Unitron
Death...The High Cost of Living is the first and only live release from death/thrash metal band Defleshed. The album was recorded from the band's Under the Blade tour in 1998. This is more of a live EP rather than a live album, as it only clocks in at a bit more than 20 minutes with seven tracks. Two songs, "Mary Bloody Mary" and "In Chains and Leather", are originally from the band's debut while the remaining songs are from Under the Blade.
All of the songs played are raw and aggressive death/thrash at it's best, with a mix of brutal thrashings and chugging grooves. The music is all very well-performed, with the instrument section in particular being incredibly audible. The production for the instruments is so great, that it's studio album quality to my ears. The only thing that could sound better are the vocals, and that's only because they're a bit too low in the mix. Despite that however, with the guitars and drums on full power, this release is immensely enjoyable.
Other than the vocals, Death...The High Cost of Living is among the best sounding live releases out there. For those who want a live thrash assault and can't get to a concert, give this a listen. A short but sweet ride of death-thrash. Hope you found this review helpful, feel free to comment!