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Promo Demo (1985)
Released in September 1985, Promo Demo is the third tape from the Dutch band Thanatos. This is extremely primitive death/thrash with a chaotic feeling. The playing is quite sloppy, especially the drumming, and the whole thing is just barely hanging together during the faster parts. The harsh vocals are reminiscent of early Possessed and work perfectly for this primal sound. The riffs and solos seem almost improvised, but the feeling is there and that is the most important thing. The production is quite raw, and no matter how unstructured it all is, there is still an evil, bestial vibe here.
Also worth noting is that this has to be the only time I've ever seen a band photo where every member was wearing the same shirt, but since it's classic Slayer and this is 1985, they score extra points. At this point, Thanatos sounded about as crude as possible without degenerating into total noise, so it's all the more impressive what they did afterward. That said, it may be rough as hell but it's authentic and definitely worth checking out.
Also worth noting is that this has to be the only time I've ever seen a band photo where every member was wearing the same shirt, but since it's classic Slayer and this is 1985, they score extra points. At this point, Thanatos sounded about as crude as possible without degenerating into total noise, so it's all the more impressive what they did afterward. That said, it may be rough as hell but it's authentic and definitely worth checking out.
(11 June 2025)
Rebirth (1986)
In November 1986, Stephan Gebédy returned with a new lineup to record the appropriately titled Rebirth demo. The style here is vicious death/thrash that is greatly aided by the tighter playing of the new members. There is actually recognizable structure to the songwriting, and the material is more focused and intense. Most importantly, they got rid of the tragically awful drummer from the previous demo. The production is rather decent for a mid-'80s demo tape. Everything can be heard well enough and the heaviness of the music is not lost like with a lot of demos. Still, it's rough and adds to the raw atmosphere of the songs.
The raspy death vocals have a savage ferocity, even more so when he throws in those blood-curdling screams. The riffing throughout is intense and possesses a sharp edge, with a couple mid-paced sections that almost bring to mind early Celtic Frost. The overall sound here is quite straightforward and primitive, but with Rebirth Thanatos definitely began to lay a solid foundation to build upon. While there are only four songs, "Outward of the Inward" and "Speed Kills" stand out as the strongest tracks. If you are into the rawness of '80s death/thrash demos, definitely give this a listen.
The raspy death vocals have a savage ferocity, even more so when he throws in those blood-curdling screams. The riffing throughout is intense and possesses a sharp edge, with a couple mid-paced sections that almost bring to mind early Celtic Frost. The overall sound here is quite straightforward and primitive, but with Rebirth Thanatos definitely began to lay a solid foundation to build upon. While there are only four songs, "Outward of the Inward" and "Speed Kills" stand out as the strongest tracks. If you are into the rawness of '80s death/thrash demos, definitely give this a listen.
(11 June 2025)
The Day Before Tomorrow... (1987)
Thanatos returned to the studio in November 1987 to record The Day Before Tomorrow.... This is a rather brief demo, less than fifteen minutes in length, but it offers another glimpse into the development of the band. The songwriting and musicianship had clearly improved a lot in just a short time, with tighter execution and more variation in the structures.
There are only two new songs here, with "Impostors' Infiltration" continuing the raw death/thrash sound of previous recordings. The title track opens with a gloomy and more melodic intro before the shredding picks back up. Some of the riffs in this one give the material a slightly darker feeling than what was found on earlier tapes, showing a bit of variation with mood and pacing. As well, they included a live version of "Progressive Destructor" from the '85 demo. Not only does it sound quite good for a live recording, but it absolutely kills the original. All in all, The Day Before Tomorrow... is another lethal dose of '80s death/thrash and well worth a listen.
There are only two new songs here, with "Impostors' Infiltration" continuing the raw death/thrash sound of previous recordings. The title track opens with a gloomy and more melodic intro before the shredding picks back up. Some of the riffs in this one give the material a slightly darker feeling than what was found on earlier tapes, showing a bit of variation with mood and pacing. As well, they included a live version of "Progressive Destructor" from the '85 demo. Not only does it sound quite good for a live recording, but it absolutely kills the original. All in all, The Day Before Tomorrow... is another lethal dose of '80s death/thrash and well worth a listen.
(11 June 2025)
Emerging from the Netherworlds (1990)
Emerging from the Netherworlds is the debut full-length from Thanatos. It was recorded in November 1989 at the same studio and with the same producer as the first Massacra album, just weeks apart. The production is thin and dry, which actually adds to the raw, aggressive death/thrash found here. The playing is tight, a result of the band fully developing most of these songs over several years, with almost all of the material carried over from demos dating back to 1985. Here, the band stayed true to their roots rather than writing all new songs to fit in with the current trends of the time.
The guitar tone is razor sharp and perfectly suits the face-ripping thrash riffs and tremolo picking reminiscent of early Slayer and Possessed. The vocals sound particularly vicious and evil, adding to the overall savagery of the album. Occasionally, he lets loose maniacal, chilling screams, especially on "Rebirth". The drumming is intense and helps drive everything forward at a frenzied pace, while also adding a bit of weight to the slower bits. The lead solos are more prominent here and have a hellish, chaotic sound that adds to the violence, particularly in "War".
Of course, a studio L.P. was never going to have the same rawness as demo tapes from the mid-'80s, but the sound here truly does justice to the music, and the band's pure ferocity comes through. Emerging from the Netherworlds marks an end of an era for Thanatos and stands as a monument to their early days. This is highly recommended. Highlights include "Outward of the Inward", "Bodily Dismemberment", and "Progressive Destructor".
The guitar tone is razor sharp and perfectly suits the face-ripping thrash riffs and tremolo picking reminiscent of early Slayer and Possessed. The vocals sound particularly vicious and evil, adding to the overall savagery of the album. Occasionally, he lets loose maniacal, chilling screams, especially on "Rebirth". The drumming is intense and helps drive everything forward at a frenzied pace, while also adding a bit of weight to the slower bits. The lead solos are more prominent here and have a hellish, chaotic sound that adds to the violence, particularly in "War".
Of course, a studio L.P. was never going to have the same rawness as demo tapes from the mid-'80s, but the sound here truly does justice to the music, and the band's pure ferocity comes through. Emerging from the Netherworlds marks an end of an era for Thanatos and stands as a monument to their early days. This is highly recommended. Highlights include "Outward of the Inward", "Bodily Dismemberment", and "Progressive Destructor".
(11 June 2025)
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