES - Promo '97 · DEMO (CD)
All I can say about the vocalist is that the only word I can understand is "fuck" throughout this 2-song promo. The actual music is really basic and monotonous. They find a good guitar riff or tone and don't elaborate or go anywhere with it. If these two songs were among another eight songs as a full length release, and the other eight songs showed different extremes or levels to the music, it wouldn't be so bad. But, if you're going to send out a 2-song promo CD, I would think it would have a bit more diversity between the two songs. - 6 - <ANG> **MC11**

DECEMBER WOLVES - Completely Dehumanized · Wicked World
This speedfest just doesn't do very much for me. It arrived after the "official" deadline for this issue, so I didn't have much time to spin it before this review. It's high-energy to be sure, but two seconds after it's over, and I've already forgotten it. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

DECISION-D - Moratoria · A.R.T.
The press-kit which accompanied this claimed that this is a nine-song release on CD only. Well I got an 8-song tape to review. Oh yeah, the press-kit also said this is "...a must have for any Death Metal fan." Maybe I just got the wrong thing in my package, because this is pretty dismal, although it has moments where it's only boring. - 4.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

DECOLLATION - Cursed Lands · Listenable
My advance tape only has four songs, so I'm not sure what the rest of the album sounds like, but these songs are pretty good. For the most part, the music is fast, and these are some Black Metal elements to be found, such as eerie keyboards. The vocals are a little weak, but not too bad. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

DECORYAH - Wisdom Floats · Metal Blade / Witchhunt
This is a very tricky review for me, because this album is pretty different, and thus difficult to describe. It is heavy, in its way, I suppose, and it certainly is moving and emotional. It's almost like a soundtrack in places, while in others it grabs a bit more guitar meat. Always a lot going on, and always very interesting to hear. I understand that this was recorded on an 8-track, so I'm pretty anxious to see what they can do in a larger studio. I sure hope Metal Blade (or someone) grabs up all the Witchhunt stuff! - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

DECORYAH - Fall-Dark Waters · Metal Blade
This is less Ambient than their debut, Wisdom Floats, but even with the heavy guitar and drums, is just as graceful and majestic. I'm very pleased to hear that they are trying some different things, and even more pleased that these things are working so well for them. - 9 - <Ray> **MC10**

DECREPIT - Decrepit · DEMO
Very competent Death Metal. The level is a bit low, but that's no big deal. Nothing new is really done here, but what they do, they do very well. All fans of things brutal will dig this. - 8 - <Ray> **MC8**

DECREPIT - Cannibalistic Feast · DEMO
Faster and with better recording than their first demo. Also better vocals. Still very brutal Death, and still good, in fact in all ways better than their debut. All they really need is a decent studio and a budget. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

DECREPIT - The Wake 7" · P.S.
This is the best looking and sounding 7" ever released by P.S. records. DECREPIT's brutal Death seems almost eerie coming out of a clear piece of vinyl, though. Hopefully we'll be hearing more from them soon. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

DECREPIT - Creation of Sin · Dismal
This CD compiles the 2 tracks from the band's The Wake 7", their 6-song Hymns of Grief and pain demo, and one unreleased cut into over 40 minutes of pulverizing Death Metal. Although I normally despise the term "groove" (as in Groove Rock, or Groove Metal) and all it implies, these songs have, in the true sense of the word, groove. They are brutal Death, but at the same time, easy to remember and they make you want to smash into stuff. Hopefully we'll get to hear some new material damn soon. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DECREPIT - Acrimonium · Dismal
Dedicated to our fallen brother, Tom Rojack, this disc is like a "how to" guide for memorable Death Metal. Supremely heavy and yet easy to remember. And they cover the BLOODFEAST classic "Face Fate." Pretty hard to top all that. I can only hope that the remaining guys will continue on without Tom and give the world more much needed Metal. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

DECREPIT UTH - Square One · DEMO
This starts out with a sappy, sampled plea to listen to this tape. It gets way better after that. Sounding like the bastard child of S.O.D. and SICK OF IT ALL, DECREPIT UTH are really fierce. All 13 songs are intense Hardcore. The production is good, as is the recording. If you like Hardcore, then this is for you. - 9 - <Ray> **MC5**

DEEDS OF FLESH - Gradually Melted · Wild Rags
Very raw vocals, very heavy music. And fast, too. I'll admit that these guys don't do much that's groundbreaking, but for solid brutality, look no further. Making the songs more memorable would have helped for me, but I understand that some people forgive that as long as the music is pit-inducing enough, which it is. - 8 - <Ray> **MC9**

DEEDS OF FLESH - Trading Pieces · Repulse
Clocking in at only 17 seconds over the half-hour mark (including over 3 minutes of intro and outro), this is a rather short effort, but certainly to the point. Although fairly basic speedy Death with traditionally gory lyrics, the playing is tight and the production pretty good. Trading Pieces offers nothing new, but (other than the rather annoying musicless gurgled outro) at least it's well done and probably worthy of a listen. - 8 - <Ray> **MC10**

DEEDS OF FLESH - Inbreeding the Anthropophagi · Repulse
Brutal and well played Death Metal. - 9 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

DEEDS OF FLESH - Path of the Weakening · Unique Leader Entertainment
What I have here is a three-song promo of their latest album. Innovation is not a prerequisite of mine but you better make up for it in the brutality department. These songs have poor dynamics from the simplistic drumming to the muddled riffs. The vocal delivery is the worst aspect sounding like a weak Chris Barnes on SIX FEET UNDER's debut, Haunted. Peers DYING FETUS and MORTAL DECAY are a more enjoyable listen. This is harsh considering I ordered their demo, Gradually Melted, from the band and thought they had potential. What an appropriately album title! - 6 - <Quade>

DEEP - Pieces of Nothing · Pavement
At last, a U.S. band that can compete with the Swedes in the genre of Melodic Death Metal. Even the production has that amazing Swedish feel. A healthy dose of Thrash-style aggression gives the music a heavier presence, and DEEP's sound owes more to that of magnificent bands like EUCHARIST or AMON AMARTH than it does to pussified shit like SOILWORK or DARKANE. Although I've heard this style plenty of times before, I will say that what DEEP lack in originality they definitely make up for in execution. One thing is certain - I was impressed enough by Pieces of Nothing that I'm gonna have to track down their first release, The Reach of Envy. You should do the same. - 8.75 - <Painkiller>

DEEP SEA - Inside of Nowhere · DEMO (CD)
Any musicians reading this should immediately get this disc. DEEP SEA are unbelievably talented players and have put their considerable skills to use writing these 10 aggressive songs. I'm not sure what you'd call this, Progressive Alternative Metal, maybe? All I know for certain is that if you want to be impressed by a band's technical abilities, send these dudes the $7. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

DEFECATION - Purity Dilution · Relapse/ Nuclear Blast
This album is almost four years old, but has just recently been released here in the States. A two-man project featuring Mick (SCORN, ex-NAPALM DEATH) Harris on drums and vox and Mitch (NAPALM DEATH, ex-RIGHTEOUS PIGS) Harris (no relation) on everything else, this sounds pretty heavy and there is some extra-cool drum work on here. Musically very fast and Grindy, this turned out very well for as many problems as Mick and Mitch had to suffer to get it recorded and mixed (see liner notes). Very cool for what it is: a Death/ Grind project band. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC7**

DEFENDER - They Came Over the High Pass · Necropolis
Well, there is nothing that I love more than a 2 minute, 22 second long intro! Why the fuck do bands do stupid shit like that?!? Just start the god damn music, you fuckheads! And then I get my wish - the music starts. Gallop-riffs, pretty guitar solos, and a singer not quite as flamey as I thought he might be. What's funny is that the press release says that the band "decided to change their music dramatically and employed a real vocalist and started playing Heavy Metal." So, first of all, they admit to being trend-followers; and secondly they make fun of all Death and Black Metal singers. These are not good ways to get a positive review in this zine. Even if this album were good, which it's not - it's a half-assed rip-off of a tenth-rate HAMMERFALL cover band - I could never recommend it. My only question is why Necropolis would even bother to release it all... But I could guess. - 2 - <Ray>

DEFILED - Erupted Wrath · Nightfall / Terrorizer
DEFILED (this one, anyway...) hails from Japan and plays brutal Death Metal in the vein of the Florida bands (MORBID ANGEL, MONSTROSITY, DEICIDE, ETC.). This is their debut album and though there are some good parts on it, the majority of it is fairly generic brutal Death Metal that I'm sure anyone who got into the scene back in 1992 will have plenty of already. I know my collection of Death Metal CDs is quite extensive and contains quite a few bands that sound almost exactly like this. I guess the biggest hurdle that DEFILED has to clear is the one with "originality" written on it. If you like by-the-numbers Death Metal, then DEFILED will be to your liking - though I seriously doubt that it will get more than one or two spins on your CD player. Seriously, there are better ways and better bands to blow $15 on. No offense to the band, but this is yet another release that will be buried and forgotten before it is more than a few weeks old. - 7 - <Ychoril>

DEFILED - Ugliness Revealed · Baphomet
Finally! A band on the Fredo Corleone of the Necropolis subsidiaries worth a piss! These guys are perhaps the most intense Death Metal band to ever echo from the Land of the Rising Sun. Twisting, snarling, complex rhythms and dark, unsettling harmonies combine lethally in the form of what I like to call 'anti-tempos.' Those unpredictable song structures that defy the norm and keep you on the edge of your seat. But unlike the 'anti-tempos' of a band like DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, for example, which come off as a non-musical blur, these bizarre tunes actually have character. Of course, repeated listens are a must. Hail the beasts of the East! - 9.5 - <Jack>

DEFLESHED - Under the Blade · Metal Blade / Invasion
Ultrahigh energy Black Thrash, with more than a little Death, and the added plus of really memorable songs. Very impressive indeed, and quite a step up from their Ma Belle Scapelle EP. This shows exactly what difference a good production can make. - 9 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEFLESHED - Fast Forward · Pavement
DEFLESHED's brand of Thrashy Death Metal has been a long-time favorite of mine, and this album sees them kicking just as much ass as ever. As an extra bonus, we're even treated to live versions of "Under the Blade" (my favorite song form their album of the same name) and "Thorns of a Black Rose." - 8.5 -<Ray>

DEFORMITY - Murder Within Sin · Blasphemour
A fairly decent hybrid of brutal Death Metal, Swedish-like Thrash, and seldom moshable Core arrangements. The vocals go from a somewhat substandard yell to bestial growls of ASSÜCK depth. This has its moments of pure hostile rage achieved through insane tempo changes. Still, it does tend to drag on at times. I found myself also to get into it most of the time, but I don't know how I'd feel had I spent $16 on it. Certainly it isn't always the most original composite, but I sense the capability this has to grow on you if you let it. Maybe it's just because I can't resist making some sort of contorted spinal movement to the mosh riff in "Speak Out My Name." - 8.5 - <Jack>

DEHYDRATED - Ideas · Copremesis
Brutal and somewhat melodic Death Metal. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

DEICIDE - Deicide · Roadrunner
This is the debut from DEICIDE, and it's sure to cause some trouble from the PMRC. The lyrics are as Satanic as any I've ever heard. Try not to let that bother you, though. Musically this is a fast band, very fast, yet still Death Metal heavy. That's a good combination. The vocals are something like CARNIVORE: deep screams. The only real problem this album suffers from is the back up vocals. Sometimes they cause the vocals to become "muddy" or just plain fucked up. I think that Glen can handle things vocally and that he doesn't need any help. I understand that the band wanted the music to sound frightening, and thought the weird back up vocals would do the trick. Sometimes they do, but not usually. If you can disregard the lyrics and the back up growls, this album is great. The words detract from the songs, because the concept of singing about Satan has been done to fucking death. I wonder if they actually believe all this "I killed Jesus" stuff they sing about. If they don't, they sure put on a convincing act. - 8 - <Ray>
{Eventually becoming one of the world's biggest Death Metal bands, DEICIDE have never wavered in their intensity, and are even more deadly now than ever.} **MC3**

DEICIDE - Legion · Roadrunner
I was really hoping that Legion wasn't going to be just a watered-down version of their debut, but in some respects it is. It's not too inferior, though, and this time the bass is even audible (and it sounds unbelievably fucking brutal). Florida's "Father of the Year," Glen Benton, has certainly improved in the bass department, but his lyrics and vocals have deteriorated. Only three songs: "Satan Spawn, The Caco-Daemon" (about Glen's son, Daemon), "Dead But Dreaming," and "Revocate the Agitator" are up to the standard set by Deicide. Maybe they should have waited longer. At least two songs are clearly filler, and this is on an album which is only 29 minutes long. DEICIDE are still tops in my book, but if they don't watch their asses, they might get dethroned soon. - 9 - <J.J.> **MC7**

DEICIDE - Amon: Feasting the Beast · Roadrunner
I don't care what anyone says. I think that releasing both AMON demos like this is cool. I like hearing the different versions of these songs. Sure, everything off the Sacrificial... demo sounds like the a lot like the album versions, but the differences are there. And the Feasting... tracks sound extremely different. This is a must for any DEICIDE fan, and I like it as much as the two albums, if not more. - 9 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEICIDE - Once Upon the Cross · Roadrunner
Okay, this utterly destroys this last album, Legion. It's written and performed more like their self-titled debut. And if you're not sure what this band sounds like, then put the mag down and go check out Spin. Well not Spin, I guess, since they once had an article on DEICIDE. Maybe YM, or Cosmo. Anyway, it did take them about three years to come up with 28 minutes and 12 seconds of music, so these guys are slow workers, but this is pretty high quality. I think they have been working on their solos quite a bit in those 3 years. And that was about all that ever needed work. Hey, another 2 minutes and it could even be considered a full length release - oh, wait a minute, they're claiming that this is a full length album! And charging full price for it, too! Is Satan their lord, or is it cash? Only Glen's accountant knows for sure. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

DEICIDE - Serpents of the Light · Roadrunner
This church-burner clocks in at just over a half hour, so although a short album, it is at least long enough to be considered an LP. But what's it sound like? In short, Serpents... is a distillation of their 3 previous albums. The production is supreme (I can even distinctly hear the bass this time!), the riffs and the drumming are as Hellish as you would expect, and the band's trademarked catchyness is totally intact. There are some improvements, too. The vox are somewhat more understandable, but still utterly demonic. It's an excellent compromise between clarity & brutality, and Glen would be well advised to stick with this style. And the guitar solos: With every album the Hoffman brothers have improved their leadwork, but this is the most notable progression yet. When Deicide came out in 1990, a lot of critics complained about the use of a harmonizer on the vocals, and the, shall we say, sloppy guitar solos. Their next album, Legion, was an attempt to prove that the band could play in a more technical style, and that plan backfired to a certain degree. Then Once Upon the Cross was unleashed, and the godkillers were well on their way back to glory. Serpents... can only be seen as the perfection of their efforts. Yes, there is a riff or two on here that is not 100% certified by Lord Satan, but this is very close to flawless. One thing I find a little odd about the lyrics, is this: They say "christ" more often than MORTIFICATION and LIVING SACRIFICE combined! I know that DEICIDE says stuff like "fuck the christ," or whatever, but maybe it would be cool to find a way to praise Satan without saying "christ this" and "christ that." Let's keep that joker out of it. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEICIDE - When Satan Lives · Roadrunner
The noxious assault that is DEICIDE continues to ferment with each studio album. And obviously their live shows are an opportunity to prove again and again that they certainly are for real, and then some. Unfortunately for myself, I've yet to experience the live DEICIDE ritual (I'll commit suicide right after this review), so this is the closest I get for now. To hear them play "Once Upon the Cross" made me want to ram my skull onto an anvil, like usual, and "Dead by Dawn" just killed live! Recorded at the House of Blues in Chicago, the sound is great. A royal of hash with friends and the stereo on eleven and you're hearing and seeing the show live. But if you've already seen them live you technically don't need this album. But when Satan does live to fill his ranks for the oncoming war, he'll kill all the losers who didn't pick this one up. Hail Satan! - 9.666 - <Bob> **MC12**

DEINONYCHUS - After the Rain Falls... EP · Guttural
This is weird Black Metal. The vox are fucking spastic, & rarely have much to do with the music. They vary from screams to yells to a freaked out cackle. The music varies nearly as much: Fast, slow, all speeds in-between. But it seems really thrown together. Maybe it's the lack of different drum beats or the insane vox, but this is too crazy to be memorable for any other reason. I guess I'll up the rating a little for that. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEITY - Gallery of the Mad · DEMO
Sometimes, when listening to something to review it, I become sort of possessed, and write an interesting review. When what I'm listening to is nothing special, then it's really hard to do the review, other than to say that DEITY are uninspired and bland, but not horrible. - 7 - <Ray> **MC9**

DEJECT - As Our Days Come to Pass · demo
This is so fucking cult! Here we have a traditional 4-song demo/CD (a rarity in this age) by a Norwegian Death Metal band that sound like some lost relic from the early ‘90s Nuclear Blast / Relapse roster! Now, that's just plain tits. Seriously, these guys make it like they used to. Hints of old GOREFEST, RESURRECTION, a pinch of DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, and especially old BENEDICTION make up the sound and feel of DEJECT, and you can add to the fold a healthy helping of suicidal lyrics for good measure. I just don't know what else you could ask for. Contact this band, get a copy of this demo, and instantly become the coolest kid on your block. - 9.5 - <Jack>
rikard@start.no

LE'RUE DELASHAY - The Court Composer · Root-o-Evil
He has arrived! The savior of modern music. Not!! This guy thinks highly of himself and his talents. His fifth release to date, but you would think it's his first. The orchestrations tend to be overworked and muddled. The patches he uses on his keyboard are not very flattering either. They sound canned, act canned, and therefore must be canned. Billed as "evocative atmosphere more suiting to a horror soundtrack." All this stuff did was make me think the Undertaker (WWF) was coming to my house. Wannabe Gothic Classical music with a whole lot of wannabe and no music. - 3 - <Gerg> **MC12**

LE'RUE DELASHAY - Musick in Theory and Practice · Root of All Evil
I guess I don't hate this as much as Gerg did Delashay's pervious album (as reviewed last issue), but it's still not too impressive. What we have here is a sometimes decent attempt at creating a "haunting" and "epic" soundtrack for a movie that doesn't exist. The "borrowing" from other, far more well known, soundtracks gives little credibility to La'rue's vastly inflated self-image and claims that this album "summons forth the primal majesty of the universe." It's not completely terrible, but give me a break! Honestly, I think that as far this type of "soundtrack" work is concerned, there is simply a lot better out there, and the legitimate composers generally don't share La'rue's extreme delusions of grandeur. - 5.75 - <Ray>

DÉMENCE - Total Démembrement · DEMO (CD)
Sick Death Metal is what this band is about, and they do it very well. But the most unique thing about this professional looking and sounding disc is that the lyrics are in French. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEMENTED TED - Demented Ted · DEMO
This is a three song demo with pretty good production. These guys are a pretty good Deathrash band. The vocals are kinda similar to Max Cavalera (SEPULTURA). They keep up a good tempo on all the songs. The song "Liquid Remains" is really good and the guitar solo in "Geneticide" is really awesome. Their drummer, Mike Anderson, is really good and everything about this demo impressed me. If you like good Deathrash, order this. - 8 - <Tom> **MC7**

DEMENTED TED - Despair · DEMO
Following SINDROME's lead, these guys went all the way to Morrisound to record. There are about a billion excellent studios a lot closer to Chicago. This is certainly their best effort so far, but some more original riffs wouldn't hurt. The sound quality is excellent, but this is pretty predictable. - 8 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEMENTED TED - Promises Impure · Pavement
I've seen this band live a couple times, and I wasn't too impressed. I guess they must have been having bad nights, because this is considerably better than their live show. It does, however, have a few faults. The music is perhaps a bit too repetitive, and this detracts from what is occasionally an excellent Death album. With a little more time, D.T. could really do something great, but they're not there quite yet. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEMENTIA - Recuperate From Reality · Progressive
Occasionally I wish I had a magic mixer that could eliminate vocals. This is one of those times. Musically, DEMENTIA is perfectly acceptable Thrash, but the vocals are like a bad OVERKILL imitation. Lyrics are fairly bland also. Still, if I could remove the vocals. Maybe 6 or 7 years ago, this would have been there, but now it just seems dated. In a bad way. - 7.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEMENTIA - 1993 demo · DEMO
Well, their lyrics make these guys out to be really tough, too bad the music and vocals do not support that. They have a couple good riffs, amid all the traditional Thrash chunks from aeons gone by. I think their best bet would be work on the riffs, and either go instrumental, or work on the lyrics twice as much as the riffs. - 6.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

DEMENTIA - No World Order · DEMO
By "work on the riffs," I meant that they should write some new ones, not use the same ones again. At least the lyrics seem a little better, and the vocals are marginally more under control. - 7 - <Ray> **MC9**

DEMENTOR - Kill the Tought on Christ · Immortal Souls
Straightforward, catchy, & very powerful Death Metal. There is a little experimentation, such as when the vocals are isolated alternately in the left and right channels in the title cut, but for the most part DEMENTOR don't waste any time with fucking around, and simply go for the kill from the first second. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEMENTOR - The Art of Blasphemy · Qabalah / Repulse
At last DEMENTOR have returned with their follow-up to 1997's Kill the Thought on Christ. Faster and deadlier than ever, this album is utterly relentless in its evil Death Metal onslaught. - 9 - <Ray> **MC12**

DEMILICH - Nespithe · Pavement / Necropolis
If only I liked the vocals, which sound like Antti is gargling syrup, this would be supreme. Musically it just kills. Very diverse, but with virtually no loss of memorability. Also pretty heavy, and the production is certainly a big plus. If you could get past the vox, this would be unstoppable, but I can't. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEMILICH - Nespithe · Repulse
Long-time readers will recall that I reviewed the (inferior) American release of this album back in issue #8. I didn't like the gurgly vocals then and I still don't. The music, however, is well played, and certainly brutal, so, if necessary, ignore the vocals. This version has vastly improved layout, and 4 bonus tracks from the band's 1991 demo. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DEMOLISH - Reinforcement Laments From the Lamb · Reborn
If not for the bursts of speed, I'd say that this keyboard-laden Death Metal, was actually Doom, but DEMOLISH generally keep things moving too fast for that. It's interesting listening experience. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

DEMOLITION - When the Tomb Beckons. · DEMO
Raw Death / Grind. Pretty memorable songs, and decent production. Sick vocals. This is great, and these guys also appear on the Heralds of Oblivion compilation CD. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

DEMOLITION HAMMER - Tortured Existence · Century Media
This is yet another Morrisound production. `Nuff said on that. DEMOLITION HAMMER is not exactly a Death band, The vox of Steve Reynolds see to that. I don't mean anything bad by that, Steve's vox are cool raw Thrashcore. All 8 songs are what Thrash should be: Fast, well performed, rough yet understandable vox, well produced, heavy guitar sound, thunderous drums, and cool bass. It's all there. Tortured Existence is, so far, one of the finest releases of '91. This LP is highly recommended. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC5**

DEMOLITION HAMMER - Epidemic of Violence · Century Media
This is the second release from these brutal Trash freaks. Lots of double bass and fast guitar riffs grace this album. All nine songs are on the Death edge of Thrash, and this is aided by the raw, screechy vox. Most songs are also very memorable, especially the final track, "Aborticide." This is what Thrash was meant to be. A definite must. - 9 - <Ray> **MC7**

DEMONIAC - The Fire and the Wind · Osmose
Cool combo of Black Thrash with more traditional Metal elements. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

DEMONIC - Lead Us Into Darkness EP · Necropolis
This has an excellent sound - powerful and full drums, and a raw, yet not over-distorted, guitar sound. The vocals are screechy and excruciated, and perfectly compliment their brand of fast Black Metal. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

DEMON