Review by Monika on March 27, 2014.

I don’t know what it is about listening to music in the car. Is it that I can enjoy it by myself, for myself, the way I like it…. And accelerate even more than I'm already going. Eyes Wide Open came up in the player. Oh, man.

Aftermath is the first full album for these gentlemen from Sweden, following their EP that I have yet to hear (read: abuse in my CD player). Before I start my praises, I must say – the opening track should be the last one. It should be the one that lets you take a breather, lets you slow down, wind down. It was a track that caught me off-guard, because it was too calm for me, too soothing. Then, what came next was quite a tasty feast of music, vocals ranging from growling to clear, soaring singing, combined with a powerful, fast, rhythmic, up-tempo songs that made my little dark soul happy, oh so happy. The cover could not have been made any better to reflect what this album is about – about breaking away, breaking free. “New World Order.” Perfect. One idea kept throughout the lyrics, reinforced with strong graphic, and the band name such as Eyes Wide Open – those boys are ready to make their stand known in the world of Metal. The album is, overall, great; it is a well thought-out release. And it is an album that is literally requesting for the following albums to raise the bar.

Do I absolutely love this album? Yes. Is it something brand new that I have not heard before? No. But they seem to have created something that is very hard to come by in the nowadays popular genre of melodic death metal. They do stand out amongst many others that are trying. Music is not overpowering, vocals are excellent, mixing is right where it should be, every part of the composition has its righteous force, and it all is just freaking awesome. I foresee a bright future for Eyes Wide Open – and I suggest that you keep your ears wide open for what they are about to bring.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8.5
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 9
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

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