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.