Sepultura - Chaos A.D. (1993)

 

The band considered a number of producers, including avant-garde jazz composer John Zorn and Al Jourgensen of industrial metal pioneers Ministry. They ultimately chose Andy Wallace, who had previously mixed Arise. Sepultura wanted isolation, and for that Andy Wallace suggested Rockfield Studios, located in South Wales.

"Kaiowas" was recorded live among the ruins of the medieval castle of Chepstow. It was an entirely acoustic track, with Andreas Kisser and Max Cavalera on the guitars and brother-drummer Igor Cavalera and bassist Paulo Jr. handling the percussion duties. When they recorded "Kaiowas", the quartet never even considered playing the track live, because they thought it would be too difficult to recreate the drumming on stage. They changed their minds after seeing a video of the American band Neurosis: "We saw in that live video that the Neurosis guys put down their guitars and everybody started to play the drums on stage", lead guitarist Andreas remembers. "We decided to try the same thing. We rehearsed it once and it was wonderful. We haven't stopped playing the song live since.

During Chaos A.D. recording sessions, Sepultura recorded a number of covers: "The Hunt", from New Model Army, "Polícia", from Titãs, "Inhuman Nature", from the American hardcore punk band Final Conflict, and "Crucificados pelo Sistema", from Brazilian Ratos de Porão. Igor, a New Model Army fan, convinced the other band members to include "The Hunt" on the record. Paulo joked that the money of the LP would go straight to new dentures for Justin Sullivan, the toothless singer of New Model Army. The latter 3 covers would be included as B-sides and also on the compilation Blood-Rooted. "Polícia" is also included as a bonus track on the Brazilian edition of the album.
Musical style

Out of the boredom of playing the Arise songs for two years straight and concerned about the threat of musically stagnating, Sepultura pushed the envelope on Chaos A.D. The first track, "Refuse/Resist", revealed the band's new musical direction: slower, with more emphasis on groove than speed. The song starts with the heartbeat of Max's then-unborn first son, Zyon, followed by some Afro-Brazilian drumming reminiscent of Salvador, Bahia samba-reggae group Olodum. About the track's introductory guitar riff, Max acknowledged that it "could have been created by a death metal band." Chaos A.D. was their first record to utilize some lower guitar tunings. Half of the songs in the album are tuned down to D standard, except for "Kaiowas" which is in drop C# tuning.

Diversity was the key to Chaos A.D., revealed Max Cavalera. "Biotech Is Godzilla" was "pure hardcore", according to the elder Cavalera. "Nomad", with its characteristically slow riffs, was described by lead guitarist Andreas Kisser as their answer to Metallica's "Sad but True". The album also featured Sepultura's first all-acoustic incursion, "Kaiowas". "It's like a mixture of Led Zeppelin, Sonic Youth and Olodum", said Max of that particular song. Dazed & Confused magazine stated the album "signalled a move away from the Sepultura's thrash roots, focusing on slower, industrial grooves." In the book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists, author Joel McIver stated the album showed a "movement away from extreme metal to a more punk sound" with a stronger focus on "feel and groove". McIver went on to state that the album showed the first signs of the groove metal genre that Sepultura would apply by the mid-1990s. In Ian Christe's book Sound of the Beast, he credits Chaos A.D., along with American heavy metal band Pantera for developing the death metal-influenced music of groove metal that would later influence other artists in the 90s.

-Tracklist:

Side A:
1. Refuse/Resist     03:19
2. Territory     04:47
3. Slave New World     02:54
4. Amen     04:27
5. Kaiowas     03:43
6. Propaganda     03:32

Side B:
7. Biotech Is Godzilla     01:52
8. Nomad     04:58
9. We Who Are Not as Others     03:42
10. Manifest     04:46
11. The Hunt (New Model Army cover)     03:59
12. Clenched Fist     04:57

 

-Line up:

• Max Cavalera : Vocals, guitars (rhythm, acoustic)
• Andreas Kisser : Guitars (lead, 12-string acoustic), viola caipira
• Paulo Jr. : Bass, floor tom
• Igor Cavalera : Drums, percussion.

 

 

 

Label: Roadrunner Records.

Includes an inner sleeve with lyrics & credits.
"The Hunt" originally performed by New Model Army.
Recorded at Rockfield Studios, S. Wales, England.
"Kaiowas" recorded at Chepstow Castle, S. Wales, England.
Mixed at The Wool Hall Recording Studios, Bath, England.
Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York, NY. 

 Management by Gloria Cavalera, Oasis Management.

Mastered by George Marino.

 Cover: Michael R. Whelan.

 The intro to Refuse/Resist is an in utero recording of Zyon Cavalera's heartbeat.
 Chaos A.D. means Chaos Anno Domini. 

 Acoustic version of Kaiowas, recorded live at MTV studios was released only on MTV's Headbanger's Ball 1995 compilation under the name Kaiowas (Para MTVE Most Wanted) (03:08).

  Kaiowas is inspired by a Brazilian Indian tribe called Kaiowas who lived in the rain forest. 

The original version included a hidden bonus at the end of Clenched Fist in the form of laughter outtakes from We Who Are Not as Others, increasing the length of track 12 to 8:01.

An American pressing on Epic separates the laughter outtakes to a 13th track lasting 2:01.

 
 

The Last Twilight - Final Holocaust: The River of Christian Blood [demo] (2004)

 

The Last Twilight was born as an entity in MMIII with the aim of announcing the apocryphal revelations, spreading the seeds of unholy chaos and promoting the beginning of the tribulationist era.

Discography:

- In the Roar of the Battle [Demo] (2003)
- Final Holocaust: The River of Christian Blood [Demo] (2004)
- Morbid Path [EP] (2005)
- Hell Bestial Conjuration [Split] (2007)
- Unholy Terror Assault [Live](2008)
- Eternal Tribulation [EP] (2010)
- La Octava Copa de Ira (2011)
- XI et Ω [Video] (2014).

 

 

-Tracklist:

1. Christian Massacre     01:54
2. The Black Knight     02:30
3. Call of the Abyss     01:03
4. The Last Twilight     01:32
5. Behind the Infernal Gate   03:22
6. The Fight for Satan's Empire   02:31

 

-Line up: 

- Todesking: Guitars, drum programming
- Blunier: Vocals, guitars
- Mordher: Bass.

Label: Final Embrace Records.

Recorded at Speedy Songs Studios at the beginning of 2004.

 

Tankard - Alien [EP] (1989)

 

The story of Tankard is an exceptional one: the Thrash Metal force from Frankfurt, Germany is around since the early 80s already, spearheading a wave of German Thrash bands who became successful worldwide (Kreator, Destruction, Sodom a.o.). And while a lot of other bands struggled, split up or came back with reunions, Tankard never had these problems. They have always been there.

And they kept their worldwide fanbase for all these years, delivering one strong album after another. When you think of beer and Thrash Metal the name Tankard is the first that will pop up for sure.

Founded in 1982 in Frankfurt, Germany their first sign of life was recorded in 1986 and indicated that not only the Ruhr district is the home of the growing German thrash metal scene. 

At first they were known under the names Avenger and Vortex before settling on Tankard in 1983.

Formed in 1982 by three classmates, bassist Andreas "Gerre" Geremia, guitarist Axel Katzmann and vocalist Frank Thorwarth. Thorwarth and Gerre soon switched roles; at the same time the trio added drummer Oliver Werner and second guitarist Bernhard Rapprich.

The band chose their name after looking through a dictionary and seeing a word defined as "beer mug."

Their earliest written song was called "Ray Death", a song about nuclear war and their first gig was played in a local classroom in 1983. As drinking alcohol in the school was banned, they smuggled their beer in with milk cartons. Soon after, Bernhard Rapprich left the band as his conservative father did not want him "hanging around with a bunch of drunks" and he was replaced by Andy Bulgaropoulos.

With the lineup now stabilised, the band released their first demo, titled Heavy Metal Vanguard, in 1984. After this, the band toured with fellow German thrashers Sodom. SPV were interested in signing both bands, but allegedly SPV retracted a deal after seeing the band perform live. In 1985 they released a second demo, Alcoholic Metal, which cemented their thrash metal style and lyrical themes. Both of these demos were very popular in the underground, and on the strength of this demo they signed with Noise Records. The eight-track demo also features rough versions of four songs that would later appear on their debut album, Zombie Attack.

Zombie Attack was released in July 1986. In October 1987 their sophomore album, Chemical Invasion, was released, with the album art being the first of eight done for the band by artist Sebastian Krüger, followed a year later by The Morning After. Both of these albums were produced by Harris Johns, who would go on to produce all of the band's albums up to 2000. However, shortly after the release of compilation Hair of the Dog, original drummer Oliver Werner quit the band to be replaced by Arnulf Tunn, and the band released three albums with this lineup: The Meaning of Life, Stone Cold Sober and Two-Faced. They also recorded the live album Fat, Ugly and Live during this time. This lineup then folded when Tunn was replaced by Olaf Zissel, who remains in the band to this day, in May 1994 and the next year founding member Katzmann was forced to leave due to osteoarthritis in the wrist. That year the band released The Tankard, which is widely viewed as a very good album by fans and critics alike, and is their final album with Noise.

-Tracklist:

Side A:
1. Alien     03:09
2. 666 Packs     04:53

Side B:
3. Live to Dive     03:09
4. Remedy (Rose Tattoo cover)     02:49
5. (Empty) Tankard     04:43

 

-Line up:

❌ Gerre: Vocals
❌ Axel Katzmann: Guitars
❌ Andy Boulgaropoulos: Guitars
❌ Frank Thorwarth: Bass
❌Oliver Werner: Drums.

Label: Noise Records.

 

 Re-released together with "The Morning After" in 2005.

Backing vocals performed by Midas Touch.

 

 Recorded at MusicLab/Berlin in August 88 & January 89.

Mixed at MusicLab/Berlin in January 89 by Harris John & Tankard.

 

 Cover artwork: Becker-Derouet, Sebastian Krüger.

 

 "Remedy" originally performed by Rose Tattoo.

Issued with a printed inner sleeve including lyrics on one side, and tour dates on the other. Also includes a merchandise insert.

 

 

Brujería - Raza Odiada (1995)

Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1989, the band name derives from the black magic used by some Mexican drug dealers to inspire fear in religious locals.

Raza Odiada (which translates in English as "Hated Race") is a song critical of Pete Wilson and his opposition to illegal immigration and to racial preferences. The song features ex-Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra as the voice of Pete Wilson. "La Migra" is a song about illegal immigration and corruption. "Revolución" is a pro-Zapatista song. A music video was released for the song "La Ley De Plomo", which received rotation on MTV.
It features three tracks originally appearing on the 7" singles El Patrón ("El Patrón" and "Hermanos Menéndez"), and ¡Machetazos! ("Padre Nuestro") on Alternative Tentacles. The cover features a photograph of Subcomandante Marcos, then-spokesperson and one of the leaders of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.

-Tracklist:

1. Raza odiada (Pito Wilson)     03:31
2. Colas de rata     01:32
3. Hechando chingasos (Greñudos locos II)     03:35
4. La migra (Cruza la frontera II)     01:42
5. Revolución     03:19
6. Consejos narcos     02:38
7. Almas de venta     02:12
8. La ley de plomo     02:45
9. Los tengo colgando (Chingo de mecos II)     01:49
10. Sesos humanos (Sacrificio IV)     01:15
11. Primer meco     01:15
12. El patrón     03:42
13. Hermanos Menéndez     02:06
14. Padre nuestro     02:07
15. Ritmos satánicos     06:50

-Line up:

• Greñudo: Drums
• Juan Brujo: Vocals
• Asesino: Guitars, bass
• Hongo: Guitars, bass, drums
• Güero Sin Fe: Bass, guitars
• Fantasma: Bass, vocals
• Pinche Peach: Vocals

 

Label: Roadrunner Records.

The cover features a photograph of Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos, the spokesperson and one of its main leaders for the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN).

In the intro of "Raza Odiada (Pito Wilson)" Jello Biafra (ex-vocalist of the seminal punk band Dead Kennedys) can be heard performing the spoken word role of Pito Wilson. By the way, he is not credited.

Music videos were made for songs "La Migra" & "La Ley de Plomo".

Deicide - Legion (1992) Reissue [2014]

 

Deicide is an American death metal band formed in Tampa, Florida on July 21 1987 by drummer Steve Asheim and guitarist brothers Eric and Brian Hoffman as "Carnage", then hiring bassist/vocalist Glen Benton and becoming "Amon". Within a month, they had recorded the Feasting the Beast 8-track demo in Benton's garage and had started playing the occasional gig in the Tampa area. In 1989, Amon recorded their second demo, Sacrificial, at Morrisound with producer Scott Burns.
 They would later change the band name to Deicide in 1989. The band rose to mainstream success in 1992 with their second album Legion, and is credited as the second best-selling death metal band of the Soundscan Era, after Cannibal Corpse.

Legion is one of Deicide's most musically ambitious releases, incorporating more technical riffing and song structures. The band considers this album to be its most difficult, and claims it is too chaotic. When the Hoffman brothers quit the band, Eric Hoffman stated that one of the main reasons was Glen Benton refusing to play longer sets and being unable to perform the technical bass guitar riffing required for Legion's material. Though the album is a favourite of fans, "Dead But Dreaming" is the only song from it to remain in the band's live set (though as recently as 2010 the band has begun playing "Trifixion" and "Holy Deception" as well). Unlike Deicide's first album, no pitch shifters or harmonizers were used on Benton's vocals. However, delay, reverb, and multi-tracking were among the studio manipulations used to achieve the vocal effects on the album.
The first track, "Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon", features a backward message. At about twenty seconds, a voice can be heard repeating the song's title.
Steve Asheim said of Legion, "For Legion, I was too busy worrying about how we were going to get a second album out to really think about what it meant, I was just trying to stay in the music business and stay brutal.

-Tracklist:

Side A:
1. Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon     04:26
2. Dead but Dreaming     03:13
3. Repent to Die     03:59
4. Trifixion     02:59

Side B:
5. Behead the Prophet (No Lord Shall Live)     03:44
6. Holy Deception     03:19
7. In Hell I Burn     04:37
8. Revocate the Agitator     02:47

 

-Line up:

• Glen Benton: Bass, vocals, lyrics
• Eric Hoffman: Guitars
• Brian Hoffman: Guitars
• Steve Asheim: Drums.

Label: Metal Blade Records.

Produced by Deicide.
Recorded and mixed at Morrisound Recording, Tampa, FL.
Mastered at Fullersound, Miami, FL.

Bathory - Bathory (1984) Reissue [2010]

 

Bathory is the first album by the Swedish Black Metal band Bathory. It is considered one of the first recordings that defined the Black Metal style.

The original title for the album was "Pentagrammaton," but it was discarded because many people read it as "Pentagon." The staff was placed in the back and was replaced on the cover by the face of a goat composed of several horror comic clippings.

It was printed on 1000 copies of vinyl, with a yellow goat instead of white. In the reedición for CD of 1990, Storm of Damnation and the subject of exit (outro) are not mentioned in the list of songs.

 

 

Reissue, Repress, 180 gram

-Tracklist:

 Side Darkness:

A1. Storm of Damnation    03:04
A2. Hades   02:45
A3. Reaper    02:44
A4. Necromansy    03:39
A5. Sacrifice    03:16

Side Evil:
B1. In Conspiracy With Satan    02:28
B2. Armageddon     02:30
B3. Raise The Dead    03:40
B4. War    02:16

B5. Outro      00:23

 

 

-Line up:

• Quorthon (R.I.P. 2004): Vocals, Guitars, Songwriting, Lyrics.
• Stefan Larsson: Drums.

• Rickard Bergman: Bass.

Patche

 

Label: Black Mark Production.

180 gram vinyl repress of 2010 reissue on black vinyl.

Issued with a 12'' black and white printed insert [one side is totally black] including lyrics and credits.
Recorded at Heaven Shore Studio, Stockholm, Sweden.

 Mixed at Electra Studio, Stockholm, Sweden.

 Track A1 is an intro not printed on the back cover tracklist. It is, however, printed on the side A center label and on the lyrics insert.
Track B5 is not mentioned anywhere on the release.

A counterfeit version with a yellow goat cover exists for this version.

 Cover design: Ace Spunky Black Spade & Quorthon.

 

 

 

Jonas Åkerlund, Per Yngve Ohlin & Quorthon (1987)