HEADHUNTER D.C. / SANCTIFIER
...In Deathmetallic Brotherhood
(Legion Of Death Records)

"Listen to this fuckin’ piece of total death at the maximum volume or die!!!!!!" – is printed in the Portuguese language on the backside of this split 10" EP. What a great packed release, what a beautiful gatefold sleeve, professional from the beginning to the end! Next is the most important information: this release is strictly limited to 500 pieces and I’m not sure how many copies are still left from this print. So better be fast in ordering it. About the music: two of the strongest bands of the South American Death Metal scene joined forces for this release, each one covering one song of the other band plus playing two own songs. The HEADHUNTER D.C. side starts with the version of SANCTIFIER’s song ‘The Cycle Of The Entity’ released on their 1993 demo "Ad Perpetuam Rei Memoriam". As I don’t know this demo I can only judge this version and, folks, this song kicks ass in the usual HEADHUNTER D.C. tradition. It would simply fit perfect on their last effort "God’s Spreading Cancer". The same goes for the 2nd song ‘Hymn To Babylon’, a new and unreleased song so far and it’s Death Metal in the best possible way. The last song is ‘Falling In Perdition’, originally released on their 3rd album "…And The Sky Turns To Black" in a live version. Though the first 2 songs have an amazingly great sound, the last one lacks in sound quality a little bit, but as we are talking about an underground release no one of us old tapetraders would mind!! To finish this part: the HEADHUNTER D.C. side hardly couldn’t be better. Got to turn the black vinyl now. Side B starts with SANCTIFIER’s version of HEADHUNTER D.C.’s ‘Am I Crazy?’ released back in 1991 on their debut album "Born…Suffer…Die". The sound is not as great as on the first 2 HEADHUNTER D.C. songs but still above the average (and in a way better than the original sound on "Born…Suffer…Die") and musically it’s amazing what SANCTIFIER are creating. A great song and a great coverversion! I’m not sure which version I like more, this one or the original one? Great start! The remaining 2 songs are ‘Cthulhu – The Great Master Of R’lyeh’ and ‘Necronomicon’, heavily inspired by H. P. Lovecraft, Death Metal songs played with heart and feeling. Technically again high above the average, but not exaggerating. SANCTIFIER together with HEADHUNTER D.C. prove to be one of the strongest forces in the South American Death Metal scene. As I guess that HEADHUNTER D.C. are the more well-known band I think I can only say that all fans who like them should check out SANCTIFIER, too, as this is really amazing what they produce on their side of this mighty split EP. I think I have to listen to their "Awaked By Impurity Rites" now as I haven’t heard it yet (which seems to be a huge mistake!!). Shame on me… Well, as I said in the beginning, don’t think too long and be fast in ordering this mighty piece of Death Metal quality. This could be a collector’s item very soon. I’m not exactly sure where to get it, I ordered my copy from Iron Pegasus Records (www.iron-pegasus.com), or try asking Legion Of Death Records directly (www.legionofdeath.cjb.net, email shaxul@wanadoo.fr).

Thomas Ehrmann

Thomas Ehrmann

Related reviews / interviews:
HEADHUNTER D.C. - A Hail To The Ancient Ones... (Frank Stöver)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - Punishment At Dawn (Rick Peart (CD) / Frank Stöver (DVD))
HEADHUNTER D.C. - Born... Suffer... Die (Frank Stöver)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - Death Kurwa! Live In Warsaw 2013 (Hacker)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - Brazilian Deathkult Live Violence... (Hacker)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - ...In Unholy Mourning... (Kunal Choksi)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - The Darkest Archives... From The Death... (Frank Stöver)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - ...In Unholy Mourning... (Stefan Franke)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - Born... Suffer... Die (Manolis A.)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - ...And The Sky Turns To Black... (Frank Stöver)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - ...And The Sky Turns To Black... (Hacker)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - Punishment At Dawn (Lem Lycurgus)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - God's Spreading Cancer (Michael Tak)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - God's Spreading Cancer (Frank Stöver)
SANCTIFIER - Daemoncraft (Anders Peter Jørgensen)
SANCTIFIER - Awaked By Impurity Rites (Frank Stöver )
HEADHUNTER D.C. - Interview (Frank Stöver)
HEADHUNTER D.C. - Interview (Nathaniel Colas)

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