Evildead
Annihilation Of Civilization

Do you know what perfection in music is? It's that work that has no defects, no downturns; it's that work that makes you enjoy it from the first to the last track even when you listen to it again after years. Evildead is the band in question, those who managed to create a cornerstone like "Annihilation Of Civilization," which, in my opinion, should be numbered among the greatest masterpieces of the whole Thrash Metal movement.

Evildead was born in Los Angeles in 1987, after guitarist Juan Garcia and bassist Mel Sanchez left Agent Steel. Their name clearly derives from one of the greatest cult movies of the Horror/Splatter cinema "Evil Dead" by Sam Raimi, which I highly recommend watching if you are a fan of the genre. But what exactly happened a year before their formation? In 1986, the tragic disaster of Chernobyl occurred, where the explosion of a nuclear reactor, with the consequent fallout of a radioactive cloud in the surrounding areas, caused numerous deaths, as well as serious illnesses and the birth of malformed children. This event certainly influenced their lyrics (like many other bands of the same genre) and "Annihilation Of Civilization" is clear proof of that.

It was released in 1989 by the German label SPV. There are various reasons why I consider this album a masterpiece: first and foremost, the production deserves mention, essentially perfect, without the slightest flaw, and the sounds produced by each instrument are well-distinguished. Another strong point lies in the guitar work by Juan Garcia and Dan Flores, capable of providing us with a fantastic deluge of devastating riffs, intricate and technical as tradition dictates; the listener will be practically captivated and compelled into furious, uncontrolled headbanging; it's impossible not to go wild during the listening, the adrenaline is almost guaranteed. The "head-busting" riffing, the furious choruses, the pounding and extremely precise drums are elements that perfectly characterize this record, as well as much of the U.S. made Thrash Metal, which is the most genuine and, artistically speaking, the most exciting. Another fundamental point, that should be addressed almost obligatorily, are the themes, which depict a vision of a declining world without the slightest hope for a better future, which instead appears as a "post-nuclear devastation," as can also be seen on the cover of the full-length, where there are bathers completely hairless due to radiation.

The opener "The Awakening" is a tribute to the movie "Evil Dead," and deals with the film's plot, which I won't reveal in case you want to watch it. The following title track is something immensely marvelous, and I dare say one of the most beautiful songs in all of Heavy Metal. It starts immediately at a remarkable speed, Phil Flores' angry voice announces the end of civilization: a decaying world where the seas lose all their beauty to become dumps, where acid rains corrode the soil, where children starve to death and myriads of unsorted radioactive waste are everywhere. I highly recommend watching the music video, nothing short of genius and intelligent where the world's evils are thrown in the viewer/listener's face one after another. But if this "Annihilation Of Civilization" has an excellent and well-thought-out text, the music cannot be said differently: the guitar work is masterful, the numerous riffs succeed each other at a sustained pace, making the song very varied and not at all banal; with the presence of highly effective choruses that do not let the rhythm drop even for a second. The other tracks, although wonderful, do not reach the majesty of the Title track, except for "Future Shock," another perfect track, which follows more or less the same themes of "Annihilation Of Civilization": nuclear future, radioactivity, extinction of fauna, technological alienation, murders, wars, you name it. A pessimistic and alarming announcement of tomorrow, narrated through powerful riffs, but this time slower and more cadenced. "Holy Trials" is perhaps the richest track of the full-length: slower sections alternate with furious and "Hardcoreish" outbursts, where it almost touches on the drum's Blast Beat, all enriched by a melodic and fascinating arpeggio about halfway through the song, which breaks for a moment the overall frenzy, to resume immediately after. "Gone Shooting" is another devastating track, with an excellent initial riff and an angry chorus that shouts the title of the song: ''GONE SHOOTING''! No less aggressive is "Unauthorized Exploitation," fast and destructive, which precedes the concluding Bonus Track "B.O.H.I.C.A.," essentially a Hardcore Punk track, very fast and of short duration.

For fans of the genre, I remind you that listening to this album is essential. Despite the excellent quality and care of each song, this LP has always been sidelined and therefore underrated. But if bands like the big four, Exodus, Testament, etc., managed to become more known to people, gaining more fame, Evildead, although playing the same genre and at the same quality levels, did not manage to get noticed as much as they deserved, which is why I urge you to listen to all those works that are often unjustly overshadowed by the fame of others. So if you want the purest, most intelligent, and aggressive Thrash, getting your hands on this masterpiece will be one of the best choices you can make...