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Power of Darkness (1988)
Minotaur's first record, Power of Darkness, was released in May 1988. From beginning to end, this is a total holocaust of speed and aggression. Though lesser known than other German thrash metal bands, this absolutely kills pretty much anything else coming out of that scene by this point.
The production is rough and retains an underground sound, which is perfect for this kind of music. The mix puts the emphasis on the guitars, as it should. The vocals are harsh and add to the savage, evil feeling of the album. That’s one of the most important elements of Power of Darkness. Minotaur didn’t get lost in technicality for its own sake. They wanted to make something raw and dark, and they succeeded.
Things aren’t so tight that it sounds perfect, and that works in its favour. The musicianship is just rough enough to give it some authenticity. Every riff is played with so much intensity that you can feel the tension and urgency behind it. This doesn’t sound like a band going through the motions, as there is pure energy behind everything. "Maggots in My Body" is probably the most vicious track, largely thanks to the sinister black/death-style vocals. The material here is consistently strong, aside from maybe "Fall of the Gods", which tries the Celtic Frost thing that no one ever really gets right. But everything else is insanely good.
It’s too bad the idiot labels didn’t appreciate the barbaric and raw sound this band had at the time. After having to release Power of Darkness on their own, it’s not a huge surprise that they never followed it up. If you like hellish thrash with a blackened, deathlike edge, then absolutely give this a listen. Highlights include "Fierce Fight", "Maggots in My Body" and "Savage Aggressions".
The production is rough and retains an underground sound, which is perfect for this kind of music. The mix puts the emphasis on the guitars, as it should. The vocals are harsh and add to the savage, evil feeling of the album. That’s one of the most important elements of Power of Darkness. Minotaur didn’t get lost in technicality for its own sake. They wanted to make something raw and dark, and they succeeded.
Things aren’t so tight that it sounds perfect, and that works in its favour. The musicianship is just rough enough to give it some authenticity. Every riff is played with so much intensity that you can feel the tension and urgency behind it. This doesn’t sound like a band going through the motions, as there is pure energy behind everything. "Maggots in My Body" is probably the most vicious track, largely thanks to the sinister black/death-style vocals. The material here is consistently strong, aside from maybe "Fall of the Gods", which tries the Celtic Frost thing that no one ever really gets right. But everything else is insanely good.
It’s too bad the idiot labels didn’t appreciate the barbaric and raw sound this band had at the time. After having to release Power of Darkness on their own, it’s not a huge surprise that they never followed it up. If you like hellish thrash with a blackened, deathlike edge, then absolutely give this a listen. Highlights include "Fierce Fight", "Maggots in My Body" and "Savage Aggressions".
(18 May 2025)
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