Hellhammer - Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D. (1990)

Originally purchasing this EP, some 13-14 years ago, I sold it not long after that for reasons I don't even recall. Maybe it was too primitive-ish for me or maybe I just didn't recognize it for what it was. It wasn't until recent years when I purchased the 'Demon Entrails' demo compilation and was reintroduced and ultimately blown away by the barbaric pioneering filth that was Zurich, Switzerland's own, Hellhammer. Naturally, that lead me back to this EP, which I snagged from a friend who was liquidating his collection for a mere $3. Deal.

'Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.' is a re-release of the '84 EP, which also includes two bonus songs from the Noise Records '84 compilation, 'Death Metal,' which incidentally didn't exactly contain bands that we'd associate with the death metal genre nowadays. The cover is also different from the original, here opting for a spidery skull monster that I once had a dream about, but I'll spare you the details and get to the music.

'The Third of the Storms' kicks off the EP, with simplistic drum beats, two or three chord riffage, a catchy solo, non-existent bass guitar and gruff vocals, which was not unheard of at the time, but this primitive approach to writing and production values served as a major catalyst for the brooding black metal genre. 'Massacra' follows, and the music formula remains the same, but that riffage it something truly wicked, whereas, 'Triumph of Death' is more doomy in character, lasts for nearly ten minutes and has these desperate shrill squealing vocals that are simple a must hear. 'Horus/Aggressor' kicks off with a drum intro before going back to the familiar sound of the first two songs, with something of a sense of catchiness behind this one, while 'Revelations of Doom' & 'Messiah' up the ante on the speed a bit, but still hardly different in overall song structure.

Listening to this EP again and making the comparisons to the demo compilation I think I understand why I originally sold this EP. To me, despite its historic and influential qualities, the production is not just raw, but honestly flat and somewhat annoying. It seems to completely lack any sort of lively spirit and perhaps that was the point, but those remastered demos are quite the opposite as they explode out of my speakers. As such, I wouldn't mind seeing this EP re-released yet again, naturally remastered and with a fuller sound to it.

Of course, you may be the exact opposite of me and love this material regardless of its production values. Nevertheless, much like Hellhammer's earlier demos, 'Apocalyptic Raids' is largely seen as some of the first real and true black metal out there and although I wouldn't urge you to buy it ASAP, it is at least worth listening too once just so you know where your favorite black metal band got their inspiration from.