80s black speed supremacy – 94%
Milovan Kukic, July 27th, 2020
If you like early Venom, NME’s Unholy Death album is what you need. This is essentially a demo from 1986 from a band with little to no money for slick studio production. This is raw, there’ll be no slickness here. The rawness absolutely works for NME. Think early Exciter style speed metal without the double bass mixed with Venom just rawer.
The music is speed metal (not thrash) with that sloppy Venom-y feel. it’s not punk, these are definitely metal riffs, solos and structures that are sloppy yet catchy just like their obvious influence, early Venom. This is sloppy, raw, simple music done right. Even though NME are definitely not the best musicians in the world, their songwriting is legendary. This is an 80s black metal classic overlooked by all but the most diehard fans that dig deep to find gems like this.
Great bass lines throughout in lockstep with the drums more often than not. Crunchy, thick, raw guitar tone that exudes heaviness. Even though there are 2 guitarists, the music sounds like it came from a 3 piece band not that that’s a bad thing, far from it. The solos are not technical, just heavy with lots of feedback. A lot of very rattling bass going on and completely unexpected unorthodox guitar squeals and noises thrown in here and there. Raw metal like this is why the 80s reign supreme.
The vocals are shouted similar to Lemmy of Motorhead but not exactly. A rough, aggressive, masculine voice yelling is what you get on Unholy Death. The songs are anthems meant to be sang along to. Even though the vocals are rough, they are clear, you understand every word. Listen to Black Knight or Louder Than Hell and tell me these aren’t classic fist pumping anthems. The guitar medley of Stormwarning followed by a really cool bass part leading into being beaten over the head by Blood and Souls absolutely crushes. The Decadent Mayhem solo will make you think what if Jimi Hendrix was metal because that’s exactly what it would sound like.
rafazardly 