Review by Felix on July 13, 2023.

I have seen all the positive reviews for "Tortured Existence" and it goes without saying that I respect every opinion, but from my point of view, Demolition Hammer's debut is a difficult album. On the one hand, it was great that such a furious work was released in 1990, the year when the entire thrash scene began to commit mass suicide. (Of course, I am speaking only about the musicians, not the fans.) On the other hand, "Tortured Existence" does not score with the typical thrash vibes, because filigree riffs are missing. Bay Area? Never heard of this place. What's going on there? Well, let's put it in positive terms. Demolition Hammer created an independent piece of pretty vehement metal. I admire the high degree of stubbornness which is reflected by the full-length. It's a massive kick in the ass of any lukewarm weekend metalhead, but sorry, I must admit that I did not listen to the album for a very long time.

Firstly, I do not like the production very much. The sound of the guitars creaks, it lacks of sharpness and neglects any form of technical brilliance. Okay, not a completely shitty sound, but one has to get used to it. Secondly, either the production or a lack of talent is responsible for the sound of the vocals. The voice of the lead singer is pretty one-dimensional. It conveys exactly three feelings: hate, hate and hate. One might say that this does not come as a surprise in view of the preferred style of the band which is clearly defined. I agree. Nevertheless, even this narrow frame leaves better options than to bark like the hyperactive mutt of my idiotic neighbour that suffers from thin vocal chords (the mutt, not the neighbour... or both, I don't want to know these things exactly). The occasionally gang shouts deliver the only contrast and they add, by the way, a touch of hardcore.

However, Demolition Hammer did not release trash. Albeit they were not the most talented song-writers, their rage, enthusiasm and brutality were remarkable. They were the pillars for a couple of really great songs. "Infectious Hospital Waste", already its title makes me grin, has some very compelling lines, the short chorus stands out and the instrumental parts are dominated by undeniably intensive guitars. However, all songs follow the same stylistic approach and they all reach a comparable degree of vehemence. Personal highlights might therefore be just a matter of individual taste. Yet one thing is sure: people with an affinity for bloodthirsty thrash with deadly additions will identify some songs that they like very much. Maybe "Neanderthal" is among these tracks, because its slightly bulky opening riff rolls out the carpet for a dynamic steel monster. Demolition Hammer vary the tempo, but high speed parts do not gain the upper hand. So what, the abyssal heaviness of the entire work has the power to crush the listener and the album develops its effect slowly but steadily. In addition, explosive sections such as the beginning of "Crippling Velocity" lend this effort an extra dose of devastating force.

At the end of the day, "Tortured Existence" is a vile, infamous piece of heavy thrash, recorded by musicians who definitely had a vision and, better still, who were able to bring this vision to light. The band bucked the trend and its affinity for uncompromising slaughter deserves respect. Nonetheless, mega-hits are missing and the material is slightly prone to monotony. A good, unpretentious yet violent album, but not overwhelming.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10