Metal Mind to reissue two Slaughter albums
Once upon a time in America there was a glam rock band named Slaughter… and many people thought that this wasn’t the most appropriate name for such music. Three guys from Toronto, Canada had exactly the same opinion and in August of 1984 decided to form their own band and also call it Slaughter – this time, for all the right reasons. Terry Sadler (vocals & bass guitar), Dave Hewson (vocals & chainsaw guitars) and Ron Sumners (drums) delivered an extremely brutal combination of death and trash metal, spiced with some punk and hardcore influences. To make it simple – this Slaughter meant mean business…
Metal Mind Productions presents new digipak edition of two Slaughter’s album: “Strappado” – the debut album from 1986 featuring an extremely brutal combination of death and trash metal, spiced with some punk and hardcore influences and “Not Dead Yet/Paranormal” – the compilation album from 2001. New digipak edition is limited to 2000 copies. Digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on golden disc. Both titles will be available on 5th May 2008 in Europe and 8th July 2008 in USA (via MVD).
Slaughter
Strappado (remastered + bonus tracks)Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MASS CD 1164 DG
Barcode: 5907785032255
Format: CD Digipak (limited edition of 2000 numerated copies)
Genre: death/thrash metal
Release date: 05.05.2008 Europe / 08.07.2008 USA
Tracklist:
1. Disintegrator/Incinerator
2. Nocturnal Hell
3. F.O.D. (Fuck Of Death)
4. Tortured Souls
5. Parasites
6. The Curse
7. Strappado
8. Maim To Please (Bonus Track)
9. One Foot In The Grave (Bonus Track)
10. Tyrant Of Hell (Bonus Track)
11. Death Dealer (Bonus Track)
12. Tales Of The Macabre
Live Toronto March 25, 1985:
13. Disintegrator/Incinerator
14. One Foot In The Grave
15. Shadow of Death
16. Massacra (originally performed by Hellhammer) 17. Death Dealer
18. Tales of the Macabre
19. Maim To Please
20. Strappado
21. Eve of Darkness
22. Tyrants of Hell
23. Witching Hour (originally performed by Venom)
24. Bloody Karnage
Slaughter
Not Dead Yet/Paranormal (remastered)
Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MASS CD 1163 DG
Barcode: 5907785032248
Format: CD Digipak (limited edition of 2000 numerated copies)
Genre: death/thrash metal
Release date: 05.05.2008 Europe / 08.07.2008 USA
Tracklist:
1. Not Dead Yet
2. Flake
3. Threshold of Pain
4. Time Warp
5. Dead Comes Ripping Through You
6. The Dark
7. Astral Projektor
8. Telepathic Screams
9. Schizo
10. Galactic Dynamic
11. Coffin of Ice
12. The Fourth Dimension
13. The Curse (live)
14. Tortured Souls (live)
15. Nocturnal Hell (live)
16. Incinerator (live)
Tracks 1-8 taken from 1991 “Not Dead Yet” demo
Tracks 9-12 taken from 1988 “Paranormal” demo
Tracks 13-16 recorded live in 1988
Bio
Once upon a time in America there was a glam rock band named Slaughter… and many people thought that this wasn’t the most appropriate name for such music. Three guys from Toronto, Canada had exactly the same opinion and in August of 1984 decided to form their own band and also call it Slaughter – this time, for all the right reasons. Terry Sadler (vocals & bass guitar), Dave Hewson (vocals & chainsaw guitars) and Ron Sumners (drums) delivered an extremely brutal combination of death and trash metal, spiced with some punk and hardcore influences. To make it simple – this Slaughter meant mean business… The band recorded their first demo – “Bloody Karnage” (which according to the group sounded like Black Sabbath playing punk rock) – on New Year’s Eve 1984 and immediately caught the attention of the small record company Diabolic Force/Fringe Records, which helped them release their second demo, “Surrender Or Die”. At that time Slaughter was considered a local phenomenon, as they were one of few representatives of the early death metal scene. Their demo became a valuable item for all tape traders around, bringing the band a loyal following at the very start of their career. In January 1986 guitar legend Chuck Schuldiner joined Slaughter for a brief moment to form a four-piece, but he eventually decided to leave and reform his band Death. A month later the group signed a contract with Diabolic Force/Fringe Records to finally release a full-length album. Unfortunately, due to several problems with the label, “Strappado” was released not until a year after… The band’s debut LP brought a crushing dose of primitive death/thrash metal, mixed with hardcore and punk rock, and a bit of Hellhammer to boost. “Strappado” consisted strictly of ultra-fast and mid-paced songs, all delivering a solid amount of brutality and aggression. The guitar sound was placed ideally between clarity and rawness, backed by a brilliantly sounding bass which actually works with the guitar, not against it (like in many other bands). The album perfectly captures the unique feel of the best classic 80’s down-tuned death/thrash metal releases. Also the vocal performances stand out as classic examples of death & thrash collaboration – two vocalists present two different vocal styles: pure death metal growling and heavy thrash shouting, which combined gave an ultra-brutal effect. All in all, Slaughter’s debut was a prime slice of crushingly heavy music, and songs such as “Disintegrator/Incinerator”, “F.O.D.”. “Nocturnal Hell” and “One Foot in the Grave” became cult classics among death and thrash metal fanatics. In late 1986 drummer Ron Sumners left the band and was replaced by Bobby Sadzak (who was previously playing with Lethal Presence). Slaughter begun working on their second album which was to be entitled “Paranormal” and present a more death metal-oriented content. The music on “Paranormal” was a definite step forward for the band – even more brutal than on the debut, the material attacked the listener with utmost violence and intensity. Unfortunately, just before the release of the LP bassist and founding member Terry Sadler decided to leave the group. The remaining members (Dave Hewson, Brian Lourie and Bobby Sadzak) recruited a new bass player – Mike Dalton – and changed their name to Strappado to begin their musical crusade anew. Strappado managed to record the album “Not Dead Yet” in 1990 and a demo release entitled “Fatal Judgment” in 1992, until the group finally disbanded in 1994. But that was not the end for Hewson and his crew. Slaughter resurfaced in 1996, recording a Celtic Frost cover (“Dethroned Emperor”) for the tribute album “In Memory of Celtic Frost”. After a four-year break the group re-released their “Surrender Or Die” demo through Utopion Vision Music. Then, in 2001, Slaughter managed to sign a deal with Nuclear Blast and soon a remixed and remastered version of the album “Strappado” was released, containing tons of bonus material such as rare studio, rehearsal and live tracks. Later that year the band’s second album finally hit the stores as well, containing the material from both “Paranormal” by Slaughter and “Not Dead Yet” recorded under the name Strappado. The double album contained 4 bonus demo tracks from 1988 and 4 rare live tracks from 1986 – an ideal gift for the fans and a reward for their patience.