Band: Macabre
Title: Grim Reality
Label: Hammerheart Records
Distribution: x
Release date: April 25th 2011
Review: CD / EP (re-release)

Earlier this year we could enjoy the Grim Scary Tales full length (posted on 02/02/2011), but now there’s a re-release as well from a very ‘old’ recording: 1987’s Grim Reality EP. It was the band’s first introduction of mass murderers and serial killers, and certainly not the last one. Unique, and one of my preferred pieces of elementary audible terrorisation that very same year.
Hurray for this re-release for two reasons: first of all, this is a re-release of hard-to-get material (original: Decomposed) with a superior quality (at least back then), and besides it comes in two parts: the original EP itself and the EP totally re-mixed by nobody else but Neil Kernon (!).
The re-issue starts with the remixed edition, which indeed comes with a slightly bettered sound (a much better equilibrium in mix between the instruments). In general, however, there are no major differences between both versions, but one can appreciate the intention, of course.
Further on, what to say? The band exists for twenty seven years in mean time and the trio has been of undeniable influence for hundreds of bands within the extreme Music scene. Thrash and Death Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Grind, this is Murder Metal painted in blood. Remarkable: so ‘modern’ and progressive for an old, very old recording – impressively ahead of their time!
Catchy yet not cheap, brutal and melodic, old styled and modernistic, contrasts with coherence indeed!

--/100

Ivan Tibos.