Repulsion
Horrified

THE REVIEW

Hello everyone, today I wanted to review one of the fundamental bands for grindcore, REPULSION. Repulsion is one of those bands in the metal scene that, along with Cynic, Atheist, and Possessed, was widely recognized only after they disbanded, and their true value was seen in the myriad of bands they influenced.

Let's briefly talk about Repulsion. Repulsion formed in Flint, Michigan (the city of controversial filmmaker Michael Moore) in 1984 under the name Temper. They then changed their name to Ultraviolence, then to Genocide, and finally, in May 1986, they took the name Repulsion. The band, which at the time was described by record labels as "noisy, chaotic, and unsellable", turned out to be the group that founded (or according to some, laid the foundations for) grindcore, starting from a very raw thrash with gore lyrics that would later be widely used in every form by Carcass.

The band managed to do several dates around the States, supporting bands like Slayer, D.R.I., and Corrosion of Conformity.

Now let's talk about this essential album, Horrified, in a double CD edition that includes the band's only album, Horrified, which was released back in 1986 under the name Slaughter of the Innocent, and all the material recorded by the band on the second CD under both the name Repulsion and the name Genocide. The first CD already makes it clear that bands like Napalm Death, Carcass, Terrorizer, and their ilk have heard this CD and then spread grindcore in their own way. Everything in this album is brought to a fever pitch, except for the lyrics which, although being gore or splatter, are, in my opinion, ridiculous...

On the second CD, there are other recordings from the band, and you discover that as early as 1984, Repulsion (at the time still Genocide) was playing this destructive form of thrash/death metal and hardcore punk that Napalm would later call grindcore (from grind, meaning to grind, pulverize). The recording of the second CD is truly dreadful and really poorly done; moreover, the first demo was recorded in the bedroom of guitarist Matt Olivio, and perhaps it is this very production that makes these milestones of the grind genre better... The swan song came in 1991 with Final Demo, but the interest of the band members in the band had vanished, so after seven years of activity, each went their own way, and the drummer, along with the guitarist, went on to form the famous grindsters/deathsters Exhumed.

For those who love grind, this is a CD/collection to have with your eyes closed; however, for those accustomed to other sounds, I strongly advise staying away...

Here is the lineup of the first CD:

Scott Carlson - Vocals, Bass
Matt Olivio - Guitar
Col Jones - Drums
Matt Harvey - Guitar