Nihilist Nihilist
Candlelight Records / Threeman Recordings CDL176 June 28th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
What we have with Nihilist is a compendium comprised of several demos and, from the ashes of the long-defunct metallers Nihilist, bands such as Entombed and Unleashed would arise. These demos even by demo standards are phenomenal and showcase what the Entombed kids were capable of crafting, even way back in 1988. I was five at the time.
As I said, Nihilist houses five demos, namely Premature Autopsy, Only Shreds Remain, Drowned, The Drowned Sessions, and Entombeds But Life Goes On. Unsurprisingly, these recordings are raw, but still manage to relay the talent that the fifteen-year olds possessed in 88. The sound cuts out here and there, everything feels overly sludgy, and the vocalizations are primal in nature. Even primitive excursions like Sentenced to Death and Supposed to Rot just gush with quality though I have to painstakingly acknowledge that the group needed quite a bit of work before a masterpiece like Left Hand Path could be created. Not to mention, as one would expect, the songwriting gets better the further the band moves along. But Life Goes On is simply enthralling with its double-bass, subtle-at-times growling, and thrash-esque leads. So, overall, theres a rich history here waiting to be explored; the liner notes are also of worth as Nihilists timeline is thoroughly iterated by current Century Media Recordss head Ula Gehret.
The decision to purchase Nihilist should be a no-brainer if youre a fan of Entombed, Unleashed, or bands that helped to shape a subgenre. Theres a large boxset being constructed as we speak that will encase more recordings from Nihilist, Brainwarp, and the like but that wont be out for a great while. In the meantime, give this a go. The aforesaid almost atones for the butchering of Chuck Schuldiners Zero Tolerance.
8/10
Official Candlelight Records Website
Official Threeman Recordings Website
Candlelight Records / Threeman Recordings CDL176 June 28th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
What we have with Nihilist is a compendium comprised of several demos and, from the ashes of the long-defunct metallers Nihilist, bands such as Entombed and Unleashed would arise. These demos even by demo standards are phenomenal and showcase what the Entombed kids were capable of crafting, even way back in 1988. I was five at the time.
As I said, Nihilist houses five demos, namely Premature Autopsy, Only Shreds Remain, Drowned, The Drowned Sessions, and Entombeds But Life Goes On. Unsurprisingly, these recordings are raw, but still manage to relay the talent that the fifteen-year olds possessed in 88. The sound cuts out here and there, everything feels overly sludgy, and the vocalizations are primal in nature. Even primitive excursions like Sentenced to Death and Supposed to Rot just gush with quality though I have to painstakingly acknowledge that the group needed quite a bit of work before a masterpiece like Left Hand Path could be created. Not to mention, as one would expect, the songwriting gets better the further the band moves along. But Life Goes On is simply enthralling with its double-bass, subtle-at-times growling, and thrash-esque leads. So, overall, theres a rich history here waiting to be explored; the liner notes are also of worth as Nihilists timeline is thoroughly iterated by current Century Media Recordss head Ula Gehret.
The decision to purchase Nihilist should be a no-brainer if youre a fan of Entombed, Unleashed, or bands that helped to shape a subgenre. Theres a large boxset being constructed as we speak that will encase more recordings from Nihilist, Brainwarp, and the like but that wont be out for a great while. In the meantime, give this a go. The aforesaid almost atones for the butchering of Chuck Schuldiners Zero Tolerance.
8/10
Official Candlelight Records Website
Official Threeman Recordings Website
