Lost Classics # 1

On many records there are classic songs that somehow fall through the cracks and are praised by a small few. Sadly, many of these songs are better than those that are called "classics" and deserve a greater deal of attention from the metal throng. For your listening pleasure I have constructed a virtual "mix tape" for you to explore (basically - I tell you the songs - you make the tape - got it?) and discover (or re-discover) many of these songs that probably found the skip button for something that was a commonly accepted spin. Go back, give these songs a second listen and expand your horizons a little.

Here it is...the first edition of "lost classics"...

Nunslaughter - Death by the Dead: Nunslaughter have always been the kings of the two-minute Satanic death metal blast but "Death by the Dead" has always been considered a resident classic among many fans. The particular version found on the "Waiting to Kill Christ" LP is especially brutal due in part to the raw rehearsal mix and the fact that the band just seemed "on" at that moment. Bearing an ultra-catchy chorus and riff breakdown...this is a track for all privative death metal fans.

Waiting to Kill Christ (From Beyond) - http://www.nunslaughter.com/

Darkthrone - In Honor of Thy Name: This is possibly the ONLY exciting track to grace the rather dull album that was "Hate Them". Darkthrone find a pleasing groove, rather amusing lyrics about evil/black metal/themselves (the strong statements seem rather amusing considering the relative snooze-fest that the rest of the album is) and a nasty pocket between the drums and the vocals. Darkthrone may not be living up to their legendary name lately, but this track at least proves that they still have a pulse and might be able to turn the train around at some juncture if they so choose to put in the effort.

Hate Them (Moonfog) - http://www.darkthrone.no/

Di'Anno - Brothers of the Tomb: Paul Di'Anno proves his vocal metal in this rather heavy vocal cruncher that shows Mr. Di'Anno screaming not-unlike Rob Halford and bellowing in his typical "tough guy" fashion. This one tracks has all the elements of an old school metal classic as the vocals soar, the guitar crunch into a streetwise groove and the overall mood is one of resistance and triumph. It's high time that Di'Anno got a song like this to show his impressive pipes and a set of lyrics that deserve his passionate delivery. "Brothers of the Tomb", like another three-four songs on "Nomad" show that when Di'Anno is on - few (if any) are more convincing.

Nomad (Perris Records) - http://www.pauldianno.com/

Slaughter - The Dark: This thrashing piece of deathcore shines with a double-heavy riff and mid-paced pounding drums. This proved that Slaughter could not only thrash wildly with the best, but also convey a muscular mood in which they could throw their proverbial "weight" around in the studio. While not the frenzied attack of "Incinerator" or "Time Warp", this track deserves some repeated listens from all fans of the TRUE Slaughter.

Not Dead Yet/Paranormal (Nuclear Blast) - http://www.slaughter.ca/

Manowar - Burning: This mid-paced mix of marching drums, clanging bass and rather incredible screaming vocals is a rare hit for the Manowar boys in their post "Sign of the Hammer" period. It's powerful march, strong guitars and hammering beats will please any fan, even if they buy into the whole "kings of metal" deal or not. This song is pure old-school metal with a throbbing heartbeat, a strong refrain and enough heavy riffs to allow them to sit comfortably on the same throne as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden - if only for a moment.

The Triumph of Steel (Atlantic) - http://www.manowar.com/

U.D.O. - Raiders of Beyond: Udo Dirkschneider manages to come up with a gem of an old-school metal album from time to time and "Holy" was a prime example of such a release. "Raiders of Beyond" (a rather endearingly silly title) is the second track and is a surprisingly hook-laden number that sticks to the brain like peanut butter. We may never know exactly who the "Raiders of Beyond" are as they are indeed...beyond, but the band kicks these pleasing hooks and riffs with such conviction it's hard NOT to enjoy.

Holy (Breaker/Nuclear Blast) - http://www.udo-online.de/

Mortician - Madman Marz: Mortician are at their best when they are simply pounding everything in their past into total dust. "Madman Marz" is a one-minute and forty-one second grind slam that shows that Will Rahmer and company haven't slowed down a bit with the double (triple?) time blast numbers. These were (and are) the type of numbers that made them stand out from the death metal bands that were/are worried less about brutality than they are their boring trade-off solo sections. "Buzzards" is pure Mortician...love it or hate it, they could probably give a fuck. This is how I prefer my Mortician tracks though...pared down to the bare essentials of death metal brutality.

Reanimated Dead Flesh (Mortician Records) - http://www.morticianrecords.com/

Beherit - Werewolf, Semen & Blood: While tracks like "Nuclear Girl", "Down There..." and "Solomons Gate" are regularly given press and praise I've found that "Werewolf, Semen & Blood" finds a primal place in the Beherit catalog that needs to be dragged out along with the common "classics" where it belongs. The churning guitars, howling vocals and violent atmosphere are as overwhelming. Lyrically, this is among the more extreme visions pressed forth by the Beherit camp (which is saying something) and strikes a personal chord for all of those with a deep interest in lycanthropy. While it lacks the overall "hooks" found in "Down There..." and "The Gate of Nanna", "Werewolf, Semen & Blood" is near-perfect in it's Satanic insanity.

Drawing Down the Moon (Spinefarm) - N/A

Immortal - Cryptic Winterstorms: Immortal shine on this early track with it's random gong hits, Bathory styled guitar scrapes and primal vocals. The band was at their peak here as far as I'm concerned with solid song structures that managed to convey the entire message behind the rather strange lyrics. Abbath sounds positively deranged, Demonaz lets his guitars bit and cut through the mix and the drumming ISN'T a total waste of blast-beats. Immortal shine here, and may never have been a stronger musical unit than they were on early tracks such as this.

Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism (Osmose) - N/A

That's all for now kids! Get out there and rediscover some old tracks lying in your collection that you may have been looking over all this time. Even better, go out an buy a new CD and discover these tracks as fresh moments and spread the word so that these often ignored but rarely disputed (when they actually are mentioned in conversation) tracks get the attention they deserve.

~ Aerik Von