SINDROME — Vault of Inner Conscience

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3.84 | 4 ratings | 3 reviews

Demo · 1991

Filed under Thrash Metal
By SINDROME

Tracklist

1. Descending Into Madness (4:52)
2. Extra Sensory Warning (E.S.W.) (5:36)
3. Astral Projection (4:31)
4. Against Infinity (5:20)
5. Exit Screaming (3:25)

Total time 23:44

Line-up/Musicians

- Troy Dixler / vocals
- Mick Vega / guitars
- Ken Savich / guitars
- Shaun Glass / bass
- Tony Ochoa / drums

About this release

Self-released demo, 1991

Pro-printed cover and tape.

▻ All music and arrangements by Sindrome.
▻ Even though Ken Savich is listed in the line-up, all guitars had been recorded prior to his involvement with the band.

Concept:
Vault of Inner Conscience follows an individual's passage into another dimension where future events are revealed. After having reoccurring dreams of horrifying visions, this person tries to dismiss them as fantasies, but is forced to face the questions of whether they are real; who is sending them; and why are they directed to him. A voice in his dreams explains that these scenes are impending prophecies. After learning that he is being channelled by a spirit and has a divine gift of seeing into the future, he is able to confront these negative images. The entity instructs him on how to separate his soul from his physical body through astral projection. They travel through dimensions of darkness together and see a time of great suffering that could extinguish civilization. The antichrist appears before them as a figure that all people can relate to without realizing its true identity. The spirit assures this individual that he was chosen to change the course of our predetermined future and could be the world's Saviour if people will believe him. After returning to the present day, he tries to spread his message, only to be rejected as a false preacher. Completely powerless and alone with his visions, the individual must depart from this world or risk insanity. He decides to separate his soul from his physical being and live immune from the impact that will soon face us all.

Recorded and mixed at Morrisound Studios, Tampa, Florida, 1991.
Mastered at Fuller Sound, Miami, Florida. Completed January 4-22, 1991.
Additional effects by Soundsmith Productions.
Co-produced by Sindrome.

Thanks to Time Signature for the addition and UMUR for the updates

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SINDROME VAULT OF INNER CONSCIENCE reviews

Specialists/collaborators reviews

UMUR

"Vault of Inner Conscience" is the 2nd demo release by US, Illinois based thrash metal act Sindrome. The demo was originally released on cassette tape in 1991. Sindrome formed in Highland Park in 1986, and got a break almost immediately after releasing the "Into the Halls of Extermination (1987)" demo as they supported Whiplash on their "Ticket to Mayhem (1987)" tour and later Death on their tour supporting "Scream Bloody Gore (1987)". Lineup problems meant they didn´t release "Vault of Inner Conscience" before 1991. They disbanded in 1993 without having released an official studio album. There been a couple of lineup changes since "Into the Halls of Extermination (1987)", as guitarist Chris Mittlebrun (Death Strike, Master) has left. He is replaced here by two guitarists in Mick Vega and Ken Savich. The latter reportedly didn´t play on the demo, although he is credited for it.

Stylistically the material on the 5 track, 23:44 minutes long demo pretty much continues the technically well played and raw thrash metal style of "Into the Halls of Extermination (1987)". The band have taken the technical playing up a notch and the sound production is also more professional and powerful sounding. The demo was recorded and mixed at Morrisound Studios, Tampa, Florida, which is where a lot of contemporary US death metal bands recorded their albums, and "Vault of Inner Conscience" as a result feautures a powerful, meaty, and relatively brutal sound compared to most thrash metal releases.

The band are technically very well playing and lead vocalist Troy Dixler has a dark and powerful voice, and his delivery is raw. The material on the demo is also well written and effectful. It´s impossible not to bang your head while listening to this release. In fact it´s a bit hard to understand why Sindrome were never signed to a label when they were active, because the quality of this release is higher than on quite a few contemporary thrash metal studio albums. Maybe they just missed their chance...because by 1991 the thrash metal scene was in decline, and the interest from labels was probably not that high at that point. A 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.

more than 2 years ago
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Time Signature

Sindrome was an influential American underground band who were among the pioneers of the death-thrash genre. They only released two demos though. This is one of them.

While their first demo was more in the vein of death-thrash, Sindrome's second demo "Vault of Inner Conscience" has not real death metal influences, but offers intense technical and progressive thrash metal along the lines of Annihilator and Artillery.

There is some amazing riffage on this album and some impressive guitar acrobatics, too. The compositions are somewhat complex, full of changes, twists and turns, and other challenging things.

Recommended to fans of thrash metal, power metal and technical and progressive extreme meta.

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Members reviews

Primeval Scum

Vault of Inner Conscience is a solid, heavy-hitting thrash metal EP. This band was talented and probably deserved a lot more recognition than they received. If given the chance to produce a full length album with a decent production, I'm sure Sindrome would've become a household name.

This album sees Sindrome step farther away from the death metal influenced thrash of their previous EP Into the Halls of Extermination. The songs generally have a science fiction or space-based lyrical theme, which is always makes for a fun listen for me since I'm a total nerd.

Musically, Sindrome inhabits a middle ground between the sounds of Metallica and Slayer. Faster and more aggressive than Metallica, but not as evil as Slayer. This EP is not particularly memorable or catchy, but the songs are well-composed and have their merits. It's a free download on Sindrome's website, so it's worth it if you're a thrash fan that's already explored the discographies of all the well-known bands.