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...Simply Dead. (1990)
...Simply Dead. was the first demo from R.U. Dead?, released in February 1990. This was the next project from Angel of Death after the demise of Poison, and since he was the guitarist and main songwriter of both bands, the similarities are obvious. In fact, this demo includes a re-recording of Poison’s “Sphinx,” and pieces of “Alive (Undead)” show up in “Insane Gods” as well.
The sound is close to Into the Abyss, with a hellish and chaotic atmosphere. The production is rough in a way that actually suits the material. The playing is tight enough, but the focus is on creating a dark atmosphere rather than technicality. The vocals aren’t as evil as Virgin Slaughter’s, but they still work. The maniacal shrieks really fit the music. There is definitely something primal and raw that you can feel when listening to a song like "Temples of the Night", for example. Those slower riffs carry a lot of weight while the solos possess this distant quality, like echoing from deeper within the catacombs.
...Simply Dead. does well to continue the legacy of Poison. Considering how many lame, trendy bands were getting signed and releasing full-lengths, it's ridiculous that neither Poison nor R.U. Dead? ever made it past the demo phase. This stuff was darker, heavier, and much better than most of the garbage that actually got released. Be sure to give this a listen.
The sound is close to Into the Abyss, with a hellish and chaotic atmosphere. The production is rough in a way that actually suits the material. The playing is tight enough, but the focus is on creating a dark atmosphere rather than technicality. The vocals aren’t as evil as Virgin Slaughter’s, but they still work. The maniacal shrieks really fit the music. There is definitely something primal and raw that you can feel when listening to a song like "Temples of the Night", for example. Those slower riffs carry a lot of weight while the solos possess this distant quality, like echoing from deeper within the catacombs.
...Simply Dead. does well to continue the legacy of Poison. Considering how many lame, trendy bands were getting signed and releasing full-lengths, it's ridiculous that neither Poison nor R.U. Dead? ever made it past the demo phase. This stuff was darker, heavier, and much better than most of the garbage that actually got released. Be sure to give this a listen.
(18 May 2025)
Individual Horror (1991)
In the spring of 1991, about a year after releasing their first demo, R.U. Dead? returned to the studio to record Individual Horror. This basically picks right up from where they left off, and offers another dose of '80s death/thrash that carries the legacy of Poison. They even went so far as to re-record "Yog Sothoth", here titled "Lurking Fear". It is just a demo tape, but this seeming reliance on reusing old material could have appeared as a weakness as if the band wasn't capable of writing new songs. Everything here is pretty much the same as on the previous recording, except that the sound is slight murky by comparison. The vocals do seem a bit more restrained and less maniacal, though they fit the music just fine. This is a rather short demo and there isn't much to judge it on as there is only one original track. There's nothing wrong here but maybe not the most essential thing.
(30 May 2025)
Promotape (1992)
The third demo from mGermany’s R.U. Dead? is a dark and morbid offering of primitive death/thrash. Recorded during the winter of 1991–92 and released some months later, this tape shows just how much the band had grown. There's so much great guitar work here. Even within the framework of raw, stripped-down death/thrash, Angel of Death’s songwriting manages to sneak in subtle nuances that add depth. The smallest touches often go a long way toward enhancing the already oppressive atmosphere.
From the opening moments of “Hypnos”, there’s a sombre, shadowy feeling that creeps in, especially during the slower midsection. The production is murky and claustrophobic, which only strengthens the atmosphere. “The Tombs Have Not Been Sealed” is a slow-moving beast, suffocating the listener under layers of doom riffs and creating a sense of foreboding. The addition of sparse, eerie keyboard notes accentuates the funereal feeling. Of course, the savage aggression from the Poison days hasn’t been lost. Some of these riffs still sound like they crawled out of Sons of Evil. But by this point, R.U. Dead? has established its own identity. The songs blend classic ‘80s thrash riffs and searing solos with mid-paced doom sections and even some sinister tremolo melodies. The vocals sound possessed and evil, perfectly suiting the dark and haunting atmosphere.
While a lot of musicians were changing with the times and following the latest underground trends, Angel of Death remained true to his roots and remained on the same path. The previous tapes almost felt like a retread of Poison, this maintains the spirit of that project while expanding upon it in a logical and natural way. That neither of his bands were ever signed to put out a full-length just proves how clueless and poser-infested most labels were. Regardless, if you want something truly grim, raw and atmospheric, this is highly recommended.
From the opening moments of “Hypnos”, there’s a sombre, shadowy feeling that creeps in, especially during the slower midsection. The production is murky and claustrophobic, which only strengthens the atmosphere. “The Tombs Have Not Been Sealed” is a slow-moving beast, suffocating the listener under layers of doom riffs and creating a sense of foreboding. The addition of sparse, eerie keyboard notes accentuates the funereal feeling. Of course, the savage aggression from the Poison days hasn’t been lost. Some of these riffs still sound like they crawled out of Sons of Evil. But by this point, R.U. Dead? has established its own identity. The songs blend classic ‘80s thrash riffs and searing solos with mid-paced doom sections and even some sinister tremolo melodies. The vocals sound possessed and evil, perfectly suiting the dark and haunting atmosphere.
While a lot of musicians were changing with the times and following the latest underground trends, Angel of Death remained true to his roots and remained on the same path. The previous tapes almost felt like a retread of Poison, this maintains the spirit of that project while expanding upon it in a logical and natural way. That neither of his bands were ever signed to put out a full-length just proves how clueless and poser-infested most labels were. Regardless, if you want something truly grim, raw and atmospheric, this is highly recommended.
(7 June 2025)
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