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Skinlab - Nerve Damage (2004 - Century Media)

Nerve Damage

'Nerve Damage' is a collection of demos, rarities and deleted stuff off of the 'Eyesore' and 'Suffer' e.p.'s. This makes it more for fans than the casual listener and I guess they'll appreciate it more.
For those unfamiliar with Skinlab, they are an Oakland based hardcore band, led by bassist/vocalist Steev Esquirel and have been slogging the live circuit for over a decade, so it seems fair enough to release this 2 disc collection.
On first listen it isn't (apart from one or two exceptions - more on which in a minute) too bad. There's a general pulse under every track, and they sound pretty pissed off, which is a bonus in this overcrowded genre. Bits of electronica punctuate the guitars (as in opener of disc 1 'Anthem') and some of the lyrics are pretty good, with 'Anthem' ripping apart the music industry. However it is much the same the whole way through with little variation apart from the acoustic version of 'Purify' and some live bits, and considering it spans almost 2 hours over its 2 discs this is a pain in the arse.
My main beef (other than the sameyness) is their butchery of 'Bullet With Buterfly Wings'. Whilst the original Smashing Pumpkins version is sultry and glamourous in its ugliness, Esquirel's growls don't fit, making it sound like an angry, sweaty P.E. teacher. For me, a Pumkins fan, this is sacrilege, so points have been knocked off.
Reviewed By - adam

Slay The Masses Score...5/10 (7/10 for Skinlab aficionados)

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Slayer - Reign In Blood (1986 - American)

Reign In Blood

'Reign In Blood' has been voted 'Best Thrash Album' and 'Best Metal Album' countless times, and rightly so.
It deserves recognition for its revolution and inspiration of the metal world. Some concur that their earlier work is better, but 'Reign In Blood' had the biggest impact. It is impossible to count the number of bands who have an element of Slayer in their music, and there have been hundreds of cover versions. Listen to the passage in the final track 'Raining Blood', about balh into the track. This technique has been used and manipulated by nearly every band in some way or form, even if it doesn't last as long as the passage in 'Raining Blood'.
The music is so dynamic, the lyrics so morbid. They address many serious issues such as the Holocaust in 'Angel Of Death', which in my opinion is the greatest thrash anthem of all time.
Slayer stand out from the metal crowd. Their songs are genius, Tom Ayara's screams are memorable and unmistakable guitar mastery and squealing solos, that seem to ride the crunching riffery with ease, will go down in history.
Reviewed By - hail erebus

Slay The Masses Score...10/10

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Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss (1990 - American)

Seasons In The Abyss

Again this is another collection of excellent Slayer riffs that millions of others have plaguerised to death. Next time you listen to 'Dead Bury Their Dead' by Arch Enemy, listen to the beginning riff of 'Expendable Youth' from this album. Notice any similarities? Notibly slower and less hectic than such assaults as 'Reign In Blood' and 'Hell Awaits', but nonetheless a great album.
You should buy this for the mournful masterpeice that is the title track alone. Each chord strikes and eerie silence in the soul as the looming high pitched riffs haunt the atmosphere.
There is a much more melancholy sound resonating around 'Seasons In The Abyss'. Some truly evil music is sculpted here. The voices on 'Dead Skin Mask' freaked me out.
There is a definite war theme surrounding Slayer, especially on this album. Who can deny such war anthems as 'War Ensemble' which chants into the night:
"When this end is a slaughter
The final swing is not a drill
It's how many people I can kill"
If you are relatively new to metal, and only have the money to purchase one Slayer album, it will always be 'Reign In Blood' that i would suggest, but if you wish to delve further into the realm of Slayer 'Seasons In The Abyss' is an excellent choice. If you are a long established metalhead, and you haven't heard this - 1) Where have you been! 2) You are missing out...
Reviewed By - hail erebus

Slay The Masses Score...9/10

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