UMUR
"Rated-X" is the debut full-length studio album by Swedish death metal act Deranged. The album was released through Repulse Records in September 1995. Deranged formed in 1991 and released the 1992 demo "...the Confessions of a Necrophile", the "...the Confessions Continues" EP in 1993 and the "Upon the Medical Slab" single and the "Architects of Perversions" EP in 1994. So they had four minor releases under their belts before writing and recording "Rated-X". As far as I can see and hear, none of the tracks from the previous releases have been re-recorded and included on "Rated-X".
Being familar with the preceding releases by the band, it´s great to hear how much they have developed both their songwriting and their performances since forming in 1991. The first couple of releases were a bit amateurish and while the last couple of releases before "Rated-X" definitely showed progression and featured more professional sounding production jobs, they still lacked something to give them the last push. That something is present on "Rated-X" which is a well written, effective, brutal, and energetic US influenced brutal death metal release. Sure the songwriting and the gory lyrical themes are slightly one-dimensional, and Deranged aren´t the most unique sounding band in genre, but this is still damn savage and powerful sounding death metal.
One of the things which makes this work so well, are the many tempo changes. While Deranged can blast away with the best, they are also very successful in writing heavy death metal grooves and mid-paced parts which are brutal and heavy (just take a listen to the closing minute of "Black Semen Vengeance"). There´s little here which can be identified as melodic, but there´s still some hooks here and there to hold on to. The vocals are unintelligible (for the most part) growling vocals.
"Rated-X" features 10 tracks and a total playing time of 40:07 minutes. 9 of those tracks are originals, while the closing track is an unlikely cover of "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones (performed in a pretty brutal death metal version). The closer is a bit of a gimmick track really, and I´ll primarely rate "Rated-X" based on the original material written by the band. Featuring a detailed, raw, and brutal sounding production job, "Rated-X" is overall a good quality brutal death metal release and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
