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Abominable Anno Domini (1987)
Released in 1987, Abominable Anno Domini is the debut album from Chakal, another thrash metal band from Brazil, somewhat similar to Explicit Hate. Their style isn’t as chaotic as some of the better-known bands, but they still manage to create a sinister and unrefined vibe, thanks in large part to the unique vocals, a ghastly, deathlike rasp. He sounds like something that just crawled out of a grave, with a half-rotted throat.
The material is solid, and while the lead guitar solos are especially well done, the muffled production and poor mix do blunt the impact of some of the riffs. The vocals sit higher than everything else, and the guitars lack sharpness. Even the faster parts struggle at times to hit the level of intensity you'd expect. The drumming isn’t very tight, and the playing feels pretty primitive—but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. These kinds of flaws aren’t too surprising for a Brazilian band from this era, and there's still a certain charm to it.
The album improves as it goes. Songs like “Terminal Brain” and “Children of the Cemetery” manage to break through the murkiness and show some real intensity. “Jason Lives” is another highlight, where the songwriting and anguished screams do a good job creating a darker atmosphere. As well, “Warriors of Disgrace” has some of the better riffs on the record.
Abominable Anno Domini is an enjoyable album I’ve come back to plenty of times. The first two songs don’t do it any favours, but after that it picks up and remains consistently good throughout. If you’re into ’80s Brazilian thrash, Chakal's debut L.P. is worth a listen.
The material is solid, and while the lead guitar solos are especially well done, the muffled production and poor mix do blunt the impact of some of the riffs. The vocals sit higher than everything else, and the guitars lack sharpness. Even the faster parts struggle at times to hit the level of intensity you'd expect. The drumming isn’t very tight, and the playing feels pretty primitive—but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. These kinds of flaws aren’t too surprising for a Brazilian band from this era, and there's still a certain charm to it.
The album improves as it goes. Songs like “Terminal Brain” and “Children of the Cemetery” manage to break through the murkiness and show some real intensity. “Jason Lives” is another highlight, where the songwriting and anguished screams do a good job creating a darker atmosphere. As well, “Warriors of Disgrace” has some of the better riffs on the record.
Abominable Anno Domini is an enjoyable album I’ve come back to plenty of times. The first two songs don’t do it any favours, but after that it picks up and remains consistently good throughout. If you’re into ’80s Brazilian thrash, Chakal's debut L.P. is worth a listen.
(16 May 2025)
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