DEATH — Reign of Terror (review)

DEATH — Reign of Terror album cover Demo · 1984 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Reign of Terror" is the second demo release by US, Florida based death metal act Death. The demo was independently released in October 1984. It was recorded only a month after the "Death By Metal" demo. The latter was originally released under the Mantas monicker, but the band changed their name to Death before the recording of "Reign of Terror". The trio lineup who recorded the first demo is intact on this demo.

Stylistically the material is a continuation of the brutal and aggressive thrash infused death metal style of the "Death By Metal" demo, which is of course only natural since the two demos were recorded only a month apart. Kam Lee handles all vocals on the demo in addition to playing drums. At this point a feud between Lee and Schuldiner had started, as Schuldiner wanted to take over the vocalist role. Lee however had other ideas and wanted to stop playing the drums and fully concentrate on performing vocals. This would eventually lead to Schuldiner continuing Death without Lee and Rozz.

On this release harmony still existed though, and Death churn out one powerful, brutal, and aggressive track after another. Five tracks and a total playing time of 13:39 minutes and your ears will be rinsed by the razor sharp riffs, energetic and well playing drums, and the angry semi-growling vocals. "Corpse Grinder" opens the demo and it´s the only track which has survived from the demo stage, but not as a Death song. Instead Lee took it with him to his new band Massacre, and it´s since become a classic Massacre composition.

"Reign of Terror" features a decent sounding production considering the time and the loudness of the music style, and upon conclusion this is another seminal death metal demo from Death. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
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