What to write about a release which every reader of Voices From The Darkside needs to know? Every underground maniac requesting for him- / herself to be a fan of real Death Metal has to know this album. Especially each reader of Voices should have this release and if not the original version through Diabolic Force / Fringe Records the purchase of this version is the only excuse! This here is the best opportunity for all those who missed this release (shame about you) or who were born too late (poor guys, hehe) to buy it now through High-Roller-Records. This is a must have, nothing else. Actually I could stop this review now as everything is said; nevertheless I lose some words about this essential release. SLAUGHTER’s “Strappado” is one of the first Death Metal albums with one of the most magnificent guitar sounds ever, Death Metal to the bone. If you really don’t know anything about SLAUGHTER I would roughly describe this album as a mix between POSSESSED’s “Seven Churches” and CELTIC FROST’s “Morbid Tales”. The vocal lines are a mix between old DARK ANGEL (Don Doty) and Tom Warrior’s “Uuuhs” – more or less… This release is one of those albums which are called “influential” for the history of Death Metal and songs as ‘Incinerator’, ‘Strappado’ or ‘F.O.D.’ are songs which are outstanding even 23 years later after the original recording (you can consider that for all songs on “Strappado” if you ask me). This Canadian outfit never got the attention it deserved and unfortunately “Strappado” was the only full-length recording this band released, followed by a couple of demos, the “Not Dead Yet” EP (under the name STRAPPADO) and a few more. This version here includes the 4 bonus songs (‘Maim To Please’, ‘One Foot In The Grave’, ‘Tyrant Of Hell’ and ‘Death Dealer’) in the 1991-remastered version done by Alex Krull (the CD-version is licensed from Nuclear Blast if I’m correct). Besides that everything looks more or less equal to the original release: the cover is the same (outstanding), the layout is almost the same and that’s all about it. If you haven’t got this LP in its original version, buy this one; if you don’t know anything about SLAUGHTER, buy this one; if you have the CD-version, buy this one as this music is craving to be listened to on vinyl!! An outstanding release and a more than supportive version from High-Roller- Records. Essential, and strictly limited to 666 pieces – hurry up if you want to get it! Check out www.high-roller-records.de.

Probably music’s history first living proof of the fact why there is a good reason that “guitar” rhymes somewhat with “chainsaw” are Canadian cult Death / Thrashers SLAUGHTER whose debut album “Strappado” is a milestone in sonic extremity and still to the very day rips your auditory canals with its truly bestial sound ‘til rivers of blood shoot out! Several versions of this album exist but Brazilian Marquee label who are renowned for stunning reissues have just put out the definite version of this album in cooperation with the band by offering the original ’86 LP mix, the more powerful sounding ’93 Fringe CD version along with tracks ‘Maim To Please’, ‘One Foot In The Grave’, ‘Tyrant Of Hell’ and ‘Death Dealer’ recorded during the album sessions as well as live tracks recorded in Toronto, Ontario in 1986, the "Meatcleaver" demo (1984), the "Bloody Karnage" demo (1984) and “Surrender Or Die” demo (1985). Whereas both 1984 demos as well as the five live tracks sound extremely filthy and barbaric (and hardly listenable), the devastating “Surrender Or Die” demo still is a total listening pleasure and prime example of the band’s “1,2, fuck you!” attitude and style. Having both the “Strappado” album and fabulous “Surrender Or Die” demo on one release makes this a must-buy already as Dave Hewson’s punkish snarl and the VENOM, DISCHARGE inspired to-the-bone heavy carnage Metal is f**king essential for every maniac out there and a prime example of total “arghhh-ness”! If you don’t own this album, get this version asap or else “your fucking souls shall be raped”! And by the way – isn’t ‘Tales Of The Macabre’ one of the best songs ever? www.facebook.com/pages/SLAUGHTER-Canada/12169425739, www.myspace.com/slaughtercanada, www.marquee.com.br

I first laid my hands on this in the mid 90s after hearing so much about their alleged involvement in the formation of the underground Death Metal movement, and also because of Chuck Schuldiner’s involvement with them. Upon first hearing it, I wasn’t impressed. I initially thought it was badly executed, middle of the road Hardcore / Thrash. NOT Death Metal. It was not until some time later that I discovered that the CD I originally had was compressed to fuck, knocking the real punch of the music on the head a bit. After hearing a very rough tape of "Strappado" after all this, I decided to give them a go again. This time I wasn’t let down. The vocals are by far SLAUGHTER’s let down, middling Thrash cum Hardcore vocals, but the riffs and the guitar sound… fuck me. Heavy riffs like HELLHAMMER, a simpler SLAYER with a hint of early SODOM as well. This my friends is understandably a corner stone in the creation of a movement way back in time. Seeing its re-release today, with bonus tracks (13 from a live show from March 25 1985) which include a cover of HELLHAMMER’s ‘Massacra’ and VENOM’s ‘Witching Hour’, can only be a good thing. People like myself who were just too damn young at the time of its original release can scan back through it all an decide for ourselves what the fuss was all about. NAPALM DEATH kicked some life back into this old beast with their cover of ‘Incinerator’ on their "Leaders, Not Followers" EP. If you liked that, go get the original… Speed Death Metal from an ancient, but definitely not forgotten force. Also stuck on there is a cover of SLAYER’s ‘Black Magic’… Well worth opening the vault to this one. Now, if only someone would release the Razor albums on CD! (Darragh my friend, Hypnotic Records from Canada WILL EXACTLY DO THAT in the near future!! – Ed.)