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Coldblooded 'Coldblooded'
Having been obliged to change their name from C.O.L.D to Coldblooded due to the threat of litigation from some bunch of Yankee fukwits of the same name, these London FRASHEADS have turned in a rather spiffing collection of speedy, grab-you-by-the-balls (though in a surprisingly melodic fashion) ditties. The songs themselves, it has to be said, are of pretty mixed quality (ie a couple are crap). 'Colder' is the most immediate song of the five, with its (latterday) Jeff Walker vocalisms, but it's on 'Turn the Other Cheek' where Coldblooded excel... dark, brooding, and possessed of some great riffage, which calls to mind Megadeth in places. It mightn't be anything startlingly original, but who cares... this is good shit.
Contact: c/o Destroya Music, Unit 105, Stratford Workshops, Burford Road, London, E15 2SP. Email: tazz@owar.com Website: www.owar.com/cold
Corpse Shagger 'How to Lose Friends and Insult People'
Suffering from a curious collective mental affliction that makes these Halifax guys labour under the misapprehension that they're a Japanese noise outfit (a similar psychological illness to the one which deludes Godreah's Crin into thinking that he actually isn't a part of the Meads of Asphodel), Corpse Shagger's fayre is, uh, unique. Basically, the lyric sheet's a laugh for the minute or two it takes to read it, but the 'music' is wank. Whereas Lesshelp and Slime God are fun and entertaining and quality, this is the nadir of this issue's demo section, and I'll sure the lads'll be happy to hear that. Avoid. Though the idea of three bassists and no geetars in a band is quite a novelty.
Contact: Corpse Shagger c/o who knows, there's no address on the tape.
Cranial Torment 'Death is Rising'
Stalking death, with a touch of measured grind sensibilities. This Greek duo's (now an uno) third demo manages to create a sense of being sucked into a VORTEX OF PAIN (which for some reason brings to mind the claustrophobic vacuum-type feel of Massacre), and achieve this without over-reliance on either constant breakneck speed or outright aggression. Bolt Thrower comparisons could also be drawn. A bit more variation in delivery would enhance the sound. Maybe next time.
Contact: Bill Benakis, 32 Paradision St, Peristeri, 121 36, Athens, Greece.
Cursed Earth (re-released demos)
During their time, 1989-95, Ireland's Cursed Earth released 6 demos in all (including rough pre-studio recordings) and this CD brings together the final three demos, namely 1992's 'Small Will for Survival', 1993's 'Symbiosis' and 1995's pre-production demos (from an aborted self-financed debut album). Definitely a product of its time, Cursed Earth's music is a fairly straight Thrash sound, albeit a lot more mellow than many acts... maybe Power would be a better description. 'Perfect Armour', for instance, screams standard Testament in terms of song structure, the vocals are of the 'clean' variety which ain't best for thrash, and despite their undeniable musical proficiency there's an air of naivety about the whole project. Some songs are good, whilst some are complete shite ('Sorrow's End'). Today, this wouldn't cut the mustard... it lacks the savvy and nous required nowadays... nonetheless, it's worth checking out if you're interested in a retrospective of the Irish scene.
Contact: Barry Kinane, Valleymount, Blessington, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. Email: celestial@eircom.net
Desolate 'Shadows in Darkness'
YES. A Mayhemik Thrash-athon of splendid dimensions. This five-track demo from Dublin's Desolate has been played almost to deth over recent times here at Fitted Kitchens HQ... it's no secret that we adore FRASH above all else, and nuggets like this brighten up our woeful, miserable lives. Opener 'Chaos Seasons' is filled to the bloody brim with energy a-go-go, strident vocals, tasty lead work which ain't afraid to go hither and thither, and basic but full-on drumming which recalls klassik Germanic Metal of yore. 'Seasons in Darkness' does likewise, as does the whole damn thing.... Hell, '100 and 1 Damned Nations' (aye, I know...) even sneaks a tilt toward WASP. Fuck all this 'evil' Black Metal bollox... pah, music for gurlz and children... Thrash is where it is, was and forever shall be, baby.
Contact: Rory McCrystal, 81 Hampton Cove, Balbriggan, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
Dioxin 'Saving California'
Dioxin, formerly 'Doomflight', is an industrial project, which at times moves in a similar vein to Ireland's arch-experimentalists, Epoch. Though I'll qualify just that 'industrial' tag I've just used... Dioxin aren't one of those cold, mechanical efforts that ultimately disappoint. Rather, it's a project tempered with sufficient human warmth and emotion to draw the listener into what proves to be an engaging listen, in much the same fashion as darker Godflesh does. Indeed, it's pretty mesmerising. Highly recommended.
Contact: Mark Burns, 27 Harrowgate St, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5JE, England, UK
The Enchanted 'Pagan Metal' (2000)
More of a melodic Death Metal feel than I picked up on from their previous 'Freedom to Perceive' demo. Though produced by Mags at Academy (and what isn't these days), the demo's missing a bit of ummpphh, but that hardly detracts from the fact that The Enchanted have a clear knack of writing decent shit.... where dream-like melodics can give way of brutality and yet remain part of a consistent whole... no mean feat, boys and girls. Check out 'Unveiled'.
Contact: c/o Sinister Realms, PO Box 406, Bradford, West Yorks, BD7 1XY, England, UK. Email: daryl@lineone.net. Website: http://sinisterweb.cjb.net
Epoch/ D.K Disturbia (split demo, 2000)
Northern Ireland's Epoch are quality mindfuckery. A screwed-up Hawkwind quasi-industrial project, they've delivered several headwrecking productions over the past few years. 'Berashith', their first recording to be released since last year's 'Inside an Open Space', is as otherworldly as you'd come to expect... it's like 'Space Ritual' on a bad trip, hippie-proto-Metal for the mentally disenfranchised. The flip-side of this cassette demos a toon from D.K Disturbia, another County Armagh project... again, following a similar vein as Epoch, their 'Disembowelling the Jehovah Virus' is uncannily akin to the Epoch sound... hmmmm. I don't have a contact for Disturbia, so best to go via Epoch's Jason.
Contact: Jason Barriskill, 35 Whitesideshill, Ballyworkan, Portadown, Northern Ireland, BT62 3RJ, UK.
Excarnated 'Genital Gallery' (1999)
Readers may recall this very zine foaming at the trousers over Excarnated's 'Let the Hatred Manifest' last issue. Well, these Australian misanthropes are it again... and whilst the production ain't as sharp as their last outing, the music still smites thee down, with ball-numbingly bass-laden vocals and razor-like riffage aplenty. The song fodder continues in the Excarnated-vein ('Crimson Ecstasy', 'Torso Fucker, 'Orgiastic Abominations' and 'Where the Dead Dream'), and the vibe carries that relentless aggression, like a rawer early Deicide. Perhaps not quite as striking as their previous release, but still, if it's crushing Grind you're after, this should get you squirming with dethly delight on your throne of stone.
Contact: Excarnated, PO Box 5407, Mordialloc 3195, Victoria, Australia.
Website: www.angelfire.com/id/excarnated
Flight of Fantasy 'Demo 1999' and 'Demo 2000'
Two demos here, both entirely instrumental. Of the two, the first is by far the better one... stronger, better rounded, and more suggestive of Power/ Speed Metal... it also has the better recording quality. The second, in comparison, is pretty dull and much less 'Metal', more of a fuzzy geetar wankfest than anything else. I reckon you could describe the music as a soundtrack-type project... though there's still plenty of room for improvement... but to be honest I won't be listening to these again. Still, the promos are free, so why not check it out?
Contact: c/o Mind's Eye, PO Box 26278, London, W3 0WG, UK
Grot/ Agathocles (split demo '99)
It's 1989, and Grind is where it's happening, baby... at least, listening to Grot (vomited forth by Jon, he of Gorerotted/ Brutal Insanity infamy) you'd think it was. 'Sweet Sickteen' encompasses a mere 35 songs of deliberately cheesy blastbeat hyperfrenzy... and whilst it's OK fun (except when it gets a bit too-dethlike), I could barely be arsed to listen all the way through. 'Hellbent for Leather' is pretty funny though. Still, the abysmal recording can't disguise the fact that these guys can actually nail together some vaguely entertaining stuff, and reminds me of many a pleasant night at Giro's in Belfast watching anarcho-crust bollox. Belgian stalwarts Agathocles continue the grind mayhem on side b of this tape. Their 'Culture of Degradation' ('Mince-core' as they prefer to name their reek of putrefaction) is really just more of the same, albeit with more shade and colour and a few tasty necro-guitar riffs. It's also easier to consume... indeed, it's jolly good.
Contact: Jon Rushforth, Killingwold Cottage, Beverly Road, Bishop Burton, East Yorkshire, HU17 8QY, England, UK.
Hexxed 'Perish the Sacred' (2000)
Death Metal as fuk... this being this Northern Irish crew's first offering, it's an ear opener, what with its power and breadth of influences (Morbid Angel, Carcass etc). Sure, it could do with a bit more spice in places (namely on opener 'Sabactani' which is strange choice to start with, being the weakest on offer and where Ciaran's vocals sound far too generic), but there's some amazing stuff here, like 'Vitruvian' and 'Perish The Sacred'... songs where Hexxed literally UNLEASH themselves and PUMMEL. It's one of those demos which massively improves with each song. These guys have got clear potential... keep an eye on 'em, as they'll surely RIP next time round.
Contact: Ciaran Tracey, 4 Magheraleve Park South, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT28 3NN, N. Ireland, UK.
Email: ciaran62@hotmail.com Website: www.angelfire.com/music/hexxed
Honey For Christ 'The Art of Self Abuse and Soul Erosion' (2000)
Hmmm... a toughy. Live, HFC are exciting performers with strong songs, but this recording... hmmm. It's obvious that the songs are there and even a deaf man can hear that this just oozes passion and integrity, but that's no use to me if I can't hear it. The production isn't bad per se, but it's just a bit too polite for these ears and I think it does little to reflect the power and intensity of the live animal that the punters are eating up. Case in point- 'Soiled And Shivering'-easily the best song on the disc for my wedge - is where I have to gripe about the polite sound. Man, those drums sound like they'd do naughty things to my sister if I could only hear them and dig that riff! But while I have gripes aplenty about the weak production values, their live performance is certain to make them many friends and fans around the Emerald Isle and deservedly so. The No-Wave of New Irish Heavy Fuking Metal is born. Join the party! (Juan Baptisto)
Contact: Honey For Christ, c/o Andy Clark, 32 Magherabeg Road, Dromore, Co. Down, BT25 1RS, Northern Ireland, UK. Email: hfc@heavymetal.co.uk Website: www.honeyforchrist.co.uk
Interlock 'Submerged'
These Essex folks' self-titled '97 demo wasn't really that great, but this is the business. Essentially gothic (and we ain't talking Paradise Lost here, more the Goth genre) but incorporating some mean Metalliks and industrial harshness... which at times makes Interlock sound like Moonspell's fuked-up misanthropic younger sibling who's been locked in the attic for all his life. The male/ female vocals work well, though do lean a little too much toward the conventional saucy bird/ hairy-arsed manmonster approach (at least on 'Straight/ lunarcaustic'). 'Fifthworld' is a more sombre, malevolent affair, a delicious undertow of menace seeping through the speakers, but it's on 'Birdman' where Interlock make total sense... a great song.
Contact: Interlock, 46 Hall Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM 6 4LJ, England, UK.
Website: www.interlock.freeserve.co.uk
Kabinboy, The, demo (2000)
This, a 7-inch vinyl offering from Belfast's The Kabinboy, doth kick major ass. Weaned on the spirit of Sabbath and their ilk, and POSSESSED of the gift of groove, this instrumental three-piece whack upside the head with krushing heaviousity. Two tracks here... side 'A' is the groovier, side 'B' just slightly less so. Hmm... perhaps not standard fodder here at Fitted Kitchens towers, but a damn fine piece of plastic ne'er the less.
Contact: Gary Sloan, 109 Melrose Street, Belfast, BT9 7JH, Northern Ireland, UK.
Karnayna, demo (2000)
The production on this long-awaited demo is a tad weedy, and this results in a little too much of a fiddle-dee-aye and NOT ENUF METAL vibe in several places (the lead geetar sounds like someone on a kazoo, and sounds like Richard Clayderman on the ivories), but it's clear to see where these guys are coming from... and that's Celtic Metal with a great big hairy ballbag. The vocals, for instance, are pretty damn gruff and as rough as a badger's arse, a touch of Death with a hint of low-register Black. In some ways, it sounds like England's Ewigkeit (the orchestration) with a sprinkling of Maiden melody and a hefty dose of Waylander ummpphhh thrown into the pot of snot. The third and final dittie, 'Sounds Call', in particular showcases the breadth of vibe that Karnayna can conjure up. Nice. A bit of a shame sound-wise, but shows promise nonetheless.
Contact: Karnayna c/o Nails, PO Box 666, Leixlip, County Kildare, Ireland. Email: Karnayna@eire.net
Khang 'Premeditated' (1999) and 'Got to Love It' (2000)
Two demos here from Bradford's Khang, in which they ply their Cathedral-esque groove throughout. Opener on the 'Premeditated' demo, 'Evening Rain', is a juiced-up stomper of a beastie, though the chorus is a bit trite, and it reeks of Messrs Dorian and Jennings' 'Midnight Mountain'... '25 or 64' continues the theme, though with more of a dark-grunge (a la Alice in Chains) nod or two. Then, it's back to straight-down-the-line Doomgroove with several touches of Monster Magnet weird-out and apocalyptic drugfiend nightmares, via 'Gypsy', a cover of the Uriah Heep classic, until closer 'Stagnant Pool' (think Thin Lizzy meets Dave Windorf). Second demo, 'Got to Love It' sees a further progression, as Khang hone an individual sound which adds a hefty dash of rock-hero vocals, setting the impression that these guys could definitely hit the big-time. Points of note for the UK grindcore maniax out there... Bri, ex-crustmerchants Doom, plays with Khang, as does Rick Miah (ex-My Dying Bride). Quality full-on grinding rock indeed.
Contact: c/o 'Bradford Music', PO Box 169, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 2UJ, England, UK.
Kingdom 'Bloodtide' (2000)
Raw, Black Metal meets DOOM. Good to hear Brian's vocals again, he'd done a damn fine job with Geasa a while back. Three songs on here, with three divergent styles... there's the Doomy 'Poisoned' with its early Anathema vibe, the Black fury of 'Bloodtide', though it's on 'Revelation' (an appropriate title) where Kingdom most surprise, with a hefty dose of Maiden spunk and some dabblings with, horror, COK-ROK. In terms of where the band has come from, and where it's heading for, this demo gives a great synopsis of Kingdom and all that it entails. I know there'd been a few problems with getting this out, so I reckon that all should have been sorted by time this zine (eventually) goes to print.
Contact: Brian O'Connor, 269 Grace Park Heights, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, Republic of Ireland.
Email: kingdom666@hotmail.com Website: www.esatclear.ie/~kingdom666/
Lesshelp 'Don't Settle for Less Than Metal' (2000)
After a three year sabbatical bricked-up in the vaults of Buckfast abbey, the Hooded Brothers are back. 46 tracks of blistering Death-Grind, from Ireland's premier Masters of Spoof. Don't let the less-than-serious ethos behind this project put you off, for the quality and musicianship is top-notch, and this band can piss over a great many others. Dedicated, as ever, to the annihilation of Spides (if yer scratching yer head in confusion, read the interview with them in this zine), the humour is as spot-on as in their previous platters, except this time the production quality SHREDZ (the drums and guitar whack yer head like a tart's handbag). It's difficult to convey just how good this is, so BUY IT. Highpoints... 'Escape from Spide City','25/8 Metal in the Head' and 'Evil' (replete with Christopher Lee samples).
Contact: Lesshelp, 11 Kilhorne Gardens, Belfast, BT5 6NT, Northern Ireland, UK.
Email: lesshelp@heavymetal.co.uk Website: www.ferox.i12.com/lesshelp
Malediction 'Shadows of Iniquity' (2000)
Eminently listenable Death Metal, with a spicy twist or two lurking within its walls of torment. Seems that these Bradford guys had actually be flaying their wares back in the early 90's, before calling it a good day to die in '96. Thankfully, they've reformed, and this be the first release hence. Opener 'The Soul Mechanism' kicks in like a Deathed-up Skyclad, with speeded-up My Dying Bride-ish British Doom guitar and leads which lends a sheen of aesthetics to an otherwise harsh beastie. Onto 'Infusoria Humanis', and Malediction continue to toy with the gothic doom thread, creating an instrumental that is accentuated by some tasteful keyboard atmospherics (which to my mind sounds like a more baroque version of some of the instrumentals on 'Dusk and Her Embrace'). 'Ruinous Opiate', an the other hand, goes off at quite a bizarre tangent, with a great mix of deathly aggression and, er, groove... and jazzed-up piano intro... which does indeed slay mightily. Point of trivia; Solstice's Rich Walker adds his throat to the closing track. The verdict? A mature, well-considered and addictive listen. Good shit indeed.
Contact: Malediction, PO Box 552, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU5 3EH, England, UK.
Email: contact@malediction.org Website: www.malediction.org
N.R.G Addictt 'Threshold' (2000)
Originally known as 'Soundscape 37', N.R.G Addictt is the offspring of Steve Rickard, an industrial-guitar orientated project laden with samples in lieu of vocals. Take some Trip Hop, riffs like Ministry et al and a clear dose of exuberance. In a variety of ways, it mirrors some of the bases explored by Godflesh over the late 90's, and it must be said that it works extremely well. A themed recording, based on the twin concepts of biotechnology/ genetic engineering and their related cultural/ moral issues, 'Threshold' should be checked out.
Contact: Steve Rickard, 20 Rose Valley, Threemilestone, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6BH, Cornwall, UK. Email: www.two.owls@virgin.net
Phantasia 'Screams of the Hideous' (2000)
I haven't heard from Chris since 98's 'Sensual, and other Songs' way back in issue 1, so it was a pleasant surprise to see find this beastie lurking in our PO box of vileness and despair. This is essentially an album-length affair, which indeed incorporates a few songs from said 'Sensual...' demo. In terms of sound, Phantasia have in the past tended toward the 'Black' moniker, but the newer fayre is more epic and broad... for example, 'Girlfriend of the Dead' (what a title!) displays a vocal style and atmospheric epicness that calls to mind the excellent Bal-Sagoth. Of course, the slower stuff remains in abundance as well... 'Winifred's Grave' oozes the power of DOOM, and makes for repeat plays on the FKOTLD deck of death. The vocals have an almost 'industrial' (and for that, read 'tormented and harsh') feel, though still remaining clearly of the rawer Black metal ilk. 'Dream On', unfortunately, isn't an Aerosmith cover... that would be something! There's also a couple of instrumentals that rate highly in our opinion.
Contact Email: Phantasia@breathemail.net Website: http://users.breathemail.net/chriscarter
Primal Dawn 'Primal Dawn'
Dublin's Primal Dawn were previously known as 'Evolutions End' (a rather impressive thrash crew) who've since changed not just name but also style. Now, they play Death Metal. It's a shame they changed, but a band'll have its valid reasons and you can't expect people not to evolve. Ok, as for the music itself, it's not bad... the recording doesn't do them many favours (it's a bit too 'flat'), but that's hardly the be all and end all. Their style of death is fairly simplistic (which indeed often works best in Metal), a melodic approach with occasional rapidfire bursts of aggression and some good leads which recall Evolution's End.... and this is all worthy of hearty 'Hails!'. 'Blood of the Land' is Celtic Death ā la Waylander, sounds good at high volume. 'Pull the Trigger' is an interesting one, where the band go out of their way to explain that their right-way philosophy on crime and punishment doesn't imply any 'Nazi-esque' tendencies... needless paranoia perhaps? Not a bad demo, but a bit too conservative, as if they're not entirely sure where they want to go. However, I reckon the next one should see that sorted out...
Contact: Primal Dawn c/o Pat Kennedy, 7 Glenville Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Republic of Ireland.
Riff Master General (self-titled, 2000)
Serious musos here, Belfast's RMG aim high in the quality stakes and have clearly achieved top grades. On the copy I have, there's a mix of songs ie both with and without vocal tracks incorporated. 'Prey for Me', as an example, has a great perfect sense of proportion and pace, that neither blusters nor sells itself short... and this is one of the slower songs on offer. 'El Loco', in contrast, is a faster affair with solid riffs and some handsome progressions throughout (nowt to do with ZZ Top). The quality of the songwriting is consistent throughout the demo. To be honest, I prefer the songs in their instrumental setting... not that the vocals are poorly done... they simply come across better without 'em. If you're aged 16 or into the shouty-tantrum end of the metallik spectrum, you probably wouldn't even piss on this, but for those with a broader mindset, it's well worth hearing. Music to sink pints to with yer best Rock-Chick by yer side.
Contact: RMG, Drew Davison, 9 Rathkeel Road, Broughshane, Ballymena, County Antrim, BT42 4NN, N. Ireland, UK. Email: drew@riffmastergeneral.com. Website: www.riffmastergeneral.com
Rötschreck (2-track promo) (1999)
Scotland's not renowned for its extreme Metal, at least not as far as I'm aware of, so this is something of a pleasant surprise... a difficult one to describe... some call it Death Metal, the band's preferred description is 'Doomcore' but I'd say it was an amalgam of anarcho punk/ grind/ Metal crossover. So there, yet another idea of how broad this band's sound is. Musically, its fast and brutal, driven by guitars yet with some effective intervals where they slow down a gear or three to grind you into the dirt. Since this demo, Rötschreck have signed to England's Tenderloin records, and their debut EP, 'Heatsink' should be out this autumn. By the way, they still need a drummer so give 'em a shout if interested.
Contact: c/o Tenderloin Records, 3 Chapelfields, Ardingly Road, Cuckfield, West Sussex, RH17 5JR, England, UK.
Email: tenderloin@tinyonline.co.uk
Scald 'Nematoid Specimen Parts I-IV' (1999) and 'Nematoid Specimen Parts V-IIX' (2000)
Fed up with waiting around for Belgium's 'Shiver Records' to get their arse in gear after a year's run-around, Scald have returned to their own nefarious devices and these be the result. This Belfast three-piece has always been averse to being pigeonholed, preferring the tag 'weirdextrememetallicoffthebeatheadmelt' Metal, but essentially it's a strong and HIGHLY INDIVIDUAL blend of grind and death that coalesces into a supremely powerful whole. OK, let's unleash the first of these two demos. Lyrically, Scald continue to explore the more unsavoury aspects of the human psyche (but no 'rancid fuckholes' this time around), and the music seems to have more room to move this outing, if that makes sense. Closer ditty, 'The Meat Perfect', sees an even darker side to Scald than they have ever exposed before, and to these ears is by far the best cut off this platter, with Pete using a broader range of vocal styles than on others. Indeed, it's one of the most striking songs Scald have written to date. Oh aye, nice sample at the end, chaps. The second demo (where they seem to have screwed up their Latin numerics) also sees progression from the 'Born With Teeth'-era aural goodies, though somewhat strangely this demo would seem more like a predecessor to '... Parts I-IV'. Again, a mix of shade and colour, leading to a sound that transcends conventional boundaries, or at least meets them in dodgy circumstances and violates 'em in a most deviant manner. 'The Longest Day' is the sweetest abuse on offer here. Eyebrow-raising stuff indeed, a soundtrack for yer worst nitemares.
Contact: Paulrus, 32 Dellmount Road, Bangor, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, BT20 4TY. Email: paulruscald@hotmail.com
Slime God 'Cataclysmic Orgy Blues' (2000)
Mr Carter again, he of Phantasia, gets his mojo working and delivers to the world his pustulent lustings. 'Cataclysmic Orgy Blues' perversely reminds me of a sleazed-up Sigh ('Hail Horror, Hail'), and the lyrics are priceless... "Now we laugh as the living flee, Zombie have sex with me, Orgasmic dying screams, as the Undead pant and cream". 'Septic Love Groove' is actually a fucking great song (this demo ain't no one-song-yer-bored-shitless Lawnmower Deth affair). This is Death Lurve Metal, and taken with a hefty pinch of dried-up necrotickunthoney, is the ideal soundtrack for a few beers and a foot-stompin boogie before a night on the town. File with Lesshelp.
Contact: (as 'Phantasia')
Spindrift 'Spindrift' (2000)
Eight Hardcore ditties from Belfast's Spindrift, with a sort of Biohazard/ S.O.I.A vibe... actually, I know fuck all about Hardcore (preferring devil-signs to finger-pointy theatrics), so I'm not sure how to describe this in relation to other acts of that genre. Suffice to say that the vocals carry an Americanised delivery to these ears, and they all sound pretty righteous. The songs themselves are fairly structurally straightforward, and there's a clear buzz about it but the demo doesn't catch the awesome UUMMPPPHHHHHHH power of Spindrift in the live setting (which is pretty damn intense). If you get a chance to see them, go for it, baby. It'll flay yer supple buttox.
Contact: Spindrift, 76 Ivanhoe Avenue, Carryduff, BT8 8BW, Northern Ireland, UK. Website: www.spindrift.org.uk
Tefra 'Carved in Mind'
Ozzy lives and breathes in Halifax, or at least Tefra like to think so. 'Carved in Mind' is a 5-song demo which captures the spirit of classic the Sab's in an affectionate manner, though the quality is pretty ropey. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining listen, with the likes of 'The Clown' and 'Stoned Revolution' being damn good footstompin' boogies. I guess Tefra produce novelty music more than anything else.
Contact: Darren Parkinson, 31 Westfield Drive, Lighcliffe, Hailfax, West Yorks, HX3 8AW, England, UK.
Email: tefra@yahoo.com Website: www.members.tripod.com/tefra
The Dead Travel Fast
A strange 'un here, from Barry Kinane from the long-defunct Cursed Earth crew. A two-track demo, there are clearly bits of powerful Metal, particularly in the riffs in opener 'Love Never Dies', but in the main the power is robbed by the recording itself, the thoroughly vile drum machine and a peculiar lead guitar sound. Bizarrely, I keep thinking of Duran Duran's 'Planet Earth' whilst I listen to 'The Dead Travel Fast'.... which ain't actually a criticism believe it or not! No, this is quite an enjoyable nugget with some nifty geetar work which should really be re-done again with a bit more ummphhh and balls. T'would be a grand listen then.
Contact: Barry Kinane, Valleymount, Blessington, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. Email: celestial@eircom.net
Throne of Nails 'Ascension'
Alongside 7th Child, Gorerotted, Desecration, Malediction and other such purveyors of sonic atrocity, Throne of Nails are rapidly establishing themselves as a name to keep an eye on in the (hopefully) resurgent British Death Metal. Some excellent off-kilter guitar leads TWIST AND TURN in this release (eg on 'Flesh Departed'). There's a strong sense of 'classic' US Death Metal along the lines of Deicide, Immolation and Malevolent Creation. However, sound-production-wise, 'Ascension' is pretty damn iffy, Throne of Nails opting for the professional CD status a tad too early for their own good. By all accounts, they're much better live.
Contact: Throne of Nails, PO Box 876, Wallington, SM6 0XL, England, UK.
Email: matt@throneofnails.demon.co.uk Website: www.throneofnails.demon.co.uk
Unsilence 'Transfiguration'
It must be stated... this is ESSENTIAL. Doomy, very British sound... though not along the death-like Doom of early Paradise Lost, nor the gorgeously romantic sorrow of Anathema or the dirge-like misery of My Dying Bride.... more along the lines of Solstice methinks... that heady mix of Doom and NWOBHM. 'The Gallery' is the clear pinnacle of this 3-song demo, what with its middle being a statement of atmospheric genius, which could bring to mind earlier My Dying Bride. Great stuff.
Contact: Unsilence, c/o Kieron Tuohey, 105 Devonshire Road, Bolton, Lancs, BL1 4PP, England, UK. Email: unsilence@mailcity.com Website: http://listen.to/unsilence
Waste 'Therapy'
Excellent sound quality from this Italian three-piece, with an extremely powerful punch... but I can't listen to it from start to finish, it just does my head in. It's essentially Nu Thrash/ Nu Metal, all stop-start-no lead mayhem, too 'harder than thou' and really just a pain in the ass as far as us Metallik Luddites are concerned. Still, if yer into 'contemporary thrash', try 'em out, you may well enjoy it.
Contact: Waste, c/o Patrizio Pappalardo, C.P.71, 95021 Acicastello (CT), Italy
Zerotonin 'Needle Jerk'
Zerotonin... what with its nod towards early noisemeisters Therapy? and the sheer power of this demo, 'Needle Jerk' is a must-have. They may have no hair, a bloke on decks, and not sing about fucking Satan's goat, but these guys are a deal more Metaalllll than manys a band out there at present. The fact they supported Godflesh and didn't get torn into pieces and sewn back to life by the hairy-arsed audience should stand as a clear testament to their abilities. 'Crawl' and 'Hatefuck' will smite thee with their power. Mongo like.
Contact: Glen, 26 Beverly Road, Carnmoney, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT36 6QD, N. Ireland, UK.
Email: info@zerotonin.co.uk Website: www.zerotonin.co.uk
Various - 'Cold, Grey and Dead' vols 4 & 5
Both of these are available from big gay Grey (he of 'Kentucky Fried Afterbirth' zine infamy) and are definitely worth mugging yer granny for. Between the two, the tapes serve platters of pain from no less than 27 UK underground Metal acts (and 1 Irish, namely Dreamsfear) ranging from Brutal Insanity through Crawlspace to Throne of Nails. There's a load of stuff on here I'd never even heard of, so three cheers for our favourite slimfast diet planner.
Contact: Grey, 141 Montague Road, Leytonstone, London, E11 3EW, England, UK.
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