Copyright (c) 2007 THE THRASH METAL GUIDE 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z D.A.M. (UK)
Like Slammer and Xentrix, who appeared around the same time to catch the last train to the classic thrash metal genre, D.A.M. feel more comfortable staying close to the Bay Area scene, and as such do a very good job (in my opinion better than the other two aforementioned bands). "Human Wreckage" is a very good debut, starting quite ambitiously with the 8.5-min long song "Death Warmed Up/Killing Time", which is a heavy, mid-paced number without any technical pretensions, despite the length. The album has its more interesting, technical moments, though: the energetic and interesting "Prophets of Doom". Those of the kind are not many, but some slower, moody tracks could be found: "Infernal Torment". The band manage to keep the songs from merging into each other by varying the tempo and adding some cool melodic choruses to the proceedings: "Human Wreckage" (this is actually a more power metal-based number, the only one here, fortunately). The last piece- "F.O.D.", is a true revelation, albeit only 2-min long: a stunning mixture of technical and aggressive riffage, which comes too late, but is a very worthy addition.
Human Wreckage Full-length, 1989 D.B.C. (CANADA)
One of the better known Canadian thrash metal bands. Their self titled debut is an impressive outburst of energetic, fast-paced thrash with touches of hardcore. The band were actually aiming higher than that, and the folllow-up is a much more technical affair, quite progressive and technical at times, with a distinctive Voivod-flair. This offering will be a big surprise to those who loved the debut, simply because the approach is entirely different; there are no speedy, aggressive numbers, except for a few sections, and the riffs meander and turn, creating an effective, but at times quite complicated landscape- "Humanity's Child". They had a third album ready as an immediate follow -up to "Universe", but its release was delayed for five years. The style follows the same technical patterns established on the previous one, but adds some more energy, and the tracks are more immediate, featuring some really good stylish guitar work.
Dead Brain Cells Full-length, 1987 Official Site D.F.A. (CANADA)
This music is made by the same guys who are behind the wild thrash/death/grind project Poser Disposer. Here they are more controlled offering fast, aggressive thrash/crossover coming as a cross between Sick Of It All and Cryptic Slaughter.
Defy False Authority Full-length, 2003 My Space D.F.C. (BRAZIL)
Based on "O Massacre Da Guitarra Eletrica", this is a good thrash/crossover band with a style similar to Ratos De Porao's less thrashy works (their early period before "Brazil"). There are some brutal moments, too ("Mafia Do Jaba").
TChan Nan Nan Nan Nan Full-length, 1994 Official Site D.H. (BRAZIL)
This band sound almost unaffected by the modern trends of the 90's, and try to come up with intense thrash/death metal of the old school, similar to Sadus' debut. They only partially succeed, however, as the guitar sound is very thin, the singer is an awful hardcore shouter, and the songs make sudden, sometimes awkward jumps from a more quiet into a more aggressive section, and then backwards. Some faster passages are pure black metal ("Illusions", etc.), and the overall tempo is quite energetic, but often degenerates into mindless bashing ("Cerebral Wash", and elsewhere).
Human Deformation Full-length, 1994 D.I.V. (RUSSIA)
This band share members and ideas (both are open nazi bands) with another Russian formation -Korrozia Metalla. D.I.V. are the better ones music-wise; their debut is furious, raw thrash, frequently bordering on death metal; the musicianship is not so bad, and the guitars are quite sharp; the songs are long, but the delivery is direct and straight, nothing technical, if we exclude "Bal U Satani": a nice, more ambitious song, closing on 11-min, featuring some really great hooks, and numerous tempo changes.
Devils' Sabbath Full-length, 1988 Official Site D.R.I. (USA)
The kings of crossover/thrash. The band have been an enormous influence on the genre, with almost every second band readily borrowing from them. After "Thrash Zone" their music took a more thrashy direction, and would be of bigger interest to the thrash metal fans who, by now, should know the band's repertoire by heart.
Crossover Full-length, 1987 Official Site DAEMON (DENMARK)
This band was formed by Anders Lundemark- the man who also sings in the Danish death metallers Konkhra. The band's first two albums are strictly in the death metal camp, and are not too far from Konkhra's. This one featured here, boasts some cool aggressive thrash metal in the modern day Kreator-vein with some nice riffage, reminding of the 80's Bay Area scene as well. On drums we have the great Gene Hoglan.
Eye For An Eye Full-length, 2002 DAEMONIUS (SWEDEN)
A 3-track demo of fast, but not very aggressive thrash/death/black metal with vocals which could barely be heard, and are shouty, hysterical, at times acquiring those very irritating semi-whispered qualities. The musicianship is on a very low level, especially on the slower sections, where the guys unsuccessfully try to capture the magic of early Celtic Frost.
Daemonius Demo, 1992 DAEMOS (USA)
Excellent power/thrash with some great stylish riffs and a bit strained, hardcore-ish vocals.
Dying God EP, 1998 Official Site DAGON (USA)
Gothenburg-influenced thrash/death metal- think Dark Tranquillity with a pinch of thrash, and some nice melodic guitar work, plus two vocal styles fighting throughout: one-more death metal-lish, the other- on the black metal side.
Secrets of the Deep EP, 2005 My Space DAIJ (RUSSIA)
One of the lesser achievements from the Russian metal scene; thrash meets classic heavy metal resulting in not very energetic, one-dimensional songs with a very few sharp headbanging riffs.
Vynoven Tem, Chto Zhiv Full-length, 1996 DAMAGE (FINLAND)
Damage were one of the first bands in Finland who started to play a more extreme brand of metal. Their music is more on the melodic side, sounding close to the first two Exciter albums, with nods to Exodus' debut in the more aggressive parts. There are some nice heavy, doomy moments ("Time of Madness"). This is very cool, speedy music which, on its best moments ("Mental As Me") comes very close to the legendary "Violence and Force". Later this band changed their name to Warmath, and their music took a more technical and a more aggressive approach.
Damage EP, 1986 Vibrations of Doom DAMAGED CORPSE (BELGIUM)
Raw, noisy thrash with a hardcore edge. The songs are short 2-min outbursts, generally fast, but the musicianship is purely amateurish, and there's not really much to enjoy here, unless you're a fan of the undeveloped, brutal side of thrash/hardcore.
False Reality, True Profit Demo, 1989 DAMIEN (SWEDEN)
This band have shared a singer and a guitarist with the mighty Hexenhaus. So, can we expect some great technical thrash from these guys, too? The answer is no- the music on this EP is power/thrash metal of a more simplisitc nature, but also quite good. "Not A Pleasant Way To Die" is a heavy, stomping track, which will remind you of the Nasty Savage debut. "Death Is Part Of The Process" is a mighty speed/thrasher, which needs just a little bit to find place on albums like Toxic's "World Circus" (maybe it's the not as technical guitar work). "Knights Of The Realm" is slower, more power metal-based, with a great, but very short technical break in the middle, showing that the guys were capable of more, if they had lasted longer.
Requiem for the Dead EP, 1988 DAMIEN BREED (USA)
A very interesting, unusual progressive power/thrash metal band who center their music and lyrics around the-rise-of-the-anitchrist theme taken from The Omen trilogy. The music is heavy, the songs are complex with the appropriate menacing atmosphere, but the approach is kind of one-dimensional, with no much speed involved, except for one track-"Silver Shine". With that small complaint aside, this album is an impressive example of the more unconventional and original side of thrash metal.
Ave Satani Full-length, 1994 DAMIEN THORNE (USA)
The band's debut is a competent, but typical for its time power/speed/thrash metal effort. "Wrath Of Darkness" was recorded as a direct follow-up to it, but problems with their label hid it from sight for fifteen years when, finally, it saw the light of day. Its age clearly shows, and thrash metal is anything but a distant memory. It has its moments, though, with its dark, brooding songs and melodic, characteristic vocals. "Haunted Mind" comes as a revelation, bringing back the thrash metal riffs, and combined with the dark atmosphere of the previous release and some progressive overtones, stands for the band's finest hour.
The Sign Of The Jackal Full-length, 1986 Official Site DAMNABILITY (USA)
Excellent thrash/crossover, with speedy, sometimes cool technical riffs ("Accidental Existence" is a magnificent technical instrumental), and a singer who sounds close to Steve Souza from Exodus, maybe higher pitched. The music is filled with tempo changes, but is mostly energetic and fast. "Power and Soul" is a cool attempt from the "funk-meets-thrash" genre ala Mordred, but better, featuring some stylish leads, but when the next song: "Watching Me, Watching You Die" carries on in the same vein, you might find yourself hoping that this would be the last one from this type.
Demo Demo, 1990 DAMNAGE (USA)
Based on the "Harsh Reality" demo, this band still sound pretty classic: this is cool heavy, mostly mid-paced thrash reminiscent of the Brits Xentrix, or 90's Sacrifice in the faster sections. The guitar work is simplistic, but has its hooks, plus some really good leads.
Damnage Demo, 1989 My Space DAMNAKLEEZ (USA)
A great and a very obscure gem of aggressive thrash ala Possesssed's "Seven Churches" and Whiplash's debut, mixed with some speed assault, similar to Destruction and Kreator. This demo easily surpasses most of the full-length releases at that time. This is great music which will satisfy both the aggressively-inclined fans and the speed lovers. The furious riffs from "Victory of the Wicked" will bring you back to the first days of death metal. It's hard to believe that with so much talent at display and the very fashionable for its time sound, these guys had remained buried deep in the underground.
Angel Of Evil Demo, 1986 DAMNATION (CANADA)
"Speed Anarchy" is a vicious, brutal slab of speed/thrash, sounding like a poor, and more aggressive version of Slaughter's "Strappado". There are some semi-successful attempts at mixing aggressive riffs with stomping, Celtic Frost-like ones ("In The Rubbish Of The Church"), but most of the time the guys bash without mercy, producing some of the most aggressive and relentless tunes of the mid-80's. Despite its raw, and slightly undeveloped nature, this demo has definitely been an influence on the death metal genre, including in the vocal department: these unholy, death growls would be hard to match even by many of the contemporary death metal singers. This recording must have scared the fans even worse than the same year's efforts of Slater and Dark Angel- not for the faint-hearted.
Speed Anarchy Demo, 1986 My Space DAMNATION ARMY (SWEDEN)
This is a one-man band (Thomas Nyholm is the name) and as such he does a very good job, resurrecting the old school black/thrash metal sound from the works of early Bathory and Sodom; this guy emphasizes more on the thrashy side, and his music is probably better technicality-wise, with some great solo work.
Towards Damnation EP, 2003 Official Site DAMNATORY (SWEDEN)
Cool American power/thrash metal made in Sweden. This is great heavy, crushing music which will remind you of Nasty Savage's debut and Jag Panzer. The vocals sound a bit strained at times, though. "Cemetary Of Life" is a magnificent 8-min dark stomping thrash metal opus, the highlight of the album.
The Madness Never Ends Full-length, 1990 DAMZELL (JAPAN)
A really good mixture of power, speed and thrash metal. On "War Songs" the music is mostly speed/thrash, with great tempos, good soaring guitar lines, and very good high clean vocals; it's only on "Fist & Steel" where the band take a break, and offer a nice semi-ballad with an epic feel. The good material presented here would definitely encourage the fan to track the debut down.
Ready to Attack Full-length, 1989 DANGER CROSS (GREECE)
Based on the "Recitation of Death" demo, this band take the sound of late 80's Flames on a more extreme level. Clearly influenced by their more renowned compatriots, these guys pull out quite fast and brutal thrash/death metal, one of the first hybrids of the kind in Europe. There are some more quiet, slower breaks, but the band are way better sticking to sheer speed and aggression.
Recitation of Death Demo, 1988 DARCANE (FINLAND)
This band is the former Holocaust (Finland) and the present Mind-A-Stray. The bands' styles vary throughout the years from excellent Bay-Area thrash to post-thrash strongly influenced by Metallica's Black Album.
Survivors of the Holochaust Demo, 2002 DARK (CZECH)
Based on "Zyezn Gamballe & Mental World", this band play ordinary, unimaginative modern 90's thrash with a strong melodic edge, often clinging towards the balladic type, sounding like a very poor version of The Black Album, or 90's Flotsam & Jetsam. At times the music takes a very aggressive edge: "Endless Envy", which sounds almost surreal on the bleak, listless landscape with its death metal riffs. No idea how the other works of the band sound like, but based on this one the guys richly deserve their underground status.
Sex 'N' Death Full-length, 1992 DARK ABBEY (SWEDEN)
This is the band who later changed their name to Epitaph, and left a more lasting impression on the metal scene. The style is not quite similar to Epitaph: what we have here is an early thrash/death metal hybrid recalling the Swedes Merciless and the French Massacra.
Blasphemy Demo, 1990 DARK ANGEL (USA)
Legends of thrash metal. Their first two efforts are classic thrash at its best, with the second one putting the genre on a new, more aggressive and brutal level, along with Slayer's "Reign In Blood", setting the standards for hundreds of other bands to follow. "Leave Scars" was a move towards more complex song writing, without giving up completely the more brutal roots, and the funal result was quite unfocused and unappealing. Two years later the transition was complete, and "Time Does Not Heal" was a truly classy achievement with its very heavy, technical and complex nature. A grandiose album which is far from an immediate listen, it was a big influence on the modern technical thrash movement which developed further into the 90's.
We Have Arrived Full-length, 1985 My Space DARK ARENA (USA)
This band is a side project of two members of the progressive thrash masters Antithesis. The music is a more melodic version of that band: progressive power/thrash of the more traditional variety, also resembling the Symphony X's more aggressive material ("The Divine Wings of Tragedy"), with powerful, high vocals courtesy of Juan Ricardo- the singer who also did a fine job on the only Ritual (USA) album. The music has all the necessary elements of the 90's power/speed genre which might be a drawback to some: galloping rhythms, catchy choruses, keyboard melodies, balladic passages ("Dark Sorrow" is a great acoustic instrumental), even some epic ones. The thrashy riffs dominate on some parts, but the sound stays truer to power metal, but is definitely worth checking out: there is enough technicality involved to attract your attention.
Alien Factor EP, 2006 My Space DARK DECEPTION (USA)
Based on the "Tales Of Dark Deception" demo, this band offer a very potent blend of speed and thrash metal. The music is heavy and pounding, but there are quite a few moments when it speeds up quite a bit, and if we add a considerable number of stylish technical hooks thrown in here and there, look no further than Torture's "Storm Alert", or Viking's "Man of Straw".
Sadistic Intentions Demo, 1988 DARK ISLAND (ITALY)
A 4-track demo of classic power/thrash with nods to the American 80's metal scene; this is mid-paced music, on the melodic side, with balladic overtones ("The Dessert", "Play Cheat", which speeds up nicely at the end) and simplistic, but catchy guitar work.
Killing Inside Demo, 2007 Official Site DARK LEGION (CANADA)
Brutal stuff: fast, intense thrash/death, one of the early examples from the death metal genre, with very suitable deep death metal vocals. The music is simplistic and raw, with no big musical merits, but from a pioneering point of view, this demo scores high.
Psychosis Demo, 1986 DARK LEGIONS (SWEDEN)
Cool black/thrash which will take you back in time when bands like Celtic Frost, Venom, Bathory and Sodom were the order of the day. The band keep a good pace with fast numbers, but some heavy, slower ones (hence the Celtic Frost-influence) are also present.
Satänic Deströyer Full-length, 2006 DARK MASTER (CHILE)
A brutal and vicious mixture of thrash and death metal, similar to early Protector and the Brazilians Vulcano. The sound quality is very bad, and at times what you'll hear is just an impenetrable wall of sound; well, the guitars can be distinguished most of the time...
Undead Slaughter Demo, 1989 DARK MIND (SPAIN)
A 3-song demo of heavy, mid-paced thrash of the classic variety, rich on atmopshere. The riffs are sharp, and the music slides down to power/thrash metal at times ("Visceral Love", which boasts some fine leads and a good chorus), and this is where the guitars flirt more with melody, producing some fine moments. The singer is the big flaw here, with his semi-clean, mid-ranged tember, which completely lacks emotion, and is unappropriately interrupted by the ocasional death-ish growl.
Fire at the Ardennes Demo, 2008 DARK ORDER (SWEDEN)
A nod to the 80's scene with some more aggressive death metal elements; for fans of Slayer and Sepultura. Both albums are in the same vein: merciless aural assaults, containing some heavy up-tempo numbers where some shades of 90's groove could be heard, and an occasional adherence to blast beats on the faster ones.
"Inside Out" begins with the first 3 songs raising the flag of the Bay-Area sky high, in an energetic and headbanging tempo. Towards the middle the music becomes more complex and technical, but loses the biting edge, and the songs are longer, including one not very convincing ballad "Winter Tears". Fortunately the guys return to the more winning formula later on, and despite the presence of another not very appropriate heavy/power metal number ("Circles") and another heavy semi-ballad ("Beneath Closed Eyes"), this album delivers the goods almost as well as the debut.
Inside Out Full-length, 1991
Universe Full-length, 1989
Unreleased Full-length, 1995
Igreja Quadrangular do Triangulo Redondo Full-length, 1996
Farofa Kind Live album, 1998
Sob o Signo de Sată Full-length, 1999
O Massacre da Guitarra Eletrica Full-length, 2002
DxFxCx / ANFO 7" EP, 2004
O Mal Que Vem Para Pior Full-length, 2005
Despite the 4-year gap between the two albums, "Mein Kampf" is a fairly satisfying slab of 80's thrash, less aggressive than the debut, but fast-paced and energetic, with some heavier, semi-groovy numbers thrown in, and one great speedy Oriental piece: "Hesh", which is clearly the highlight. "Russian Frost" is another good work, with some energetic retro thrashers mixed with heavier, groovier ones, and with several more melodic pieces, clinging towards the balladic sector. The band's later efforts took a more modern, industrial turn, still retaining their thrashy roots on quite a few of the songs.
Mein Kampf Full-length, 1992
Russian Frost Full-length, 1996
Werwolf (Oboroten') Full-length, 2001
Beshenye Psy Full-length, 2001
Myortvaya Golova Full-length, 2003
Umiraj Full-length, 2004
4 Of A Kind Full-length, 1988
Thrash Zone Full-length, 1989
Definition Full-length, 1992
Full Speed Ahead Full-length, 1995
The Dirty Rotten Power EP EP, 2001
Facing Down Full-length, 2001
Summer 2004 Sampler EP, 2004
Paranormal Ichthyology Full-length, 2007
The Immortal Death Full-length, 1987
Former Life EP, 1998
Wrath Of Darkness Full-length, 2001
Haunted Mind Full-length, 2005
Harsh Reality Demo, 1991
Bludgeon Demo, 1993
Expressions of Anger Demo, 1996
Aggressive Repulsive Symphony Demo, 1987
Damned in Nation Demo, 1989
Demo Demo, 1992
Misanthropic Satanarchy Full-length, 2003
The Art of the Occult Full-length, 2004
Tyrant Full-length, 2006
War Songs Full-length, 1992
The Art in Pain Demo, 1989
The Very Worst of Darcane Best of/Compilation, 2003
Anamorphica Demo, 2004
Zyezn Gamballe & Mental World Full-length, 1994
Under The Bottom Full-length, 1996
Darkness Descends Full-length, 1986
Leave Scars Full-length, 1989
Time Does Not Heal Full-length, 1991
Alien Factor Full-length, 2006
Tales Of Dark Deception Demo, 1990