Conan-Man is myth

Napalm
2017

If you listen you likely know this band, but possibly not these songs. That's because this one of those "early days" collections. In this case it's seven demos recorded between 2006 and 2012 which is when their debut album came out. Demo collections aren't going to be for everyone. Whether or not you check it out probably depends on how much like the given band. To be honest given my limited listening time I don't always give time to every demo collection that gets released. For this band and this style I wanted to give it a listen because this kind of sludge is a genre that I think might be cool in raw versions. Was I correct in this? Partly the older tracks certainly see the band establishing parts of the style they are known for but they aren't perhaps songs I would listen to over and over. The songs from 2012 are the strongest entries on this collections as we get offered more of what we know this band for. There's some messy parts, but there's also enough thick sludge to make up for any shortcomings. At the very this album will serve to fill in the gap a little bit while fans for the next studio albums which is supposed to be coming out in early 2018.

Aggressa-Nuclear Death + Demo 1 LP

Iron Bonehead Productions

2013

Right up front it should be mentioned that this one is a vinyl only limited-release. All information (in regards to limited run amount, track info, booklet info, etc.) is listed below if you're interested in the actual packaging. What's pertinent to this review is the meat of the matter-the music. Hailing from Australia, and actually active during the mid-late eighties, Aggressa played a raw form of speed metal thrash that lived up to their name's suggestion (aggression). Although they could have also been called something like slopptallica. Not because they sounded like Metallica, but because of how sloppy they played their take on extreme metal. Forget that these cuts come from demo recordings, which in and of itself does give this LP a rather underground vibe, and focus on the actually music/playing. There's nods to Venom, early Tank, Avenger and Exciter. Then again the band also echos such acts as Razor, At War and Possessed (if Possessed were more of a sloppy, Motörhead-inspired garage metal outfit!) as well as tearing through groups like Cryptic Slaughter, Hobbs Angel Of Death and Slayer. For the record the band did feature future Sadistik Exekution drummer/well-traveled veteran musician Sloth (Peter Zantey) and his drumming skills are duly noted. But, overall these recordings show a raw Australian band that were not quite ready for the big-time. Of course that means two things. The first thing would be that it would be easy enough to write off this LP collection of demo tracks as a sorry mess of sloppy, way to fast for their own good speed metal/thrash noise. The second thing you could do though would be to enjoy these acts for what they are-a group of guys playing thrash metal the best they could all while bowing down at the alters of their idols (Venom for sure, but then you do pick up on pieces and parts of  everything/everyone from Dark Angel to German thrash such as early Sodom and early Destruction). I actually find myself falling somewhere towards the second point although I do have to admit that some of these cuts are too crazy-fast for their own good. In the end this one is more of a history lesson on the early Australia extreme metal scene and is thus most-likely best suited for those looking to add to their personal collection of said scene. 

300g Jacket With 3mm Spine And Gloss Varnish

- 140g Black Vinyl

- Featuring The "Nuclear Death" Recordings '87/'88, "Demo I" '86/'87, And One Unreleased Track From '87. Sloth of Sadistik Exekution Hammering The Drums!

- 4 Page Insert On 250g Art Paper Gloos

- Authorised By Craig Martin (Guitar)/AGGRESSA

- Limited To 300 Copies

- tracks 1-7 "Nuclear Death" MLP; tracks 8-11 "Demo I"; track 12 for a compilation that was never released

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aggressa/178485065501545

http://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

http://www.ironbonehead.de/

Forgotten Gems-Cardinal Sin-Resurrection

 

Back in the olden days bands used to record demos on cassettes (little plastic cases with things that looked ribbon). These bands would give out or sell their demos to get attention from labels and fans. Bands still record demos of course, but these days it's quicker and easier to get their music out to people. Anyways bands would frequently send their demo tapes to magazines (yes, print like with pages) in hopes of getting a good review. Well around 1989 or 1990 I read a review in a metal magazine (don't remember which one) and it was a thrash band called Cardinal Sin. The review was positive and I could obtain a copy of their Infanticide demo for three bucks so I sent away to the band to get it. The tape arrived in the mail (depends on a person driving a little vehicle that on occasion puts the right package/letter into your mailbox) and I gave it a listen. This band began in their native Puerto Rico, but had relocated to the Boston area. Yet their sound was pure Bay area thrash along the lines of earlier Testament, Forbidden and others. That was during the peak of thrash so having that sound wasn't unusual, but these guys went beyond the typical plunge ahead style and mixed in some sharp tempo changes while managing to be heavy all the way through. I was hooked on it right away and played it frequently. To me these guys were ahead of the curve and I figured they were sure to get signed even though Boston wasn't the thrash hot spot that some other cities were. A few months later I read in a magazine that indeed they had signed with Maze records. Maze records had also signed another band whose demo I had heard around the same time. The band was Biohazard and their demo stunk, yes I said it. Unfortunately for Cardinal Sin their short lived label Maze records sunk so much money into Biohazard's debut that the label ended up going under. So Cardinal Sin were left without a label. Eventually they got out another demo, it's a bit more basic than the first but still pretty potent. However the window of opportunity had closed for them, the change in musical climates of the early 90's probably had much to do with that and pretty soon the band folded. Fast forward about ten years or so to 2004. I was looking at items for a sale from  an eBay seller and saw an album by Cardinal Sin as I recognized the logo from the demo. How could this be? I thought they didn't get to release their album and they broke up. Well the seller quick answered that question because in the item description it said that this was their two demos plus more. I quickly ordered it. So this album was done by Khaosmaster records. It includes the two demos which both sound very good even now. The bonus tracks begin with Pinnacle of ignorance which is a demo track. It's of similar style and quality to their other material. Unfortunately the other three bonus tracks are live songs, at least that's what is says on the case. They are total noise and it sounds like they were recorded by a microphone that was covered by a blanket and placed outside a closed door of whatever club they were playing it. Oh, well at least the demos were released with one good bonus track. Also the  booklet includes lyrics, a band history and comments on Cardinal Sin from members of others bands. All in all a great package that I am surprised got released, but I'm glad it did.

Top Five Demos of 2008

I heard a number of demos this year and most were above average and in fact it was a little tough to narrow it down, but I did. So here are my top five in order with links to my reviews.

1)Damaged Dolls- demo
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2008/04/damaged-dolls.html

2)Vamps-n-Gypsies-Wine stains and smashed glass
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2008/05/vamps-n-gypsies-wine-stains-and-smashed.html

3)HMP-The undead hour
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2008/10/hmp-undead-hour.html

4)Skull Hammer-Fear the truth
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2008/11/skull-hammer-fear-truth.html

5)Danger-First Touch
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2008/08/danger-first-touch.html

Yayo-The demos

Self-produced
2008



Young guitarist/vocalist Yayo Sanchez hails from Austin, Texas. He is obviously a fan of 70's and 1980's hard rock as those sounds shine through loud and clear on the four tracks on his CD. Most of the tracks remind me quite a bit of Ratt with a slight sprinkling of early KISS. The guitar rhythms are basic, but solid and the vocals are decent enough. I like the guitar solos because he leans more towards tones and notes that really fit with the overall song as opposed to speed just for the sake of being flashy. I think some of the songs could use a little more variation at times and there is little doubt he could handle doing that as well. My favorite track was the final one "True" which has probably the strongest song structure of the bunch and you can just feel the track growing and building as it goes along. Rounding out the band on the CD are former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick on bass, Jerry Rubolino also did some bass plus piano and backing vocals. Bret Fitz (Vince Neil, Union) played drums on all songs. Kulick and Rubolino also helped with the writing so there were veteran hands helping out this young talent. As for Yayo, I think the playing talent is unquestionable, but he just needs to work on songwriting and maybe stretch out and take a few more risks here and there.

http://www.myspace.com/yayosanchez