Non-Remasters Of Evil, pt. III

Sodom (Germany) Obsessed By Cruelty (1986) Steamhammer [SPV 08-2121]

Okay. So I am sure any of you reading this with half a brain burned by metal will already know there are two totally different versions of this album. Apparently this version was rejected by Metal Blade in favour of the thrahier one more readily available nowadays, which actually has its moments. This one is very much black metal, sounding almost at times as if it were played in the dark, with some slightly sloppy drumming, etc, but it really conjures up the most metal of feelings. It also has an extra track. If you're used to the other version this will maybe seem like a waste of time at first, but persevere cos it really is a classic and for all the right reasons. And the artwork, fuck, what a sleeve! But hey, what is that on top of the skull, a condor's claw trying to steal away the skull? Fuck knows, but thanks to Lockjaw or wherever this rip was attained from.

1.Intro (The Rebirth...)
2.Deathlike Silence
3.Brandish the Sceptre
4.Proselytism Real
5.Equinox
6.After the Deluge
7.Obsessed by Cruelty
8.Fall of Majesty Town
9.Nuctmeron
10.Pretenders to the Throne
11.Witchhammer
12.Volcanic Slut

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Protector (Germany) Misanthropy (1987) I Hate Records [IHR CD 004]

Okay, this was actually taken from the 2003 comp Echoes From The Past, which comprises of this, the excellent demo, and the not-so hot (imo) full-length, Golem. HOWEVER, having thoroughly examined the liner notes (no mention of that hateful eight-letter word) and having listened to it several times, I can hear no bombastic bass etc. normally found on remasters. If you like the usual Teutonic masters, Possessed, Slaughter, etc. then you will love this. If you don't then why the hell are you here/reading this??? "Ago-ra-phobia" makes ME sick—literally! Best track on there, for me.

1.Misanthropy
2.Holy Inquisition
3.Agoraphobia
4.The Mercenary
5.Kain and Abel
6.Holocaust

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Deathrow (Germany) Raging Steel (1987) Noise [cd 09-4439]

This is another great post 86 Deutsch behemoth. Buy the vinyl, which seems to go cheap enough on eBay, if you play your cards right, and sounds FANTASTIC. If you haven't already got this then hurry up and click the link below before Medifire goes the way of Megaupload, et al. Maybe Medifire has its own "Im-mor-tali-tyyy"... Always thought Antichrist's already-classic Put To Death demo had a lot of this in it, personally. Front and back scans included.

1.The Dawn
2.Raging Steel
3.Scattered by the Wind
4.Dragon's Blood
5.The Thing Within
6.Pledge to Die
7.Mortal Dread
8.The Undead Cry
9.Beyond the Light

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Non-Remasters Of Reality, pt. II

Voivod (Canada) War And Pain (1984) Pony Canyon Inc. [PCCY-00104]

Enjoy this early Canadian beast ripped from a FLAC of the non-remastered 1990 Japanese CD press, at 320kbps. Sounds pretty much the same as my first press vinyl.
1.Voivod
2.Warriors of Ice
3.Suck your Bone
4.Iron Gang
5.War and Pain
6.Blow
7.Live for Violence
8.Black City
9.Nuclear War

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Slaughter (Canada) Strappado (1987) Fringe Product [FPL3028]

This vinyl rip of the first pressing is insanely cool and pretty much a totally different mix to even the first CD version released the same year on the same label. Not sure why, both mixes slay, but this is slightly cooler with its echoey vocals and slightly more discordant overall sound. A true classic, top ten ever, even.
1.Strappado
2.The Curse
3.Disintegrator
4.Incinerator
5.Parasites
6.F.O.D. (Fuck of Death)
7.Tortured Souls
8.Nocturnal Hell
9.Tales of the Macabre

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Sacrifice (Canada) Forward To Termination (1987) Metal Blade Records [72223-2]

First CD press by Restless Records/Metal Blade ripped from FLAC at 320kbps, with artowrk scans. If you haven't already got this one then today is your lucky day!
1.Forward to Termination
2.Terror Strikes
3.Re-Animation
4.Afterlife
5.Flames of Armageddon
6.The Entity
7.Forever Enslaved
8.Cyanide
9.Light at the End
10.Pyrokinesis

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Next month: Brazil. No, maybe Germany.

1st Presses, pt. I

Okay, first off, this new series is basically to highlight the glaring differences often heard between first presses and remastered versions more readily available nowadays, where, in most cases, all they've done is turn the bass up loads (hate). If there is anything you are after in particular, please leave a comment asking, but I have several more ready to go, so be patient. Thanks to all the original uploaders of these rips.

Mötley Crüe (USA) Too Fast For Love (1981) Leathür Records [LR/1281-2]

First up, the infamous debut from Mötley Crüe. This was originally released in 81, not 82 like the more well-known version with the red/bigger lettering. That version was in fact remixed and edited, the version here being the Leathür Records original, featuring 10 tracks, tracklisted differently, with an outro on "Come on and Dance", and an intro on the title track. The overall sound is different, with a way more evil (for Crüe) guitar sound ("Piece of your Action" is majestic) and the vocals almost seem to have been totally re-recorded for the 82 press. Yes, some of these 'alternate versions' were included on expanded versions, but the sound on the whole here is way better and closer to what I always imagined these guys making. According to the all-knowing discogs, there were three pressings on Leathür Records—two in 81 and one in 82. But whatever, this is, for me, one of the best metal albums ever. I can't say much for the rest of their discography, but this will always remain classic for me and this version is keeping the flame well-lit.

1.Live Wire
2.Public Enemy #1
3.Take Me to the Top
4.Merry-Go-Round
5.Piece of your Action
6.Starry Eyes
7.Stick to your Guns
8.Come on and Dance
9.Too Fast for Love
10.On with the Show

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Megadeth (USA) Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? [Test Pressing] (1986) Capitol [ST-12526]

Megadeth seem to be the uncoolest band ever for people born in 86 or after. I wasn't aware of this until I got lambasted for wearing a Black Friday shirt recently. For the record, Megadeth did NOT suck. They did shortly after this record and perhaps some of this release isn't amazing, but there is a reason they were/are so big. If they are too mainstream for you then go back to your inaudible Assassin demo, or whatever is 'cooler'. That band sucked, for the record.

Anyways, this was one of the first albums I had as a young wannabe thrasher in about 89 or 90, alongside the obvious things a 10-year-old may have had in 89/90. While I don't have as much time for it these days, it is still ranked as an all-time classic. This version I came across on the godly Lockjaw a few years back and it is, in truth, pretty different to the released version. Four of the tracks on here made it on a remaster in the 2000s, but not all eight, so if you are a Megadeth fan you will appreciate this, if not, then enjoy your Death Angel rehearsal, or whatever (they fucking sucked too). Expect a more 'blackened' sound (if you could call it that), akin to my description of the above record—echoey vocals, harsher guitar sound, more cymbals etc.

1.Wake Up Dead
2.The Conjuring
3.Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
4.Devil's Island
5.Good Mourning/Black Friday
6.Bad Omen
7.I Ain't Superstitious (Willie Dixon cover)
8.My Last Words

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Incubus (USA) Serpent Temptation (1988) Brutal Records [BR-08959-1]

Incubus were a band who, until semi-recently, always drifted under my radar. That was until I found this vinyl rip of their debut somewhere online and my-oh-my is it an absolute scorcher. The backbone of the band, the Howard brothers, moved from Brazil to Louisiana to form Incubus in 1986. They recorded an okay demo, this album, and another, before remixing this, rewriting the lyrics, re-recording the vocals (really badly), and retitling the tracks for a 1996 reissue. I have no idea why they did this, cos for me, this album is latter 80s thrash perfection. "Sadistic Sinner" is anthemic. But seriously, steer clear of the 96 version, it is unnecessary, at best.

1.The Battle of Armageddon
2.Voices from the Grave
3.Sadistic Sinner
4.Incubus
5.Blaspheming Prophets
6.Hunger for Power
7.Serpent Temptation
8.Underground Killers

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Next month: Canada.