Ranked: 1987 in Death Metal
I listened to a total of 47 (now 53) albums for this one. Surprised that '87 still had a lot of dm in its infancy than what I recalled. Gonna give a little more descriptions in a bit. Hit me up with what you think. |
| 1 |  | Death
Scream Bloody Gore
Gonna use this as a moment to plug the Savage Death I discovered the other day from '85 which has a ton of resemblances to Death, least of so the mirrored opening riff of that with the one here from SBG.
https://youtu.be/W9G6jabMjlI
Killer debut however, but I always have to rearrange the tracklist when I listen to it. |
| 2 |  | Necrovore
Divus de Mortuus
4.5/5.0
https://youtu.be/ScoGir1SgqI
Phenomenal for the year that is definitely a personal favorite and comes with a high recommendation. Check tha link above for sure. |
| 3 |  | Protector
Misanthropy
4.5
Love this band, and I love them more and more with each listen. |
| 4 |  | Sepultura
Schizophrenia
I debated including this per the thrash reasons, and I don't want it to totally swamp my rankings, but as it is so, a few are going to make it on the list regardless, even though I'm leaving a lot of the better ones off of this, Persecution Mania and Testament - The Legacy for example.
Personal rating: 4.5 |
| 5 |  | Atheist
On We Slay
Looking at my score, you could say I was rather impressed by this and will definitely come back for a relisten. Surprised of its low ratings tbh, but I've not yet "delved" into Atheist. I was surprised to see this hit more of my criteria than expected.
https://youtu.be/D_qT8Ox-qPg
Personal rating: 4.5 |
| 6 |  | Morbid
December Moon
That gd guitar tone. Obviously this is more black metally than anything else I've displayed on these lists, but the song structures and underground rhythm section that drive certain songs are what do it for me in terms of a partial osdm classification.
https://youtu.be/4U58mYF0zOo
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 7 |  | Autopsy
1987 demo
A brutal release, 'Mauled to Death' especially so.
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 8 |  | Macabre
Grim Reality
Extreme and wild, though not particularly dm per say, at least on this, it's much closer to thrash grind. Very fun however.
https://youtu.be/yjcIV-qCq2U
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 9 |  | Poison (DE)
Into the Abyss
https://youtu.be/b1qFbtOllc4
Still an underrated band, but this sole full-length actually does well enough and delivered. I like their EP's more than most but I'd still give this a rec to those who might not have been into it.
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 10 |  | Dead Conspiracy
Demo #1
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 11 |  | Pestilence
Dysentery
4.0 |
| 12 |  | Vulcano
Anthropophagy
Seems to be an underrated band, and this second album is more fitting than the first that made it on my previous proto-death list. Pretty assaulting honestly.
4.0 |
| 13 |  | Sarcofago
I.N.R.I.
Certainly some crazy vocals and I have spun this quite a few times. Definitely some of the darker more morbid tunes on this list, and I debated having it a little higher.
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 14 |  | Coroner
R.I.P.
A little bit on the thrash side obviously, but I still like to include it.
Personal rating: 4.0/3.5 |
| 15 |  | Necrophagia
Season of the Dead
Another one of my first dm listens that I have spun intermittently through the times. It's for sure plodding and a little dull, but it's has that old school charm nonetheless. It's definitely a weird one for me because it's not entirely good, but also good lol. I mean, it did come out before Scream Bloody Gore, so kudos are given to one of the earlier releases to do that whole zombie/horror fixation of the dead thing death metal is more than notoriously known for. |
| 16 |  | Morbid Angel
Thy Kingdom Come
Abominations is wicked |
| 17 |  | Carcass
Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment |
| 18 |  | Messiah
Extreme cold weather
I like it, but I could see how others wouldn't dig it. Really feels like an EP rather than a full-length but the songs are still pretty tight.
Personal rating: Somewhere between a 3.5 and 4.0 |
| 19 |  | Sadus
Certain Death
I'm skipping Kreator 'Terrible Certainty' and Sodom's 'Expurse of Sodomy' that would have been here on my larger compiled list. |
| 20 |  | Infernal Majesty
None Shall Defy |
| 21 |  | Slaughter (CAN)
Strappado
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 22 |  | Napalm Death
Scum
You know what it is, but still lol.
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 23 |  | Holocausto
Campo de Exterminio
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 24 |  | Mutilator
Immortal Force
Underrated imo
Personal rating: 4.0 |
| 25 |  | Incubus (USA-FL)
Incubus
evidently, this isn't even the same "Incubus" in the dm vein as that of the 'Serpent Temptation', 'Beyond the Unknown' fame. That band is of Louisianan origin, Metairie to be exact, whereas this one has been housed in both Atlanta (Ga) and Tampa (Fl).
4.0/3.5 |
| 26 |  | Possessed
The Eyes of Horror
Swing of the Axe.
Personal rating: 3.5/4.0 |
| 27 |  | Blood Feast
Kill For Pleasure
It's alright, but wears itself out by the end.
Personal rating: 3.5/3.0 |
| 28 |  | Nocturnus
Nocturnus (Demo) |
| 29 |  | Nuclear Death
A Symphony of Agony
More really grind stuff, but the band goes hard. This is really like a comp rather than a complete release, check my soundoff.
Personal rating: 3.5 |
| 30 |  | Gehenna (MEX)
En busca del valle de Gehenna
I listened to this way back and didn't get to do a relisten yet, but it is pretty good for '87 I thought. |
| 31 |  | Necronomicon (DE2)
Apocalyptic Nightmare
Personal rating: 3.5 |
| 32 |  | Nuclear Death
Welcome to the Minds of the Morbid
The last track as an instrumental is pretty sweet.
Personal rating: 3.0 |
| 33 |  | Blood Feast
Face Fate
Pretty much forgettable, but no biggie. 2 unreleased songs and 2 released on the prior debut.
Personal rating: 3.0 |
| 34 |  | Pestilence
The Penance
Personal rating: 3.0 |
| 35 |  | Malfeitor (US)
Diabolic Youth (1987 Demo)
Just added this. It's really bent on the thrash side of things, but a cool find nonetheless. Last song is called Dark Funeral. So perhaps, the first mention of that. Check it out.
https://youtu.be/vALBOz29lik
Personal rating: 3.5 |
| 36 |  | Yog Sothots
Demo 1987
Pretty much exactly the same as above except I liked that better.
Personal rating: 3.0
https://youtu.be/0-53B6O5NwM |
| 37 |  | Salem
Destruction Till Death |
| 38 |  | Opprobrium
Supernatural Death (Demo)
Stuff here on is stuff I came across too late and didn't listen to yet, but I still want it on the list.
Added to site |
| 39 |  | Deathcore
Revenge of the Unborn (Demo)
Added to site |
| 40 |  | Rigor Mortis (NY)
Decomposed
Added to site (pre-Immolation) Bob and Dave and Tom Wilkinson.
2.5 |
| 41 |  | Minotaur
The Power of Darkness
Demo version. This band has some killer shit so far.
Added to site. |
| 42 |  | Nunslaughter
Ritual of Darkness
Did not think they went back this far at all, and holy hell at all those EP's. |
| 43 |  | Sabbat (JPN)
Born By Evil Blood |
| 44 |  | Panic (BRA)
Rotten Church |
| 45 |  | Torture
Terror Kingdom
Tagged Thrash |
| 46 |  | Unknown Death
Rehearsal Demo 1987
Has 3 Death cover songs.
Added to site. |
| 47 |  | Parabellum
Sacrilegio
Tagged black/thrash |
| 48 |  | Sadistik Exekution
Demo |
| 49 |  | Revenant
Beyond the Winds of Sorrow
Added to site |
| 50 |  | Bolt Thrower
Concession of Pain |
| 51 |  | Black Death (NOR)
Black Is Beautiful
Added to site |
| 52 |  | Terrorizer
Demo '87 |
| 53 |  | Matricide
Mother's Day |
| 54 |  | Obscurity (SWE)
Damnations Pride |
| 55 |  | Burnt Offering
Death Decay
Added to site |
| 56 |  | Frightful Cross
Frightful Abortion
Added to site |
| 57 |  | Realm
Final Solution
Thrash/progressive |
| 58 |  | Reencarnacion
Dioses muertos
Added to site. |
| 59 |  | Hellwitch
Mordirivial Disemanation
3.5 |
| 60 |  | Leviathan (USA-NY)
Legions of the Undead |
| 61 |  | Mutilator (FRA)
Omens of Dark Fate
Added to site. |
| 62 |  | Impetigo
All We Need Is Cheez |
| 63 |  | Ripping Corpse
Death Warmed Over |
| 64 |  | Devastation
Violent Termination |
| 65 |  | Merciless
Behind the Black Door
This is absolutely hands down incredible, near 5 worthy, and I'm not about rearranging my list to stick this in slot #3.
An absolute must listen.
https://youtu.be/5Nxv0t4_Jgk - Total Destruction
https://youtu.be/3_n7mfpubgg - Bestial Death
https://youtu.be/XEk0VfZjn8Y - Satanic Slaughters
https://youtu.be/deQ8hbYDxYE - Behind the Black Door
To emphasize the quality of each track
4.5/5.0 |
| 66 |  | Mortal Terror
Humour Is a Matter of Taste
Added to site |
| 67 |  | Sarcofago
Christ's Death |
| 68 |  | Baphomet (USA-UT)
Baphomet |
| 69 |  | Atheist
Hell Hath No Mercy |
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