Vic Records is always a guarantee when it comes to reissues of old and forgotten gems. Here we have an awesome collection of demos and live sessions from one of the longest running – and a personal favourite of mine – American Death Metal band: MALEVOLENT CREATION. “The Demos” is a double CD set containing: “Demo 1987”, “Demo 1989”, “Demo 1990”, “Live at Thrashcan, Miami (FL) 1990”, “Live Demo 1989” and “Live EP Tape 1993”. The front cover artwork in black and white is strongly inspired by the concept of the original demo from 1990 and is a step back in the good old days when tape trading ruled the Metal underground. If you’re not familiar with MALEVOLENT CREATION’s early stuff, you have to know that their original sound was a ferocious mixture of old school Death Metal and Thrash Metal. Through their first demos you’ll listen to some of the legendary songs later included in their first debut album “The Ten Commandements”, but in an embryonic and thrashier state. The SLAYER influences are quite present, both in Phil Fasciana’s riffs and in the vocals of the late Brett Hoffman (RIP). The production is very very good for demo material and also the live sessions are of great quality. This is killer old school American Death / Thrash Metal: violent, pretty technical and brutal at the right point. Mark Simpson’s drumming on “Demo 1990” is fantastic, a pity that he left the scene after only a couple of albums. In conclusion, this collection is the Thrash Metal version of a monumental Death Metal album like “The Ten Commandements”. Buy it without hesitation, because this is a tribute to the early days of a legendary band that laid the foundations of the American Death Metal and brutal Death Metal movements. Strongly recommended! www.facebook.com/malevolentcreation, www.vicrecords.com