Ranked: 1988 in Death Metal
I went through a total of 54 releases to get the 42 I ended up with here. I lost some great writeup stuff when the list crashed the first time. Link to my list that got bumped off my profile: Sputnik Music - https://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?memberid=1055694&listid=192793 |
| 1 |  | Genocidio (BRA)
Genocidio
What? Did I just discover a new favorite band? Up until about five albums ago, Leprosy was the shoe-in for the #1 spot basically this whole time, and then this came on. Fucking heavy and crushing. I mean, just around two and a half minutes into the 1st track it was like the darkest riff and instrumentation I've heard to this point, (think a refined Immolation style) and this whole thing is just brutal, and I would say there is some actual brutal dm sprinkled in here,... in... '88. I rated it a 5 and subsequently started adding most of their discog here. It's both everything I love about dm, or what I have grown to like about it. I'm listening to it again and it's even better than the first time. Check this out: https://youtu.be/zWRssaHRZF4.
5.0 |
| 2 |  | Death
Leprosy
It was going to be #1, I swear. Stouter on all accounts compared to the debut (my #1 for '87), and an amazing, practically immediate follow-up. This shot up to being one of my favorite Death releases after disregarding it for some time.
4.5 |
| 3 |  | Immolation
Immolation
Practically classic imo.
https://youtu.be/dkRrgnfzC1Y
4.5 |
| 4 |  | Atheist
Beyond '88 Demo
This band has surprised me twice already, with their demo stuff. |
| 5 |  | Asphyx
Enter The Domain
4.5
I can't really wrap my head around the poor votes on this one. A 2.9 average? There's at least two classic songs here in 'Vault Of The Vailing Souls' and 'Thoughts of an Atheist' and the middle track is a ripper as well. As far as I could tell I don't think these songs have been re-recorded.
https://youtu.be/JlJh3YgC80s
4.5 |
| 6 |  | Nihilist
Premature Autopsy
4.0
Just your typical Nihilist. |
| 7 |  | Carcass
Reek of Putrefaction
Parts of this are pretty sick, and some I feel like I'm just sitting through but that's just going on personal taste. Influence is mad all around this though.
4.0 |
| 8 |  | Exmortis
Descent Into Chaos
Loved it, and my second listen had me itching to 4.5, but I'm going to give it another listen or two to decide.
https://youtu.be/2UV_OUE7w6Q
4.0/4.5 |
| 9 |  | Napalm Death
From Enslavement to Obliteration
4.5/4.0 |
| 10 |  | Merciless
Realm of the Dark
Very much enjoyed this, and here I thought I wasn't too big on their full-length releases. Hm. Metal-archives has this listed as 1988 even though it's '89 on here. Not sure which one it is but I'm gonna go with the archives on this one.
https://youtu.be/Fw_xu2SsuiI
4.0 |
| 11 |  | Morbid
Last Supper...
After reading about this, I'm surprised I had to add it here. Basically this is the first release after Dead went to Mayhem, and a lot of people don't like it because of a slight shift in style, and because there's no Dead. December Moon is still a lot better, but I enjoyed this.
3.5
https://youtu.be/4v6gEseoOys |
| 12 |  | Grave
Sick Disgust Eternal
Sick and disgusting this is. Riffs and slays.
https://youtu.be/cnc0TO4a2Ac
4.0 |
| 13 |  | Autopsy
Critical Madness demo
https://youtu.be/zYx7H3Ji914
4.0 |
| 14 |  | Morbid Saint
Lock Up Your Children(Demo)
A little bit more on the thrash side, of course, but it's good so.. |
| 15 |  | Prophecy Of Doom
Demo 1988
4.0 |
| 16 |  | Bolt Thrower
In Battle There Is No Law!
Votes are a little lower than I would have expected here too.
4.0 imo |
| 17 |  | Pestilence
Malleus Maleficarum
4.0 |
| 18 |  | Hexx
Quest For Sanity
I had an awesome writeup for this but I lost it :/. But I'll give another crack at it. The story behind this is that this is the same band as the original power metal Hexx, but for this release they apparently decided to go for an actual thrash/death hybrid. More thrash than death sure, but there's dm bits embedded into this. I noticed the change real quick and kinda double-taked and I guess others would too if they're familiar with the first two releases. The vocals do get annoying at times and there's an attempt at some power metal crossover but on the whole there's a good amount of grunts and thrashy screams that really set it apart from the strong full-on power vox from earlier. Basically an example of a band kinda ditching what they had in the bag and going thrashier/deathier- whether jumping on the trend or not, with mostly positive results.
4.0 |
| 19 |  | Opprobrium
Serpent Temptation
This is pretty sweet and I think I'll always consider it underrated. It gets tiring near the end a little bit though.
3.5/4.0 |
| 20 |  | Mortuary (MEX)
Where Death Takes Your Soul
I'm still the only vote on this for quite a while. Worth a listen, I have it rated at a 4.0 and I'm going to keep it there for now. It's really like a 3.5 but I rate on a scale
https://youtu.be/ZxcbhpDgAJ4
4.0/3.5 |
| 21 |  | Dismember
Dismembered
3.5 |
| 22 |  | Rigor Mortis
Rigor Mortis
Really backyard thrash. Not the same Rigor Mortis as the early-Immolation incarnation. Worth a listen or two and they seem like a legacy band whose hometown is right around where I am.
https://youtu.be/AC6IVmuINsE
4.0 for posterity. |
| 23 |  | Parabellum
Mutación por radiación
https://youtu.be/T3R5YwX8Ers
3.5 |
| 24 |  | Nocturnus
The Science of Horror
I don't have big ups for Nocturnus which is probably blaspheme, but it's still good.
3.5 |
| 25 |  | Spectral Birth
The Turbulence
Ehh, not wholly memorable but alright nonetheless.
3.5 |
| 26 |  | Sadus
Illusions
Can you say amphetamine-induced brain coma? Damn this shit is aggressive.
3.5 |
| 27 |  | Macabre
Shitlist
Loved Grim Reality, just a little bit more.
3.5 |
| 28 |  | Treblinka
Crawling In Vomits
The artwork is messed up on this.
This is going to be memorable for the minute of vomiting sounds and someone crawling in supposed said vomit that closes the EP out. A little long-winded in that regard, but it sends a clear message.
3.5 |
| 29 |  | Morgoth
Pits of Utumno [Demo]
3.5 |
| 30 |  | Protector
Golem
This might be my least favorite Protector, and I loved their demo. I haven't heard all their newer albums though.
3.5 |
| 31 |  | Mutilated (FRA)
Psychodeath Lunatics
3.5 |
| 32 |  | Demolition Hammer
Skull Fracturing Nightmare [Demo]
3.5/3.0 |
| 33 |  | Assorted Heap
Killing Peace
3.5/3.0 |
| 34 |  | Bolt Thrower
The Peel Sessions
This is basically a copy of the debut but imo sounds much worse
3.5/3.0 |
| 35 |  | Epidemic (Metal)
Immortal Minority
3.0 |
| 36 |  | Bestial War
Ripping Christ Off Cross
3.0 |
| 37 |  | Rotting Christ
Decline's Return
The most black metal I've gone for these lists.
3.0 |
| 38 |  | Blood Spill
Demo |
| 39 |  | Ripping Corpse
Splattered Remains |
| 40 |  | Sabbat (JPN)
Desecration
Really doesn't belong, but oh well. |
| 41 |  | Blood
No Regret
Probably the album that missed the mark the most in terms of expectation. |
| 42 |  | Thormenthor
Into the Death
See my soundoff that explains why this is here. |
| 43 |  | Asphyx
Carnage Remains
A two-song instrumental demo tape I just found on the archives. Added to site. |
| 44 |  | Psychic Possessor
Toxin Diffusion
Shoutout to Grimlin for this rec, I am going to check this out soon. |
| 45 |  | Invocator
Genetic Confusion |
| 46 |  | Mercyless
Immortal Harmonies
Added |
| 47 |  | Dr. Shrinker
Recognition |
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