Inbreed - Bastards Forest (1998)

Cost: $2.50

The cover may not look like much, but this disc bewildered me, and in a good way.  The first hint of something unusual was the band picture--it looks like it came straight out of the '80s, and I seriously do not believe it was taken anytime after 1992.  To give you some idea, said picture includes a B.C. Rich Warlock, a backwards cap, three pairs of white high-tops, a Mötley Crüe shirt, a pair of jeans with appropriate knee-rips, and a pair of those somewhat baggy, calf-length shorts (that, or else the dude cuffs his pants in a really odd way). 

The music itself is also a throwback, sounding completely like a demo-level end-of-'80s/very early '90s thrash band.  Not even on the level of second/third tier stuff from say, '87-'88 (let alone mid '80s classics), but it lacks the crappy trends from the '90s.  The guitar seems a bit light, but that's better than the overly crunchy alternative.  Likewise, I'm not too keen on the vocals, but they're passable, and at least they're not angsty barking.  The guitarwork was somewhat amusing--it's competent playing for the style, but every solo is just overzealous shredding, and there's even some extra shredding in the very first track.  I don't mean that as a slam, it just seems like such a perfectly '80s thing to do.  Apart from the straightforward thrashing there are a couple of clean progressive-ish parts (generally dominated by the bass), and these are well done.

I admit I'm still kind of skeptical this is a 1998 recording--no actual recording date is given on the disc, although it was indeed pressed in the late '90s since there are e-mail addresses given.  Couldn't find any samples from the band's earlier releases to compare to this.  I did check out a couple of songs from 2000 and unfortunately they started to suffer from the dreaded '90s groove and crunch.  What still has me confused is that band picture, which I think is an old picture (why it was used, I don't know).  A different lineup is pictured on the cover of the bands' earlier Consenting Goat album, but they look older, meaner, and like a '90s thrash band.

Not a hidden gem by any means, but overall I found it enjoyable while it was on.  If this really was recorded in the late '90s, it's one of the greatest cases of a band being completely oblivious to current trends that metal has ever seen.

Lethal - Poison Seed (1996)

Cost: $1.00

Bought on: Dec. 19, 2013

I was excited about this find...an album I didn't have of a band I knew.  But I really didn't know much about the album itself, and poking around online for reviews prior to listening really didn't leave me with a good impression.  After hearing it, I'm quite neutral about the album, and I'm not really biased one way or another.  This was only a buck, and it's easy to find some semblance of worth at such a cheap price.  I enjoy Lethal's demo and first album, but I'm not a rabid fan of the band.  Don't get me wrong, it's a huge step down from Programmed, but I didn't find it terribly disappointing.

The main point of reference for the band is still Queensrÿche, largely due to the vocals--only now we're not talking early Queensrÿche anymore.  I do agree with other reviewers that they've largely succumbed to the '90s trend of groovy riffs, but even that is largely overshadowed by the progressive content.  This album feels a lot lighter and more progressive than its predecessor, with a lot of the play time being dreamy, balladish material.  So yeah, as a Lethal release, this is a letdown compared to their older stuff, but bands making all sorts of musical transgressions is par for the course in metal, and this is hardly worthy of mention compared to some of the worst.  Taken as a mid '90s progressive metal release, it's not too bad.

But most importantly, it was just a dollar.

Bitch - A Rose By Any Other Name (1989) (1997 reissue)

Cost: $3.00

This CD is available for trade.

I've frequently seen copies of this kicking around used racks, but never bought one before because they were always full used price, and I thought it was dumb to plunk down 7 or 8 bucks for a short, non-rare EP.  Finally scored a cheap one, although unfortunately it's the 1997 Metal Blade reissue with the ultra-generic black disc face rather than the original co-branded Enigma press.

This was Bitch's last sign of life at the time, with 3 '89 remixes of older tracks (one each from the Bitch full-lengths and the Betsy s/t) album, and three unreleased tracks.  I don't think the song choices for the remixes are particularly great, so on to discussing the unreleased material:

Walls of Love ("new" track) - Disappointing, especially with the deceptive start.  The intro riff (which is revisited during the choruses) is great and even hearkens back to Be My Slave.  But then they introduce some commercial L.A. metal tendencies, like the odd backing vocals.  I had figured the new material would have either continued in the same, more-commercial direction as the Betsy album, or reverted back to the heaviness of their older stuff.  They end up mixing some elements of both, and it doesn't work that well.

Throw Me In (unfinished track from The Bitch is Back sessions, completed in 1989) - This is right in line with the other The Bitch is Back material, although had it actually been on the album, it wouldn't be one of the better songs.

Crashthepartysmashthecake (unfinished track from the Be My Slave sessions, completed in 1989) - Despite the lame title, a great instrumental.  I'm assuming the '89 work on the track has a lot to do with it, but it doesn't sound much like a Be My Slave-era song, or even a Bitch song, for that matter.  The very beginning brings Holy Terror's "Black Plague" to mind.  It then treads territory more akin to classic Omen and Savage Grace for a bit before adding in some playful melodies and gradually losing momentum.  Best track by far.

Tuatha de Danann - Trova di Danú (2008 reissue)

Cost: $1.00

Got this one at the place that's been supplying most of my dollar discs as of late.  Initially I was happier about the prospect of finding Brazilian CDs in the bargain bin than the actual album itself.

 

The band plays Celtic/folk metal with the typical flutes, whistles, violins, and an abundance of acoustic sections.  Each song has varying amounts of folk and metal (some have none at all!) elements--the folk elements definitely rule the roost , but even the folk instrumentation is done tastefully with a high level of musicianship.  Despite the CD being quite light on the metal and heavy on acoustic guitar, I didn't find myself actually annoyed until the 10th and 11th tracks, where the female main vocals just proved too much.  

 

There are a few things I wouldn't have minded more of.  Opener "Bella Natura" has very '80s AOR sounding keyboards which I found amusing, but unfortunately they never use them again in this way on the album.  "The Arrival" throws in some black metal vocals near the end, which work quite well, but again, they're limited to just one song

I lucked out on the pressing--this version is the Louder Music jewel case reissue, so it's got the "A Song for Oengus" digipak bonus track without the crappy cardboard.  The bonus track itself is very (electric) guitar driven, so at least things end on a heavier note.  Overall, I liked this more than I thought I would, but realistically, can't see myself revisiting this that much, even as a change of pace.

Event - Human Condition (2001)

Cost: $1.00

Progressive metal with a strong mechanical vibe due to the use of electronic and industrial effects.  While I'm not a huge fan of prog. metal, I find most bands to be decent, but there's just a modernity about the sound here that I don't really like.

Metal Massacre VIII (1987)

Cost: $1.00

I've owned the 2-on-1 CD of Metal Massacre 8/9 for years, but this was a wonderful find--the original Restless pressing of Metal Massacre 8!  I'm pretty sure this was the first Metal Massacre out on CD at the time of its original release (CD editions of prior volumes are technically reissues, since they weren't available when the albums were originally released).  The odd thing is that Metal Massacre 9 was never released in its entirety on CD, just on the 2-on-1 with some tracks left off.

I'm not going to bother doing a track by track review--what is there to dislike here?--but I'm personally partial to the Overlorde, Fatal Violence, and Tactics songs.  Nothing here really reaches the greatness of some of the moments on volumes 2-6, but this is arguably the most solid Metal Massacre volume as a whole.  The quality level is pretty even, so no tracks really stand out as stinkers compared to others, and there aren't any songs I'm inclined to skip when listening.  You'd think for the release year the compilation would be pretty thrash heavy, but a good chunk of the roster is rooted in traditional, power, and speed metal.