UMUR
"Chaos in Hell / Possessed by Death" is a compilation album released by US, Tampa, Florida based death metal act Diabolic. The album was released through Deathgasm Records in March 2008. It compiles the material from the December 2006 EP "Possessed by Death" and the October 2007 EP "Chaos in Hell". The tracklist is in reverse chronological order, featuring the material from "Chaos in Hell (2007)" first on the album and then the material from "Possessed by Death (2006)".
Diabolic started out pretty promising near the end of the last millennium, and released three very solid Morbid Angel influenced death metal albums, before lineup and label problems meant that three members of the band left to form Unholy Ghost (and released the "Torrential Reign" album in 2004), while sole remaining member guitarist Brian Malone continued Diabolic with a new lineup and released the fourth Diabolic album "Infinity Through Purification" in 2003. Malone opted to discontinue Diabolic in 2004 though, and as Unholy Ghost also disbanded a year later in 2005, drummer Aantar Coates and guitarist Kelly McLauchlin saw a chance to revive the Diabolic name. On "Possessed by Death (2006)" the lineup was completed by R.J. Reinagle (guitars) and Jesse Jolly (vocals/bass) (whom Coates had worked with on the shortlived Blastmasters projekt), but on "Chaos in Hell" the lineup was changed again and features drummer Aantar Coates, guitarist R.J. Reinagle and lead vocalist/bassist Paul Ouellette. The latter is the original lead vocalist/bassist of both Diabolic and Unholy Ghost.
Although the material from the two EPs very recorded by relatively different lineups, all tracks are unmistakably the sound of Diabolic. Predominantly fast-paced and brutal death metal. Fast tremolo riffs, screaming chromatic solos, and a fast playing and energetic rhythm section. Both Ouellette and Jolly are strong growling vocalists with commaninding deliveries and although I prefer the material from "Possessed by Death (2006)", this compilation is a pretty consistent release in terms of both quality and style. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.