"Disintegrator/Incinerator", I think the title of the opening track alone is enough to convey the musical approach of Slaughter, a Canadian Thrash Metal band.

I actually found this album in my mp3 player one day, without knowing how it got there. Slaughter, not to be confused with the namesake American Hair Metal band, is a typical 80s band with only two albums and numerous demos, ignored by the masses at the peak of their success and forgotten by many who knew them in the following years. However, they managed to maintain an underground cult following with their awesome logo patches on the jackets of the most long-haired, studded, ignorant thrashers who are more than happy to be so. In short, they’re one of those bands that, once you know them, you end up being welcomed by moshers from the metal pub near the station as part of the truest metal crowd, and they might even offer you a pint of imported Belgian beer. (Attracted by the beer, I went into the bar, but they kicked me out when they saw I had short hair, Vans, and kept the Devo in said damn mp3).

"Strappado", dating back to 1986, is a concentrate of raw Thrash Metal with almost Crust passages (correct me if I’m saying nonsense) that will inspire future Death Metal. By the way, Chuck Schuldiner from Death also played with Slaughter for a while.

As you might have guessed, we are facing a handful of metal hardware shot at high speed and not at all elaborate or refined, which might be the joy of your dullest moments of boredom. Are your ears not accustomed to the wildest and most incomprehensible Grind? Do you laugh just seeing face-painting, thus excluding yourself from most misanthropic Black Metal? Are you not altered enough to enjoy a good Stoner Doom album? Slaughter will provide you with glorious minutes of violent, wild, ignorant metal fury that’s easy to listen to and enjoy! Short and similar songs, almost all of the same quality level, razor-sharp guitars, screamed but never growled or ridiculous vocals, with guaranteed headbanging! Thrash Metal to play to your classmate’s classmate with that damned mp3, not wanting to shock them too much (you never know, one day...) or as a substitute for Slayer to introduce to the faux alternative of the moment who listens to Bring Me The Horizon to show them what “authentic” sonic fury is.

This, provided you don’t expect too much originality, technique, or inventiveness, but taking a break from more “intelligent” music is good sometimes. (By the way, I found some old vinyl records in a cupboard, so I'll do without the mp3).

Tracklist and Samples

01   Strappado (01:29)

02   The Curse (01:45)

03   Disintegrator (01:00)

04   Incinerator (02:58)

05   Parasites (02:04)

06   F.O.D. (Fuck of Death) (03:54)

07   Tortured Souls (02:51)

08   Nocturnal Hell (03:28)

09   Tales of the Macabre (04:05)

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