•
Rating: This is the first album by Exhorder, a rather unlucky American band.
The story is brief: in 1988, Exhorder released their second demo titled "Slaughter In The Vatican," containing 7 songs that would later appear on this album (essentially all except for "The Tragic Period"). This demo made its way around the world thanks to tape-trading, and Exhorder became one of the most famous bands among the underground maniacs of the time. The uniqueness of this demo was the band's style, very close to the thrash/death of the era, but featuring then-new elements that would later become the hallmark of post thrash.
These elements were the heavy, bone-crushing, and pure mosh-pit rhythms, and the angry and "hoarse" vocals. Thus, RoadRunner signed them, and in 1990, Exhorder released this debut album. At the same time, in 1990, another American band released their fifth album, "Cowboys From Hell" by Pantera. In this album, Pantera's classic metal roots were still present, but they had also added the elements that characterized Exhorder, so much so that in the "Cowboys From Hell" booklet, they even thanked them. This is how post thrash was born, which is called by the majority "Pantera-style thrash," but in reality, it was created by Exhorder. Pantera were heavily promoted by their label, enjoying much more powerful promotion than Exhorder (and of course, Pantera was signed to a major label, and RoadRunner was still a medium-sized metal label). Thanks to this promotion, Pantera took Exhorder's place, becoming, in the eyes of most people, seen as the inventors of a new way to make metal. And Exhorder got royally screwed, probably titling a song "Anal Lust" brought them bad luck.
The line-up at the time of this album consisted of Vinnie LaBella (guitar), Chris Nail (drums), Kyle Thomas (vocals), and Jay Ceravolo (guitar). They didn't have a bassist, and the bass parts were recorded by the two guitarists. As stated above, the album includes 8 songs, all direct and ultra-angry. I defined the style as "post thrash" precisely due to the discussion above, but if someone defines it as thrash/death, they wouldn't be far off. The thrash/death component of this album is quite strong, starting with the production, handled by the ubiquitous Scott Burns at Morrisound Studio. The songs often resemble the style of bands like Sepultura, as there are several fast parts with intense drumming and very fast riffs. But the most important components of the album are the "mosh" parts, where the band slows down, playing massive, heavy, and extremely angry riffs, and Kyle Thomas' singing, a bastard and dark voice, far from the shouted and harsh voices of the most uncompromising thrash, and from the death metal growl. It makes you think of an Anselmo in a hoarser version, but that would be offensive to Thomas for historical reasons.
There's not much else to say about the songs, the style is similar for all of them, except for the various intros/outros composed of noises, crying children, church chants... Exhorder just thought about thrashing around without any finesse. They didn't care about technicality (the solos are quite raw!) and didn't aim to be. They wanted to make noise, shout all their anger and urge their listeners to headbang. And in this, they succeeded completely! Songs like the title track have a killer momentum, making you want to shoulder-bump the wardrobe while shouting EXHOOORDAAAAARRRRR!!! However, I have to say that the quality is not consistent throughout the album; there are some repetitive points that lower the overall quality. The album's production is good, the sounds are quite heavy and powerful, although Scott Burns has managed better. The packaging is spectacular. The cover has a stunning drawing that deserves to be hung in the bedroom above the bed's headboard. It depicts a view from inside St. Peter's: at the top is the band's logo; in the center is the door opening to St. Peter's Square, with two lines of very angry people lined up on either side of the road leading to a scaffold; to the left of the door is a painting representing "Anal Lust", and to the right, a painting representing "Homicide" (obviously quite explicit). And who's at the bottom? Below, there are a couple of people dressed in black with dark glasses forcibly taking the pope towards the scaffold! All in perfect theme with the lyrics, which are genuinely raw (the lyrics of "Anal Lust" were censored, in "Desecrator" there's a clear "fuck your god"), explicit and fiercely anticlerical!
The booklet notes are also spectacular: there are the classic "thanks," the "extra special thanks," and then the legendary "fuck you" which begins with "if you wear make-up and have a tool swinging between your legs" (for those who don't know English sounds like "if you wear make-up and have a gadget dangling between your legs"). In conclusion, this is an album of rather high historical importance, but known by few. In terms of quality, we're at very high levels, but not of excellence. It's worth mentioning that Pantera stole Exhorder's spot, but they also managed to make better albums, let's give Pantera what is Pantera's (the quality) and Exhorder what is Exhorder's (the ownership of the genre).
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Death in Vain (05:34)
Sudden Wall of sleep arrives
In my bed, I can't awaken
Faintly I can hear their cry
Novena for my soul
Death in life, boxed in a case
In my Sunday's best
Underground, one thousand pounds
Crushing down upon my chest
Family gazing over me
Mourning their goodbyes
Why can't I answer them??
This is all a lie!!
Lowered in a pit of fate
Lamentation of the end
Forget it all, it's over now
We'll never see him again
Padded prison, living tomb
Silent hell in which I wake!
Scream in fear, no one can hear
Minutes left my life's at stake
Scratch and pound, and kick in vain
Claustrophobic waves send me wild
Gasp thin air, realize the end is near
They buried me when I was alive!:
Cause of death was never confirmed
Did he really die?
Get permission from the state
To save his precious life
Force of pressure in my brain
Capillaries burst and drown my cries
Distant sounds of digging through the earth
Are they real, or wishful thinking lies?
Padded prison, living tomb
Silent hell in which I wake!
Scream in fear, no one can hear
Minutes left my life's at stake
Thank you Jesus, here they come
To save me from my final breath
Wretch in sorrow, disgusted they turn
From my horrified face of death
02 Homicide (03:14)
I love pain, I live to fight
Homicide is what I like
Full of anger, and filled with hate
Violent scene makes me feel great
Kill for pleasure, kill for fun
Show no mercy on the helpless one
Run 'em through, until they're dead
Cut the guts out, leave the body lay there
Homicide
Hang the pope, spill his blood
Leave his body lying in the mud
Rape the whore, bestial lust
Slit her throat cause she's a lousy fuck
See the infant, take it's life
Lick the blood off of the knife
Violent love, violent hate
Feel content about the lives we take
Down on your knees
Piss on your pleas
Nowhere to hide
From homicide
Fuck the authorities, piss on your lord
I am the law, death shall be
Pleasure to witness, you become a corpse
There is no remorse
Pray to your god while you still have some time
Death is so near, lethal gasp
Slit your throat, violent rage
One more death, turn the page
Taste the blood of the victim
Possessed by the killing
[chorus]
03 Desecrator (06:08)
My religion is myself
Desecration's my belief
Your misfortune's my enjoyment
And I thrive on your disease
I don't care about your feelings
Pain and torment's what you'll get
I'll rape your heart of love
And I'll make you eat my shit
I'll piss on your grave
Total desecration
I spit in your face
For no apparent reason
I'm sick and depraved
Society's garbage of what I'm made
Devoted to hatred
Unholy war and violent ways
Virgin Mary's cursed to hell
Who needs her anyway?
The Pope is slaughtered in the street
Catholics grieving at his feet
Painting of satanic stars
Desecrating church's walls
I have no rules, I have no mercy
No remorse, I feel no pity, life is death to me
The desecrator
Agnostic beliefs
Defecate before the holy world's maternity
Origin of the species, strongest shall survive
Blitzkrieg tactics upon your family life
I need no reason, there's no cause
All I need is victims to exercise my hateful laws
My pleasure is your pain, your grievance is my gain
Desecration's my greatest pleasure in life
Your children will be my sacrifice
Offspring slaughtered, lacerate your spouse
My itch is scratched, I feel relieved
That I brought your fucking world down to its' knees
Fuck your God
No regard for your religion
Pacifist
No need to pray for my forgiveness
Exhorted coitus
Beg me to release your life
Slaughtered child
How could your lord allow him to die?
Placid world once alive
Dig your grave and jump inside
Never trust, never love
Dig your grave it's just as such
You weakened hearts are torn to shreds
A lying beast now has your head
Kill, rape, hurt, steal
No living time to heal
Desecrated, desecrated, desecrated, desecrated, die!!
04 Exhorder (05:12)
My will be done and I won't hesitate
To tempt your weary heart in my hands
Persuade you to feel that affection is real
When I'm finished, you'll be dead in the sand
Mosh on sad eyes after taking your prize
That was given as a token of love
Give me your hind, I'm yours all the time
Until another victim will come
Crawl on your knees, asking "why did you leave?"
As I introduce you to the new piece
Cheated in ways beyond bad taste
Your soul was but a toy in my tease
Breaking young hearts across the land
As I wake up in a different place
You do it for me, it's easy to see
Your pitied, lonely looks in my face
I'll make you obey
Don't try to delay
You never will learn
You always return to
Exhorder...
Exhorder...
I am the sadist that dwells in your mind
You run back helpless, I cheat you blind
I can desecrate the highest class of human life
Lure and seduce the ever faithful preacher's wife
05 The Tragic Period (07:08)
Here's a tale in history
About a period of tragedy
A man who thought of horrid things
But really sought what happiness brings
Terror instilled within the souls
Of men and women, young and old
Come and listen to me, my friend
He'll make your morale descend
One Boston day, it's sad to say
A newborn child was granted miserable life
Abandoned by his father and
Left alone by death of father's wife
Foster child
Tobacco exporter gave him a chance
History defiled
Twisted by literature, dark and opium enhanced
Irregularity
So far ahead of his time
A spark of a breed
Regarding all of his literature creed
Infamy of tales and poetry
Connecting his themes to his wildest dreams
The maelstrom grew but no one knew
He descended far beyond its spinning walls
Into the pit, the black abyss
His house was collapsing as he searched for El Dorado
Perched upon Pallas was life, hard and callous
The shadows of burden lifted nevermore
The vulture eye of death concealed
By wooden planks below the floor
The quest for solace evolved into sorrow
Lingering obsessions
Intoxication, stimulation, creation
Hindering addictions
Apparently the message in a bottle was lost
For I could see no conclusion
But all of us remaining in the shrouded past
Must remember to further ourselves by obtrusion
Inebriated grin leads the mighty pen
Across the paper as his fears come alive
Satiric whim ignites the brim
Of insanity as Pluto arrives
Swaying cognac barriers
And the beating of his hideous heart
Increasing ever so constantly
Conjuring the ne'er forgotten lore
'Tis only this and nothing more
Nevermore
Lightning bolts
Tearing through his house and soul
Mental gibes
Darkness hailed in what he's told
Eternally infatuated with despair
Fortunado leads the way to fermented pleasures
But as the cup of drink is met
The hour tolls and the Red Death guest reveals
In a kingdom by the sea
Is where they left beloved thee
The time has come to join, my dear
In your kingdom by the sea
Hear the toll of the iron bells!
07 Anal Lust (02:35)
Tie you up don't give a shit
Lick my asshole suck my dick
Hold you at gun point
Bend you over anal lust
Can't survive this torture fuck
There's fire in my eyes I laugh at your cries
Lust
Anal lust
Up the butt
Lousy slut
Virginities lost
Up the butt
Lousy slut
Down on your knees bitch
Anal lust... HUH!
Shove my fist inside your cunt
Shove my dick right up your butt
Screams of pain fulfil my lust
Beat your face in get my kicks
Fuck your brains out
Squeeze your tits
Blood on your thighs
Virginity dies
[Chorus]
Blood on your face
Assume the position I love
Anal assault
Anxiously wait for the cum
Screaming in torment
The welps on her back are turning redder
She died from the pain
It made her feel ten times better!
Loading comments slowly
