UMUR
"Apocalyptic Raids" is an EP release by Swiss speed/thrash/black metal act Hellhammer. The EP was released through Noise Records in March 1984. Just a few months later Hellhammer folded and shortly after Tom G. Warrior and Martin E. Ain formed Celtic Frost. Six tracks were recorded during the Caet Studios, Berlin, 2.-7. March 1984 recording sessions. Four of them appeared on the original EP release, while the two remaining tracks were included on the October 1984 "Death Metal" split release (Noise Records) with Helloween, Dark Avenger, and Running Wild. In 1990 Noise Records reissued all six tracks on the "Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D." compilation release.
"Apocalyptic Raids" only featured two new tracks as both "Third of the Storms (Evoked Damnation)" and "Triumph of Death" were also featured on the December 1983 "Satanic Rites" demo (both "Messiah" and "Revelations of Doom", which were also recorded during the sessions, were also featured on "Satanic Rites"). These versions are re-recordings though, and especially "Triumph of Death" appears here in a pretty different and longer version to the demo version of the track. The two new tracks are "Massacra" and "Horus/Aggressor". Stylistically this is blackened speed metal and in the case of "Triumph of Death" a pretty heavy and almost doomy version of the style.
The sound production is raw and unpolished but still detailed enough to hear all instruments and vocals clearly in the mix. "Apocalyptic Raids" is arguably an influential release and an early example of extreme metal, but compared to material and sound featured on "Satanic Rites" it´s a step down in extremity and intensity. The slightly better quality sound production is actually not a plus in this case, and I much prefer the more raw and caustic sounding demo. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.