Death Courier - Demise

Artist: Death Courier
Release Title: Demise
Year: 1992 (2016 re-issue)
Label: Psychosis (Nuclear War Now! Productions re-issue)
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Demise
2. Swamplife
3. Copkiller
4. Interior Crushfield
5. Assaulted
6. Mindwarp
7. The Haunter of the Dark
8. Bioartificial Lusts
9. Infected
10. Lunatic Messiah

At the time of it’s release, Greek thrash/death metallers Death Courier were among the few acts in the country that weren’t paying homage to the exploding Scandinavian black metal scene, and originally split up in 1993 almost immediately after this release. Having reformed in 2009 with a new line-up and a second album already released, their full-length debut is now reissued August 15, 2016 on Nuclear War Now! Productions after an initial release in 1992 on Psychosis Records.

There’s a lot to rather like about this release, which starts up-front with the dynamic riff-work. This is rather impressive as the tight, deep-churning riffing is given a wide-berth on the release, managing to utilize either the galloping up-tempo thrash patterns or a slower, churning sprawl that takes the path of death metal acts from that time-period, it’s quite a variance on display that’s more than adept at merging these two styles together as the genres were still blurred in this period yet are still quite prominently featured here. That kind of overtly obvious display makes the material appear even more obvious here with the frantic thrash riffing generating the kind of up-tempo, chaos-riddled madness alongside the utterly furious blasting drumming which is all quite impressively handled while also managing to drop the chaos in favor of a slower, lurching crawl that favors the heavier end of the spectrum. Being able to accomplish all this while being able to feature tight, shortened tracks here is a great feat as well that further makes for a great time here as it manages to get a lot of variety and impact out of a shortened running time, almost contradictory to most other bands who can’t master that kind of variance and dynamics in tracks nearly double the length of some of these. Some of the chaotic material might seem schizophrenic and disjointed to some, but the maturity and prowess demonstrated leaves some rather impressive work featured here.

Despite a case where it does seem to cram too much into itself for it’s own good,that’s a rather nagging and barely worthwhile element to be found here with this one as it’s one of the more clear-cut and enjoyable examples of the styles in the genre and is wholly recommended to all fans of that particular style or just ravenous, vicious thrash in general.

Score: 93/100

Does it sound good? Order the re-issue from here:
http://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/demise

Reencarnación (Col) - Reencarnación (888 Metal)

Artist: Reencarnación (Col)
Release Title: Reencarnación (reissue named 888 Metal)
Year: 1987 (reissued in 2015)
Label: Originally self-released/independent (reissue on Nuclear War Now! Productions)
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
Original release
1. Reencarnación (888 Metal)
2. Nexus Universalis
3. Armageddon
4. El Canto de los Sepulcros
5. Puta Religión
6. A la Diestra del Mesías
7. Funeral del Norte
8. Reencarnación (II Parte)

Reissue release:
1. Reencarnación (888 Metal)
2. Nexus Universalis
3. Armageddon
4. El Canto de los Sepulcros
5. Puta Religión
6. A la Diestra del Mesías
7. Funeral del Norte
8. Reencarnación (II Parte)
9. Reencarnación (III Parte)
10. Un Minuto de Vida y un Siglo de Muerte
11. Acompáñame a la Tumba
12. Reencarnación (888 Metal)
13. El Canto de los Sepulcros
14. Armageddon
15. Puta Religión
16. A la Diestra del Mesías
17. Funeral del Norte
18. Acompáñame a la Tumba

The debut full-length from Colombian black/thrashers Reencarnación is certainly an album more renown for it’s historical significance and importance rather than the actual content of the music within. Sloppy, discordant and simply amateurish riffing is the hallmark here all given a raw edge with the low production values in place that really gives the whole affair a ivibe of a garage-level demo recorded without professional equipment in place. There’s no real consistent arrangements on display regardless of how badly-produced it sounds, tending to alter the kind of patterns and paces here into discordant affairs with a choppy structure that radically starts and stops at various points throughout the tracks which makes it seem like they’re conceived right on the spot improvisationally. Other forms of discordant patterns emerge through the use of obscure arrangements and segments placed here that slow the material down into a series of sprawling tempos that are just lethargic and plodding or featuring unusual instrumentation with classical violin pieces from that are just out-of-place and wholly disjointed against the thrashing elsewhere. On the whole the music here is not that good being too sloppy or amateurish to really make an impression.

The first half here demonstrates what’s on display here nicely, even if the songs generally aren’t. Intro ‘Reencarnación (888 Metal)’ takes a stuttering series of start/stop riffing and pounding drum-work into a fine series of sloppy raging rhythms full of discordant riffing over clattering drumming and frequent tempo changes full of schizophrenic patterns raging along into the final half for a decent enough opener. ‘Nexus Universalis’ features a staggering, discordant series of riffing into a loose series of blackened thrashing with plenty of loose, sprawling riffing alongside the raging drumming taking along a steady mid-tempo attack featuring lethargic rhythms and discordant notes through the finale for an overall disappointing and bland effort. ‘Armageddon’ uses a stuttering series of discordant riffing with a series of bland plodding drumming over sampled effects dragging the pacing down with sprawling, droning riff-work leading into the series of frantic riff-work and urgent blasting drumming coming through the final half for a wasted first part yet enjoyable second part. ‘El Canto de los Sepulcros’ features a series of swirling riffing and clattering rhythms slowly galloping along into a series of discordant rhythms featuring wild schizophrenic patterns charging along with the swirling riffs churning throughout the extended thrashing of the final half makes this the album’s highlight without much difficulty.

The second half is again a rather weak and overall disappointing part of the album. The minute-long instrumental ‘Puta Religión’ features simple drumming and celestial keyboards creating a localized, haunting landscape over the tolling bell-strikes and monster growls for a totally useless mid-album breather. ‘A la Diestra del Mesías’ features stuttering and discordant riffing along with plenty of pounding drumming into a series of blasting drum-work and plenty of sloppy riffing thrashing through stuttering tempos littered with savage, choppy drumming leading into the final half for a decent-enough if rather problematic effort. ‘Funeral del Norte’ uses a sharp series of swirling thrashing riff-work and clattering drumming working through a series of stuttering tempos and discordant pattern riffing with the raw rhythms taking the chaotic energy along with more choppy, stuttering rhythms along through the finale for another somewhat enjoyable effort. Lastly, the epic album-closer ‘Reencarnación (II Parte)’ uses classical violins alongside rattling drumming and stuttering riffing with plenty of staggered rhythms and plodding paces that bring the utterly sloppy rhythms along through the violin pieces and the extended, sprawling tempos full of clattering rhythms for another disappointing effort that ends this on a rather disappointing note.

Even though it’s one of the most important and respected album in the South American extreme metal scene, there’s just not a whole lot on display here that’s really appealing and ends up leaving this one only for the most devout and impassioned fans of that style with this particular version of the release being the one to get should that be desired.

Score: 35/100

Does it sound good? Order the reissue here:
http://www.nwnprod.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28&products_id=19045&zenid=ae16d24e3900c260fd2ca164b9970bcc