Some early speed and death metal risked numbing its sense of continuity at times, and this could be put down to a number of factors. Much underground metal in the 80′s found a lack of conceptual focus in it’s topical and structural narrative, with thematic loopholes sometimes occurring in particular works. This was also a particular mishap apparent in some early heavy metal, where the musical restraints of blues and rock music had yet to be eschewed in favour of more direct, aggressive, and in many instances alienating forms of execution and structure. Along with classic and and seminal works from acts such as Possessed, Slayer, Bathory, Sepultura and Necrovore among others, the sole album by this Canadian act shows a simplification of previous themes and in the process crafts embryonic, yet furious death metal. Recorded early in 1986 and representing a quantum leap for the nihilism of death metal, Slaughter’s first album is a pioneering work that drones with hardcore simplicity, taking the rhythmical backdrop of Discharge and enhancing it’s pace and aggression in accordance to the standards of underground metal.
The guitars on the album are of very strong and distinct quality, with a buzz-saw cacophony that mostly churns out one-note strums with a emphasis on small melodic shifts at the end of each riff cycle, 
just as minimal as Hellhammer but with a more compact and streamlined execution. On first listen anyone familiar with Swedish acts such as Carnage, Entombed, Dismember, Unleashed should without doubt acknowledge this similarity. In addition it could be argued that this record has all the hallmarks of a classic Sunlight Studios production, as stylistically both Slaughter and the aforementioned Swedes took their musical foundations from hardcore. The differentiations occur in the use of musical language, with ‘Strappado’ being percussively stern and less subject to variation, and lacking the technical motifs that are a mainstay of foundational death metal. Thematically and musically this bears a strong influence on later Canadian acts such as Blasphemy and Conqueror, especially when hearing the latter’s cover of ‘The Curse’.
For some the vocals would be a minor letdown, having none of the distinctive rasp or bellow commonly expected. Dave Hewson’s vocals are almost similar to that of Mike Browning on Morbid Angel’s ‘Abominations Of Desolation’ given a context that share a common timbre with speed metal and thrash. Lyrically cohesive and minimal, themes of execution, torture, occultism and devastation permeate ‘Strappado’, and when combined with the musical onslaught, evoke mystical images of a post-apocalyptic future in which primitive tribalism reigns upon the decrepit ruins of industrial society. Brilliant.
Filed under: Death Metal Album of the Week — Tags: Canadian Death Metal, Death Metal, Hardcore, Speed Metal, Thrash, War Metal — Pearson @ April 10, 2010 23:14 — Comments (1)
awesome banda i was listened !!!!!
Comment by samara — September 7, 2010 @ 22:25