INTRINSIC- Intrinsic (Vinyl Analysis)
Intrinsic -Intrinsic
(No Wimp/Important)
1. Ahead Of The Game
2. Hit The Streets
3. Compo
4. RIP
5. Possessor
6. No Return
7. Leaving Insane
8. Wasted Life
This is hard-hitting Power/Speed metal, with a definite musical direction that exudes both intelligence and imagination. Deriving a sound that comes from a diverse collection of influences, INTRINSIC’s fate seems well in hand.
Let by the double axe attack of Mike Mellinger and Ron Crawford, the band roars through an accumulation of metal rage. “Possessor” drills the cranium with unrelenting force and laborious guitar work highlights this heavy weight.
*from the collection of Demolish Magazine.
The acoustic intro of “No Return” signals the furious guitar action that follows — Mellinger and Crawford’s guitar workouts are awesome [with subtle hints of Iron Maiden and Attacker present].
Other songs such as “Rip”, “Ahead of the Game”, “Hit the Streets”, and “Wasted Life” show the band’s spellbinding combativeness and is what makes this LP such a necessity! ~Mike Cervantes
*At the time of this review [1988] the band was looking for a suitable replacement for lead vocal duties. Vocalist Garrett Graupner had departed from the band and ex-Metal Church vocalist David Wayne (R.I.P) also departed.
UPDATE:
Looks like the folks @ Retrospect Records reissued this rare LP on CD. *Click here for more info and some audio samples. From Retrospect:
“Finally, after 20 years, for the first time on CD, this is the classic début release by cult U.S. Power Metallers: INTRINSIC. Featuring powerful songs and a killer dual axe attack, Intrinsic combined the sound of NWOBHM with early 80′s American Metal and the results are an album that every fan of 80′s Metal will find themselves head banging to.”
Old School Metal Review: DEATH – Leprosy (1988)
by Curt “Crusher” King
Man, I’ll tell ya’, I sure didn’t expect this band to quit playing hardcore Speed/Thrash Metal and wimp out, but I have the evidence right in my hands! I mean, they are one of the “Gods” of Death Metal for sure, but this stuff is completely shocking!
Well now, does that REALLY sound like a thing that a band called DEATH would do? You don’t think that I would stretch the truth a little do ya’? Ha – not I said the liar!
OK, DEATH fans, wipe that disgusted look off your face because everything I just said is true, except for the fact that they “wimped-out” (besides, you’ve probably already heard this by now as I created this when I received their advance tape -ed). Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a heart attack folks but I did want to make you a bit angry so that you could prepare yourself for this devastating slab of gore! It doesn’t really matter how much anger you can muster up while listening though because DEATH will out-do you with intensity every time.
Track Listing:
1. “Leprosy” 6:19
2. “Born Dead” 3:25
3. “Forgotten Past” 4:33
4. “Left to Die” 4:35
5. “Pull the Plug” 4:25
6. “Open Casket” 4:53
7. “Primitive Ways” 4:20
8. “Choke on It”
All eight songs are pretty much in the same mold as their last album Scream Bloody Gore (1987), meaning, they still sing about death, play deadly songs and do it in the most disgusting [to some] way possible! Every track on this album will terrorize you —but in a good way of course.
People who hate this relatively “new” style of extreme/speed Metal will probably continue to turn their nose up at it, while this will easily [and instantly I might add] satisfy all worldwide Metal fans who are into REAL savage Metal!
This new album [and my opening statements] should scare you too…
Lineup + Info
Chuck Schuldiner – Guitar, Bass and Vocals
Rick Rozz – Guitar
Bill Andrews – Drums
* Terry Butler – (did not play BASS on the album, but was credited for it)
Recorded at Morrisound Recording, Tampa, Florida, USA
Produced by Dan Johnson
Engineered by Scott Burns
Mastered by Michael Fuller at Fullersound, Miami, Florida, USA
Edward Repka – Artwork
Update
Many [myself included] consider this one of the most important DEATH Metal albums ever released. It’s definitely in the top ten. Back when kiddos, you did not have a band such as this on every street corner or parents basement recording such brutal, yet accomplished Metal compositions! Kudos to Chuck (who died of brain cancer in 2001) for putting this style of music on the map and inspiring countless bands for the last several decades. A true unsung hero in the music world. He was very humble and always down-played his part in the Metal history books by stating:
“I don’t think I should take the credits for this death metal stuff. I’m just a guy from a band, and I think Death is a metal band.”
- Chuck Schuldiner
R.I.P.
May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001
ANTHRAX – State of Euphoria (Vinyl Analysis) 1988
by Steve Fulton
The clowns of Thrash are back. Back with their jams, back with skateboards, and yes —back with more of the top-notch, punchy Thrash that has earned them their place among the élite of Metal bands. It’s relieving to know that after receiving major attention from their last release I’m the Man (EP) (featuring their Rap single “I’m the Man”), that selling out to the commercial world of Metal is far from the minds of Anthrax.
State of Euphoria (1988 Megaforce/Island Records) features moshing tunes like “Finale” (pronounced ‘finally’), “Be All End All” and even a killer cover of Trust’s “Antisocial”. It also seems Anthrax is taking their lyrics in a more political direction. They take their turn at running down television evangelism in “Make me Laugh” (with lyrics like “Jesus saves, but only after I’ve been paid”), and then protest the human tendency of prejudices in “Schism” (stating “A house divided can’t stand/Prejudice is an un-natural thought”).
Joey Belladonna - Pic © Curt King
Anthrax have definitely matured musically and lyrically, but one thing I hate to hear (that often accompanies a matured pocket-book) is a bit of “over production”. But I suppose the complementary, limited edition Anthrax hologram (included in this release) makes up for it!
At any rate, whether you are an old Anthrax fan or “not”, I am certain that one listen to this plastic piece (of vinyl – ed) will leave you in a “State of Euphoria”.
- Be All, End All 6:22
- Out of Sight, Out of Mind 5:13
- Make Me Laugh 5:41
- Antisocial (Bonvoisin/Krief) 4:27 (Trust Cover)
- Who Cares Wins 7:35
- Now It’s Dark 5:34
- Schism 5:27
- Misery Loves Company 5:40
- 13 0:49
- Finale 5:47
Anthrax: Joe Belladonna (vocals), Dan Spitz, Scott Ian (guitar), Frank Bello (bass), Charlie Benante (drums).
Recorded at Quadradial Studios. Miami, Florida.
Produced by Anthrax and Mark Dodson.
DRIVE: Characters of Time LP
Vinyl Analysis
by Mike Cervantes
Released in 1988
1988 is proving to be a year where more emphasis is being placed on high quality Metal. It appears the Metal population are becoming connoisseurs of bands that have honest-to-goodness talent and unrelenting “drive”. Which brings us to the case in point…
Drive originates from Houston, Texas. Fronted by Rick Chavez (guitar/vocals) and (long-time mate + bassist) Michael Anthony Guerrero. They began as a group called Pegasus. Mainly playing classical rock and citing such influences as Clapton, Blackmore and Hendrix, Pegasus toured the small club circuit, gaining a following of loyal fans. Then citing newer influences such as Queensryche, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, the band changed musical directions and adopted the name Drive.
Combining their classical blues rock influences and what they describe as “high tech stuff”, Drive formulates a sound that drives screeching down cranium lane! This finely tuned machine roars with power and precision. Too heavy to be Rock and too refined to be Thrash, Drive offers a lethal dose of melodic yet powerful metal.
Led by the twin axe attack of Rick Chavez and Mercy Valdez, the fantastic vocals of David Taylor (R.I.P), the pounding fury of bassist Michael Guerrero, and the hyperactive drumming of Valentine San Miguel, Drive blazes a path of Metal destruction.
DESTRUCTION – Release from Agony (Vinyl Analysis)
Love this cover art!
* Artwork by Luetke 1987
Among my favorite Thrash Metal bands (and certainly one of Germany’s best) is the appropriately titled DESTRUCTION. I was really eager to hear this (much-anticipated) release to judge for myself if their two newest members could keep the bands reputation for being one of the most popular bands involved within the worldwide Thrash Metal scene. Being one of the founders of the German Thrash sound (along with KREATOR & SODOM) all eyes are on these guys to see if they can deliver the goods this time around on their third full-length slab of vinyl.
Right out of the gate, the production is much better on this release and the lyrical content has improved a bit. New recruit Olli (aka Oliver Kaiser) fits in well behind the drum kit as he pounds furiously with these eight songs. Along with Harry Wilkens (Guitar) and the addition of new axeman Mikey (aka Mike Sifringer), DESTRUCTION are taking Thrash into new territory.
U.S. Profile/Rock Hotel Records Promo Pic
Let me just tell you this new GTR wizard is an advanced player as well! Check into monstrous tracks like “Dissatisfied Existence”, the excellent title track Release from Agony and “Sign of Fear”, which are infested with lightning fast guitar leads, classical runs and numerous tasty acoustic guitar themes. You can tell Mikey has many fresh ideas and unique ways of approaching this (often-samey) genre of music. When these ideas/riffs are mixed with main stayer Harry’s riffage, these newer songs are very peculiar and downright weird at times (but in a good way)!
87 Pic© Bartolomy
Technically, this opus is leap years ahead of most run-of-the-mill Thrash bands and easily proves that this type of Metal isn’t confined to two or three chords and or note structures per song. This is thinking-man’s Metal and with all the time signature changes and abrupt, twisty turns, it also reminds me of another great progressive German band called MEKONG DELTA.
Of course when any band changes their sound slightly and or adds fresh blood to their lineup then the critics start sharpening their harpoons and die-hard fans start holding their first two releases dearly to their chest hoping they do not change their “signature” sound much. I am not sure why either, as change is a good thing. You have to have an open mind when it comes to innovation and or going out on a limb and trying something new, exciting and or different.
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Release from Agony – Then:
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Don’t worry folks, they haven’t totally changed their direction, the songs “Incriminated” and “Our Oppression” are very similar to the older DESTRUCTION and Schmier’s (aka Marcel Schirmer) vocals are once again a draw -you either love em’ or you hate em’! Personally, I think his eclectic growling vox style fits the music perfectly and lays rather nicely right on top of their equally unique + original guitar tone (or “crunchy” distortion).
Steamhammer/SPV Records promo pic
Whether or not the previous DESTRUCTION Metal hordes will continue to support their “new” sound remains a toss-up. But I can say its all up to them to just give it a good honest listen. It may even take a few spins to comprehend these oddly structured songs, but once you become familiar with them, the more they will intrigue you and you will never be able to get some of these killer riffs out of your (Metal) head!
The release of this album should put this band where they belong, and that’s somewhere near the top of the Thrash Metal heap.
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Absolutely essential…buy on site!
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Release from Agony was Produced, Recorded, Engineered & Mixed by Kalle Trapp.
All songs were written & arranged by Destruction.
Track Listing:
| A1 | Beyond Eternity | 1:11 | ||
| A2 | Release From Agony | 4:43 | ||
| A3 | Dissatisfied Existence | 4:30 | ||
| A4 | Sign Of Fear | 6:46 | ||
| B1 | Unconscious Ruins | 4:27 | ||
| B2 | Incriminated | 5:22 | ||
| B3 | Our Oppression | 4:49 | ||
| B4 | Survive To Die | 5:30 |
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Release from Agony - Now:
LINKS
Main official Destruction Website
Support the band and buy their music here!
Kinger (ex-SLEEPY TRIP, KURU-AMA drummer), Demolish Mag. Editor/Owner/Publisher etc.
