Year : 1988-1991 (Hammerheart Records Edition 2022)
Style : Thrash Metal , Heavy Metal
Country : Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 225 mb
Bio:
Mezzrow was a Swedish thrash metal band from Nyköping, formed in 1988 and disbanded in 1991.The group reunited for another gig in 2005.The band was formed in 1988. After releasing two demos, the group landed a contract with Active Records, which released their first and only album Then Came the Killing in 1990.Afterwards, the band lost their contract with the label again and bassist Conny Welén joined the band Hexenhaus. Welén was not to be replaced, as singer Uffe Petersson now additionally played bass. After another demo was released in 1991, the band disbanded.In 2005, the band played a concert again, the video recording of which was released as a DVD the following year.The band plays classic thrash metal that is sonically reminiscent of the works of US bands like Testament.
Album:
32 years after the original release, a recycling company for reusable metallic materials throws “Then Came the Killing” back on the market. Well, due to the significant lack of thrash bands today, this action surely makes sense. But irony aside, I like it pure and therefore I focus on the vinyl from 1990 with its playtime of compact 35 minutes.Mezzrow play generic yet pretty exciting thrash and the opening title track with its catchy chorus, its dynamic riffs and its clear configuration does not only set the frame for the following songs. It is also the highlight of the album. The five-piece delivers a track of pinpoint precision, with excellently arranged background shouts, high velocity parts, a vigorous, natural voice and Exodus-influenced lyrics. Music-wise, this song documents the inspiring force of Metallica’s best album (“Ride the Lightning”, of course). Or should I say “of Metallica’s only great album”? Better not, I don’t need a shitstorm today.Similar to their idols, Mezzrow vary the tempo and broad parts of “The Final Holocaust”, for example, wallow in mid-tempo rhythms that spread some Testament vibes (fortunately some of the better ones, none of albums like “Souls of Black”). I find myself a few times wishing for a little more anger, unbridled power and fire. Anyway, good riffs can compensate for a lot and “Then Came the Killing” can brag about a lot of them. In addition, the rasping and sawing guitar tone marks the best element of an edgy and resolute sound. No matter of course, considering that the first thrash wave produced a lot of classics but was already dying down by 1990. “The American Way” or “In Search of Sanity” made clear that the process of dilapidation had begun. Therefore, Mezzrow’s Bay Area import from Sweden tasted (and still tastes) traditional and refreshing at the same time. Geographically speaking, Mezzrow picked up where Agony had left off. Just like the songs on “The First Defiance”, the conventionally designed material of “Then Came the Killing” did not search for new niches. Instead, the Scandinavians wanted to show that they did not stand in the shadow of the US Americans and this approach worked, although monuments like “Hell Awaits” or “Bonded by Blood” naturally could not be reached.Mezzrow’s honest debut remained a sort of one-hit-wonder and that’s sad in view of band’s musical substance. All songs score with coherence, they are quickly accessible and shape an absolutely homogeneous overall picture. Yes, there are two or three lines that do not deliver the ultimate excitement, to say it diplomatically, but mostly brilliant tracks like "Frozen Soul". Anyway, each and every band that started lovely Sweden’s transformation to one of the most important suppliers in terms of pretty extreme metal has its merits. Thus, it has felt good to rediscover this album which delivers no gram of fat, just pure, mid-harsh thrash.
Line Up:
Uffe Pettersson - Vocals - See also: ex-Rosicrucian
Staffe Karlsson (R.I.P. 2018) - Guitars
Zebba Karlsson - Guitars
Conny Welén - Bass - See also: ex-Wizard, ex-Hexenhaus
Steffe Karlsson - Drums
Production:
Mixed By – Mats 'Doc' Lindfors
Tracklist:
CD1: Then Came the Killing
01. Then Came the Killing 03:39
02. Ancient Terror 04:27
03. The Final Holocaust 04:52
04. Frozen Soul 04:01
05. Distant Death 03:55
06. Prevention Necessary 04:52
07. Where Death Begins 03:56
08. The Cross of Torment 04:19
09. Inner Devastation (Bonus Track)
CD2: Then Came the Demos
01. Frozen Soul
02. Prevention Necessary
03. Resurrection of the Beast
04. The Cross of Tormention
05. Ancient Terror
06. Final Holocaust
07. Inner Devastation
08. Silent Extenction
09. Echoes of Damnation
10. Blind Belief
11. Segregation of the Masses
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
