If you listened to metal in the 80’s, the metal massacre compilation releases were an essential source of new bands and material coming from various corners of the world, many becoming household names. Metal Blade’s first release in 1982 was ‘Metal Massacre’ and included the then unsigned Metallica, Cirith Ungol, Bitch, Ratt, Steeler and Malice, although Ratt and Steeler were omitted from subsequent re-issues. Subsequent releases included Slayer, Overkill, Abattoir, Armored Saint, Savage Grace, Warlord, Trauma, Obsession, Virgin Steele, Trouble, Lizzy Borden, Omen, Voivod, Helhammer….you get the picture, this was a massively influential compilation series, long before the internet and the easy access you lucky people have to music in current times.
This one, compiled in the same spirit of I to VIII, by Primordial’s Alan Averill, features bands that many of you will already know. Stone Dagger (a side project of the doom band Magic Circle) for instance, have a long sold out 7 inch and cassette and the track included here (although only two tracks have ever been recorded to date!), ‘The Siege of Jerusalem’ is my favorite of the compilation and has a similar guitar tone to Magic Circle encompassing a touch more NWOBHM into the sound.
Other hard hitters like Outcast (Australia), really kick up the momentum, for me, this was the biggest surprise in a damn fine way with ‘No Tomorrow’ from their recent EP. Then you have Metalian (Can) who are a fast and furious Speed and Traditional metal band and really good at their craft with their song ‘The Traveller’ from their most recent self-released EP. Underground epic doomsters Gatekeeper from Canada have deserved to break out from the underground for a while now. Their track also featured elsewhere as a 7 inch single last year, it’s a worthy addition, check them out.
Cobra from Peru add a track from their 2011 debut album ‘Lethal Strike’ and you had better break out your bullet belts and fists for these rousing heavy metal tune. Assassin’s Blade entice you with ‘The Demented Force’ from their forthcoming ‘Agents of Mystification’ album due out the end of the month and Noctum (Swe), Crypt Sermon and Corsair give you tracks form their back arsenal also. Savage Master have a real place on this record as it’s an acknowledgement of their inclusion to the current underground scene as they add some theatrics to their music in the vein of Acid (Bel) and Bitch (US).
Overall, the inclusions are not surprising, it is easy to find such bands on the internet, but I hope in the spirit of the ‘Metal Massacre’ series this pushes more of you to hunt down these bands if you have not heard of them before and also search out new artists, something I spend a ridiculous amount of time doing so myself! As a product, it’s a welcome return in the true spirit of the ‘Metal Massacre’ series, with the advent of the internet and “you may also like” algorithms, there are a fair few bands out there to discover, these in particular are some of the cream of the current crop, so indulge in this release and savor the very healthy and varied underground heavy metal scene.
TRACK LISTING:
1. The Traveller (Metalian)
2. Until Then…Until the End (Noctum)
3. Bell of Tarantia (Gatekeeper)
4. The Demented Force (Assassin’s Blade)
5. Denim Attack (Cobra)
6. The Siege of Jerusalem (Stone Dagger)
7. Will of the Ancient Call (Crypt Sermon)
8. The Ripper in Black (Savage Master)
9. No Tomorrow (Outcast)
10. Brothers (Corsair)
Note: The CD version also includes additional tracks by Walpyrgus, Visigoth and Ravencult, which is not on this review copy.
To hear clips of each track, then visit: www.metalblade.com/metalmassacre. The album will be available on physical format including CD and CD/Vinyl versions.
(9/10 Paul Maddison)
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