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Scarlet Slaughterer (1989)
Magnus was a band that formed in communist Poland in the late '80s. Their first full-length, Scarlet Slaughterer, was released in December 1989. This is very dirty, raw death/thrash with definite influence from the South American scene, especially Sarcófago. Even the band photos look like outtakes from the I.N.R.I. session.
The vocals include some cheesy falsetto screams that are reminiscent of Antikrist, but otherwise the guy actually sounds quite aggressive and hateful. The production is rough, which suits the material. The guitars have a thin, fuzzy sound, not unlike Bathory's Under the Sign of the Black Mark. The vocals and bass are a bit too high in the mix, when the focus really should be on the guitar riffs. Despite how primitive it all seems, the playing is very tight.
The lead solos have a sharpness to them and just enough chaos to add a hellish feeling, kind of like Hell Awaits-era Slayer. The songwriting is straightforward and consistent. Every song is overflowing with speed and aggression. Sometimes it all goes by in a blur, but then a specific solo or vocal line will snap you back into it.
"Pharisee", "Messenger of Hell" and "Leprosy" stand out a bit more due to some of the darker riffs, but the whole album is solid with no real low points. If you're into intense late ’80s death/thrash with a little bit of cheesiness (which works in this case), Scarlet Slaughterer is worth a listen.
The vocals include some cheesy falsetto screams that are reminiscent of Antikrist, but otherwise the guy actually sounds quite aggressive and hateful. The production is rough, which suits the material. The guitars have a thin, fuzzy sound, not unlike Bathory's Under the Sign of the Black Mark. The vocals and bass are a bit too high in the mix, when the focus really should be on the guitar riffs. Despite how primitive it all seems, the playing is very tight.
The lead solos have a sharpness to them and just enough chaos to add a hellish feeling, kind of like Hell Awaits-era Slayer. The songwriting is straightforward and consistent. Every song is overflowing with speed and aggression. Sometimes it all goes by in a blur, but then a specific solo or vocal line will snap you back into it.
"Pharisee", "Messenger of Hell" and "Leprosy" stand out a bit more due to some of the darker riffs, but the whole album is solid with no real low points. If you're into intense late ’80s death/thrash with a little bit of cheesiness (which works in this case), Scarlet Slaughterer is worth a listen.
(17 May 2025)
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