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Montreal, Quebec's Dead Brain Cells need little introduction. These legendary Canadian thrashers formed in 1986, solidifying a core lineup of Phil Dakin (bass/vocals), Eddie Shahini and Gerry Ouellette (guitars), and Jeff St-Louis (drums). After recording a seven-song demo at Harmonie Studio, the quartet landed a coveted slot opening for Slayer and Razor at the Montreal Paladium, leading to a recording contract with iconic label Combat Records within a mere nine months of their inception. The result was the socio-political crossover tech-thrash of their classic debut, "Dead Brain Cells" (1987), and the increasingly complex, sci-fi-themed creativity of "Universe" (1989) - albums that are still revered by fans today.
Touring and additional recording continued throughout 1990 and 1991 as DBC worked on their third album. Unfortunately, Combat Records failed to recognize the band's potential in their new material and parted ways with them. Dead Brain Cells continued to write and rehearse, aiming for a new record deal. However, due in part to changes in the music industry, this opportunity never materialized. The band eventually disbanded after guitarist Gerry Ouellette's passing in 1994.
In the early 2000s, the remaining members reunited, reissuing and digitally distributing their material. Shahini and Dakin remained semi-active with new members, playing sporadic shows over the years. Now, 30 years after the band's last studio recording, Divebomb Records is honored to produce a series of three reissues covering DBC's complete discography, concluding with "The Demo Anthology": an 18-song collection of archival rarities recorded between 1986 and 1991. Fully remastered by Jamie King Audio, the release comes with a 24-page booklet packed with photos, flyers, and original reversible artwork. Each jewel case is housed within a special foil-stamped O-card, numbered out of a limited edition of 1,000 copies. This release is for the fans, by the fans! |
