|
Audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY. In the mid-1980s, public opinion often credited Kreator, Destruction, Sodom (and perhaps Tankard) with laying the foundations of German thrash metal. However, one band is conspicuously missing from that list: Living Death. Hailing from Velbert, an industrial town in the heart of the Ruhr area, Living Death pushed the boundaries of extremity, much like their Swiss counterparts, Hellhammer. Their intensity proved too much for many fans and critics, and their early releases received harsh reviews. Yet, a small but devoted cult following recognized what the band was trying to achieve.
Living Death was formed in 1981 by the Kelch brothers—Reiner on guitar and Dieter on bass. Eric initially handled drumming duties, and the lineup was rounded out by Frank Fricke on second guitar and Thorsten "Toto" Bergmann on vocals. Bergmann’s piercing, shrill voice was a major reason the mainstream struggled to embrace the band. In 1983, they recorded a three-track demo, which secured a deal with the Belgian indie label Mausoleum Records. The following year, their debut album, Vengeance of Hell, was released, but its production was notoriously thin and tinny. The album was remixed and reissued in 1985 with improved results, though the original raw sound had already won Living Death a dedicated following, particularly in Germany.
Tracks like "My Victim," "Heavy Metal Hurricane," "Hellpike," and the title track "Vengeance of Hell" exemplified their unpolished, bone-rattling thrash metal style. Despite the rough production, these songs have stood the test of time, proving that in 1984, Living Death was far ahead of their era. It took the metal world three decades to catch up with them. —Matthias Mader
|
