TERRORIZER — World Downfall (review)

Album · 1989 · Deathgrind

3/5 · 2010-05-28
UMUR

World Downfall is the debut full-length studio album by American grindcore/ death metal act Terrorizer. The band features high prolific musicians who would all go on to fame in other extreme metal acts. Terrorizer was a very shortlived act ( active from 1987 - 1989). Bassist David Vincent and drummer Pete Sandoval would continue in Morbid Angel, guitarist Jesse Pointado became a member of Napalm Death and vocalist Oscar Garcia continued his career in Nausea. The album was released by Earache Records in November 1989. The actual recording of the album ( in 1989), which took place after the band had split-up in early 1988, took 8 hours including mixing. World Downfall is widely considered an early grindcore classic.

Those who come to World Downfall expecting something that sounds even remotely like Morbid Angel, because of the presence of two members from that band in the lineup, will be very disappointed. Those who come to World Downfall expecting something that sounds like early Napalm Death and Nausea, will on the other hand get exactly what they came for. The music on the album is old school grindcore which means that there are both blasting grindcore parts and mid-paced parts that are in some ways similar to early death metal. The songs are generally very short and effective as on most grindcore albums ( maybe just a bit longer than your usual under a minute grindcore attacks though). Don´t expect much sophistication or attention to detail, because the songs are very raw and simple. The fact that the album was recorded almost live gives the music a very raw and authentic feel, that I know many people think is great. For an album recorded in 1989 and especially for a grindcore release from those days the production is actually pretty good. Listening with today´s ears the production is flawed though and personally I miss what it is people find so powerful about the sound. I actually think it lacks a bit of punch. The songwriting isn´t very interesting either, and I can find a lot of other grindcore releases that works much better for me.

World Downfall is one of those cases where the classic status of the album overshadows the fact that the album is a bit mediocre. Just because an album was groundbreaking doesn´t mean it should automatically have God-like status IMO. Groundbreaking does not always equal great. I´ll play nice and give a 2.5 - 3 star rating, but honestly I´m not too impressed.

more than 2 years ago
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UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

If you anticipate something that sounds like Morbid Angel you´ll probably be somewhat disappointed.

J-Man wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I ordered the album hoping it would sound like Morbid Angel about a week ago... the day before you wrote your review! haha

I finally got the album today, and I'm starting my first listen now... We'll see if I agree with you or not ;-)