Jellyfish - Spilt Milk (1993)

What a surprise..with a tragic name like Jellyfish you'd expect some sugary yet flightless lump of plasticine, but instead, we get memorable, catchy, colourful and naturally psychedelic odes to The Beatles. Imagine outtakes from 'Magical Mystery Tour', and as the breath of 'Hush' sweeps across the valleys like some Sunday hymn, you've every right to feel blessed. And then, it's The Beatles via 'Revolver' for the fantastic 'Joining A Fan Club', McCartney-esque against a backdrop of fuzz guitars...ditto for the superb 'Sebrina...', with it's 'Penny Lane' bounce and Beach Boys harmonies. Hey, even Enuff Z Nuff forget these melodies....wonderfully uptempo, each time reaching beautiful pinnacles, never stabbing with any swishing guitar licks, instead always remaining brisk, possibly haunting beneath a blazing sun.

This is a cracking little record you might have to play quite a few times simply to be absorbed in its technicolour joy. One minute The Kinks could be cartoon characters in your front room, the next we are a buzzing Beach Boys imitation, but all the while remaining credible with the quirky songs of hope. Not for your average metaller seeking dungeons 'n' dragons, but for the cold, lost souls looking for quick warmth and a sugary hit.

7/10

Red Kross - Third Eye (1990)

Wrapped in one of those sleeves that screams, "We are alterno-rock", 'Third Eye' is in fact a jolly bubblegum ride of hippy rock and jangly, summery indie cool. Don't expect leadweight metal riffs to come crashing in or for the band to even resort to a Saigon Kick unexpected heaviness, no, this is bright, breezy and undeniably catchy rock/pop. 'Faith Healer', 'Zira', etc, are a heady, psychedelic mix of a watered down Kula Shaker, elements of The Beatles and maybe some of the alterno-metal types already discussed on this site. Very feminine, smelling of incense, this could be a multi-coloured Wonder Stuff accidentally dumped into the early '90s metal scene with the likes of Underneath What and The Nymphs. Tambourines at the ready and a trip to retro Oxfam to buy some kaleidoscope flares.

6/10

Pestilence - Resurrection Macabre (2009)

So, they have returned. A resurrection indeed. My once favourite technical death metallers who released the early classics such as 'Consuming Impulse', and the later complex epics such as 'Spheres'...and, what goes around comes around, because for some reason, the new Pestilence is attempting to recreate the old. Out with the new, in with the old, and I'm not sure I'm liking it! Back in the early '90s death metal took a refreshing twist when a majority of bands, Atheist, Cynic and these guys, dabbled in a little bit of experimentation within their already extreme sound. The bands became cult heroes even if the jazzy elements and odd, progressive interludes alienated some headbangers, but hey, these bands were masterful musicians, so to hear these godly deathsters pounding out this almost one-dimensional blur is a little disheartening. Sure, it's pretty brutal, vocally far more dense than even the bands early classics and the music is relatively punishing, but where is the identity of this band ? Nowhere to be seen I'm afraid, and it hurts to say that.

Death metal was once a relatively narrow-sounding field with countless bands sounding similar, and now Pestilence have simply gone back to that bog standard style of thrashing, with the frantic drums and hurtling guitars. Yep, there's plenty there for the ferocious headbanger, but when so long has passed between albums, as a resurrection this falls flat on its face like a zombie with no legs. Hardcore death metal freaks will disagree, but those who remember Pestilence will be very disappointed.

5/10

Beliver - Extraction From Morality (1989)

I was introduced to Believer via the excellent 'Sanity Obscure' record. Technical thrash of some quality which for some reason or other was criminally ignored simply because the band were Christians! I think at the time alot of overly Satanic music, such as Deicide, was hitting the racks and alot of metalheads were certainly against bands like Stryper who preached God's message. However, Believer are nothing of the sort, but simply a very cool band who thrash out a raging, chugging techno-fest something akin to a healthy mix of early Voivod, Death Angel and that Bay Area crunch. Believer however mix more original atmospheres and structures, giving their thrash groove a deeper more intricate soul.

Nine very cool tracks on offer, the chorus of 'D.O.S.' a nifty Anthrax shift of gears, whilst the strut of 'Stress' has more in common with Mordred before it rattles at a pace. Believer are very much a cult act who've bettered with age.

7/10

Monstrosity - Millennium (2002)

Amazing when you consider how long some of these death metal bands have been churning out quality music. Sure, Monstrosity never reached the heights of the likes of Obituary, and what they grind out is nothing new, but the complexities within the framework of the sound and the fact that I simply like Monstrosity, means I'm always willing to lend an ear. George Fisher would make this his last gurgle and join Cannibal Corspe, but despite its lacking in the originality stakes, 'Millennium' pounds and stamps as hard as most. A cult act for sure, you can slot this act alongside the likes of Gorguts for an almost no-thrills guilty pleasure.

'Fragments Of Resolution' and its slow, sombre stomp being my favourite track on offer, the drums of Harrison are precise and thunderous, but so many of these kind of records are based upon the foundations of the guitarwork and that's where death metal is often overlooked. These are fantastic musicians, but to the ignorant ear this may just sound like a nonsensical blur, when the reality is the terchnical prowess has to be admired as these kind of bands consistently startle with their extremity yet complexity.

7/10

Denial Fiend - They Rise (2007)

And whilst on the subject of Massacre....this is a relatively new effort featuring the guttural growls of Kam Lee and Terry Butler, and a fine effort it is to, and if anything, I'm digging this more than the 'From Beyond' opus of so many years ago. This is fresh sounding gory/punky death grind, with a horror theme, and it has the classic qualities of early '90s death metal. Eleven cuts on offer, full of zombiefied screeches and gurgles, yet often decipherable vocals and the occasional moshing chant, heavy chugging riffs and some superb drumming.

It proves that there's still room for this kind of stuff because the old masters still rule the roost. Hopefully this will find a cult status among death metal fans who still worship the qualities of a time we thought had faded, but which time and time again resurface. Cool comic horror cover too...

7/10

Massacre - From Beyond (1991)

From the opening strains of 'Dawn Of Eternity', Massacre carve themselves into death metal folklore with this much acclaimed record which, alongside Morbid Angel's 'Chapel Of Ghouls', 'Slowly We Rot' by Obituary, and a handful of others, remains a cult classic. Again, the guttural growl attack, from Kam Lee, but the album's main point of focus is the superb guitar work of Rick Rozz who impressed greatly on Death's classic 'Leprosy'. Many fans saw Massacre as competition for Chuck Schuldiner's Death, after all, the members has all previously worked with the master. Personally, Death's recorded output has never been equalled for consistency and Chuck's ability to progress within the genre, but 'From Beyond' although at the time splitting critics, emerges as a fine death metal record. A solid mix of speed, heaviness and complexity, although I don't think the record harbours enough to compete with some of the more diverse and heavy acts of the genre.

'Succubus' and 'Symbolic Immortality' are excellent death metal tracks, others have argued that 'From Beyond' displays to many generic and dull moments, and although I wouldn't be so harsh, I feel that 'From Beyond' despite its quality and cult status, lacks the intensity of say early Obituary and even Deicide, or the sickness of Morbid Angel.

Overall, 'From Beyond' is a decent death metal record that has stood the test of time, but it's not a record that finds its way to my stereo all that often..

7/10