Review by ChadL on October 25, 2002.

Sweden's Diabolical have been floating around in the metal underground, slowly making a name for themselves since the mid 90's. 2001's "Synergy" was a decent effort, but didn't do much to warrant repeated listens. Their new album "A Thousand Deaths" is an entirely different beast altogether, and should get this band the respect of the metal community they now deserve.

First things first, Diabolical's music is nothing too original, as they have both boots firmly planted in the Swedish Death/Thrash genre, with vocals more akin to black metal (think Thomas Lindberg circa 'With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness' with a little more power and you’ll have an idea). What sets them apart however, is the tremendous energy and seamless song writing on "A Thousand Deaths". Each song on here is a fucking killer, and you can really feel that they are pouring their hearts into each and every note.

After a mandatory intro ‘A Thousand Deaths’, ‘Children of the Mushroom Cloud’ blasts through the speakers to pound utter metal ecstasy into you bleeding brain. The song is tight and well assembled, full of intricacies that reveal themselves over repeated listens. If this song doesn't get you headbanging and your heart pumping, than you don't like metal. The following track ‘God Of The Underworld’ is quite as brutal, but showcases some amazing melody along with a tighter than hell rhythm section that never lets up. It's rather pointless to do a track by track review of this album because each is track is amazing, and can stand on it's own, with a distinct identity, so it never gets boring or repetitive. Although, if I had to pick some highlights, they would be the aforementioned ‘Children of the Mushroom Cloud’, the masterful ‘Until The Day Arrives’ and the epic ‘An Opposite Law’.

Production-wise, this album is flawless. Each instrument is clearly audible, the drums in particular are very powerful, with a great snare sound. The production also maintains a grittiness that gives the material a great "take no shit" atmosphere.

As far as the members’ musicianship is concerned, each member of the band is a master of their instruments. Lead guitarist H. Carlsson is a shredder if there ever was one, and his energetic solos all over the album make me want to hang up my guitar in shame. Carlsson and his partner have laid down some of the most infectious riffs I’ve heard in a while. The drums are powerful and uncompromising, with an endless array of fills and rhythms that never get boring. Vocalist Magnus Ödling has a voice that demands attention; it's vicious, powerful and clearly audible through the entire album, and he mixes up his delivery to keep things from ever getting monotonous. The band never sacrifices melody for aggression, and vice versa... Diabolical does an excellent job of balancing the two. The beauty of Diabolical is that they take familiar metal concepts and ideas and play them with such flawless songwriting and conviction that it sounds fresh... even to my jaded ears. The result is a crushing album of memorable songs that no should be heard by every metal fan.

Bottom Line: While not blazingly original, Diabolical with "A Thousand Deaths" have created a solid album that will keep you hooked all the way through that no death/thrash fan should miss!! Highly recommended.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 7
Musicianship: 10
Production: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Review by Tomek on January 22, 2008.

Sweden’s Degrade simply knocked me down on my ass. I can’t say unexpectedly, because all the signs were there. So, my guess is that I just didn’t prepare myself for what was coming my way.

“Lost Torso Found” is packed with high energy Brutal Death Metal. Some bands in this genre can get quite boring quickly, but Degrade manages to keep their metal very interesting from the first pig squeak to the last growl. Intense guitar riffing with tons of fast unrelenting parts, start-stop chugging, lots of slow or mid-paced groove and plenty of headbanging-friendly breaks are only few things that kept my eyebrows raised. Excellent drumming not only complements guitar and bass work, but also shows lots of character and is full of those little tasty throw-ins. All very tight, skilled and awesomely recorded. Vocals, that may as well be one of the sickest out there, are crushingly low and guttural with some maniacal screams and sporadic pig squeals – it’s all just gut-wrenching and definitely can raise the hairs on your back.

Permeated Records can be proud of themselves; they’ve picked up one of the best out there. Degrade is a solid firm, definitely worth investing time and effort to get them promoted and definitely worth sending out there to play more gigs.

As far as the last words, I’d like to say it as Degrade sings it “Audial torture to some, soothing therapy to others.”

My session only began.

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Originality: 7
Production: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.6 out of 10

Review by Tomek on January 22, 2008.

Sweden’s Degrade simply knocked me down on my ass. I can’t say unexpectedly, because all the signs were there. So, my guess is that I just didn’t prepare myself for what was coming my way.

“Lost Torso Found” is packed with high energy Brutal Death Metal. Some bands in this genre can get quite boring quickly, but Degrade manages to keep their metal very interesting from the first pig squeak to the last growl. Intense guitar riffing with tons of fast unrelenting parts, start-stop chugging, lots of slow or mid-paced groove and plenty of headbanging-friendly breaks are only few things that kept my eyebrows raised. Excellent drumming not only complements guitar and bass work, but also shows lots of character and is full of those little tasty throw-ins. All very tight, skilled and awesomely recorded. Vocals, that may as well be one of the sickest out there, are crushingly low and guttural with some maniacal screams and sporadic pig squeals – it’s all just gut-wrenching and definitely can raise the hairs on your back.

Permeated Records can be proud of themselves; they’ve picked up one of the best out there. Degrade is a solid firm, definitely worth investing time and effort to get them promoted and definitely worth sending out there to play more gigs.

As far as the last words, I’d like to say it as Degrade sings it “Audial torture to some, soothing therapy to others.”

My session only began.

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Originality: 7
Production: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.6 out of 10