Disclaimer:
Please don’t unleash years of suppressed anger and throw a hot cup of coffee in your dog’s face if you don’t see (insert band name) at (insert position) or any such situation. This feature is based on the opinions of an author that writes, primarily, based on experiences and makes no claims that the collection of releases you’re going to be reading about is certified by God, Satan, Rick Moranis, or any other extremely prominent deity. Enjoy.
Introduction:
Our second installment of the trilogy focusing on 1989 takes us to the splits and EPs of the year. There was roughly a pool of 300+ releases to comb through, tackling every genre and idea imaginable.
1989 was a year in which the 7” reigned supreme. Fueled by the manic bursts of English and Japanese grindcore combined with the guttural assault out of Austria and Sweden, the format was the release point for many epic efforts from big name bands that were still in the early periods of their historic runs. While 1988 featured a vast spread of genres and artists, ranging from Motley Crue to Terrorizer, 1989 is entirely more focused on a narrower stream of sounds and ideas, those of a more extreme variety.
While not as diverse in sound as the previous year, 1989 still featured everything from NWOBHM and crust to black thrash and death metal. Featuring a trio of obscure Scandinavian thrash EPs, including one from a very well-known current-day act, are listed alongside that of the more well-known German and American thrash acts. While traditional heavy metal does make a minor showing, it is still a list that is dominated with the likes of more ‘format-friendly’ bands in the crossover, thrash, and crust scenes.
Comparing the global spread of talent from 1988 to 1989 reveals a few unique trends. The 25 Metal Splits/EPs of 1988 was majority American and English bands, thirteen to be exact. The balance shifts in 1989, while still comprised of a majority of American and English bands, 12 in this situation, the balance tips in favor of the English, who have now tied the American bands in terms of listed releases. Japan, a format-dominating country back in 1986 has been slowly losing its grasp on these lists, dwindling down as the years progress, but still possess very important spots for this 1989 list, including releases from well-respected classic bands. Finland shows off its thrash metal scene, Austria shows off its death metal scene, and the English took a heavy chunk of the list thanks to their explosive rise of grindcore bands, and the Americans took another heavy chunk thanks to their consistent and near-limitless supply of thrash metal releases.
However, in contrast to every list made up to this point, there is not a single American release in the top 5.
Also of strange note, there wasn’t a single split release that made the grade this time around. It is literally all EPs.
As far as record label spread goes, one should not be terribly surprised to see Strange Fruit on this list, as the main release point for the legendary Peel sessions, in which two appear here. There was no single dominant label, with only a handful of labels producing two releases for this list, such as the likes of Rise Above Records, Nuclear Blast Records, and Cogumelo Records. Some of the more dominant labels of the era – Noise Records, Combat Records, Earache Records, etc. – were fairly quiet on this list.
Without further delay, please enjoy The Top 25 Splits/EPs of 1989. Have a gratifying bowel movement.
#25: Meliah Rage (USA) – Live Kill
Label: Epic Records
Traditional heavy metal with some slight thrash metal leanings. Live Kill is a collection of tracks recorded in Detroit at the legendary Harpo’s in April of 1989, most of the songs are pulled from their debut record, 1988’s Kill to Survive. Sound quality is great for a late 1980s recording, with excellent vintage guitar tone, clear bass, pronounced snare, and frontal vocals. The band’s live execution was tight and precise.
#24: Sextrash (BRA) – XXX
Label: Cogumelo Records
Grimy analog death from the ever-psychotic late 1980s Brazilian scene. Following a trio of demos, this was the band’s first formal release. A 45 RPM 7” which packed three songs in about nine minutes. Completely rough and abrasive, tracks such as ‘Sadistic Screams’ were pulverizing rhythmic death metal and were just as notoriously heavy and unkempt as the rest of their contemporaries were in this era.
#23: Mengele (FIN) – Senseless Extermination
Label: Bad Vugum
A rare dose of pure Finnish thrash metal. Another three song 7” 45, this was grainy garage-tier production in action, featuring a non-existent bass drum and a flat snare, the band delivered juvenile thrash metal with rough edges and bombastic delivery. An interesting gem of an EP that probably hasn’t seen much exposure.
#22: Protected Illusion (FIN) – Swimming in the Moonlight
Label: Real Illusion
Another rare 7” 45 from Finland, Protected Illusion delivered thrash with a subtle hint of death metal at higher tempos and intensities. Features some actual blast beats in the first track, as well as some fiery soloing. This was the band’s first formal release and the leading-in point to their 1990 debut record, Festering Fairytales.
#21: Hellbastard (GBR) – They Brought Death
Label: Temple of Love Records
Continuing the streak of 7” 45s, Hellbastard played a continuation of their crust punk and thrash hybrid that was established starting with the well-regarded Ripper Crust demo from 1986. They Brought Death was the bridge between 1988’s Heading for Internal Darkness and 1990’s Natural Order, which saw the band signed to a younger Earache Records. Riff-heavy, choppy, and aggressive, this short burst was another release in the band’s sterling early years.
#20: Defender (DEU) – A Symbol of Devotion
Label: independent release
Continuously, and hilariously, uploaded to YouTube at the completely wrong speed, this 12” 33 rpm EP showcased six tracks at a little over 20 minutes. Very much like countrymates Kreator with a more practical speed metal influence, Defender had all the characteristics of the classic German thrash bands, but A Symbol of Devotion ended up being their one and only formal release and made increasingly rare by the fact that it was an independent release.
#19: Meshuggah (SWE) – Meshuggah
Label: Garageland
Originally released by a local record store in their native Sweden, Meshuggah was a much different entity at the earliest part of their career, opting for more of a progressive thrash sensibility as opposed to the rancor of their later technical death metal and djent days. This was the band’s first formal release and the lead-in to 1991’s Contradictions Collapse.
#18: Corrosion of Conformity (USA) – Six Songs with Mike Singing: 1985
Label: Caroline Records
As it says, the EP contains six rapid-fire cuts of crossover and hardcore punk that burst out across seven short minutes with Mike Dean now on vocals, as well as bass. The band had gone through several vocalists in its formative years, and Mike Dean eventually stepped up to fill the roll. The recording line-up also features founders Woody Weatherman and the late Reed Mullin.
#17: Neurosis (USA) – Aberration
Label: Lookout Records
Continuing the trend of fast and frantic 7” 45s, Neurosis delivered three cuts of crusty hardcore punk. Loud, brash, and armed with surprisingly clean production, these three cuts show a more traditional approach to the genre, with Dave Edwardson giving a clinic on the bass guitar.
#16: Sacred Reich (USA) – Alive at the Dynamo
Label: Roadracer Records
This long out-of-print EP was recorded live in May of 1989 at Dynamo Open Air in Holland, pressed and released shortly afterwards in August of 1989. Featuring one of the band’s most iconic songs as the lead track, this is a blast of retro thrash in the live environment that really captured the glory of that era, the powerful vintage tone, the raw speed and the huge crowd interaction element.
#15: Holocaust (GBR) – The Sound of Souls
Label: Chrome
Established in the late 1970’s, Holocaust wrote one of the most memorable pieces of NWOBHM from the entire era in 1989 with The Sound of Souls. One of the longer EPs on the list, thanks to the 11 minute long ‘Three Ways to Die,’ riffs were fired off like volleys of artillery fire, and this certainly feels and sounds like a veteran band in action. The opening track, ‘This Annihilation,’ is a classic piece of English heavy metal power.
#14: Disharmonic Orchestra (AUT) – Successive Substitution
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
This 7” marks a turn for the heavy on this list. Crushing old-school Austrian death metal from one of the pioneers of the regional scene. Absolutely over-the-top bass and bass drum tones, both having huge presence. Successive Substitution sees the band exiting its demo stage, establishing themselves as a formal death metal act, setting themselves up for their debut record, 1990’s Expositionsprophylaxe.
#13: Pungent Stench (AUT) – Extreme Deformity
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Another pioneering Austrian death metal act departing its demo stage and moving on to formal releases. This 7” saw Pungent Stench playing bass-heavy and percussive death metal across three songs, lasting about 12 minutes. Powerful extreme metal from the European scene that was direct competition to much of their contemporaries across the pond.
#12: Treblinka (SWE) – Severe Abominations
Label: Mould in Hell Records
The only formal release in their history, Treblinka hammered out an interesting blend of death metal and thrash metal that had some leanings into the black metal soundscape. This 7” was only two tracks but the delivery was notably savage, well defined, and a worthy addition to the Swedish death metal boom that was taking place around this time period.
#11: Tankard (DEU) – Alien
Label: Noise Records
Coming off a string of successful albums, this was Tankard’s first official EP, bridging 1988’s The Morning After to 1990’s The Meaning of Life. This was move straightforward take on the typically bombastic German thrash metal scene. Featuring five tracks at a little under 20 minutes, the guitar duo of Axel Katzmann and Andy Boulgaropoulos really carried this release on the strength of their riff work.
#10: Napalm Death (GBR) – Live EP
Label: Rise Above Records
Featuring Lee Dorrian on vocals with Bill Steer handling guitars, this marked the end of one era of Napalm Death and the beginning of another. Total vocal overkill, this was the band operating at peak pressure and fury, further cementing their legacy as one of the eternal grind acts.
#9: Rigor Mortis (USA) – Freaks
Label: Metal Blade Records
Featuring the late Mike Scaccia’s prominent guitar presence, Rigor Mortis was pure Texas thrash. This EP was the follow-up release to their 1988 self-titled debut album. The longest EP on this list, clocking in at nearly 26 minutes. This might as well be a mini album, considering its ultra-tight production, precision composing, and lengthy running time.
#8: Atrocity (USA) – Hatred Birth
Label: Hogbitch Records
This 7” featured ten scorching tracks of rapid-fire grind and death metal with very solid production that features a lot of low end. This was the act’s first formal release following a trio of demos released between 1986 and 1988. The band would release two full-lengths in the following years before deactivating for a lengthy period. The band has been broken up for years, but this was a great example of pure American grind that was in direct competition to the heavy hitters of the English scene.
#7: Carcass (GBR) – The Peel Sessions
Label: Strange Fruit
Technically recorded in late December of 1988, the actual session wasn’t broadcast until January of 1989. Featuring four tracks that would appear later on 1989’s Symphonies of Sickness, the trio of Bill Steer, Jeff Walker, and Ken Owen rammed through brutal grind and death metal in a manner that was next to impossible to replicate, save for the most extreme of the English scene.
#6: Unseen Terror (GBR) – The Peel Sessions
Label: Strange Fruit
Another Peel session, another prominent grind act. The English simply were untouchable in the early grind days. A line-up featuring, wait for it…Mitch Dickinson on guitar, Shane Embury – who was playing bass in Napalm Death – on drums, and Mick Harris – who was playing drums in Napalm Death – on vocals. So, this was essentially frontline English extreme metal and it was some of the best of the time period.
#5: Sabbat (JAP) – The Devil’s Sperm is Cold
Label: Evil Records
Arguably some of the best composition skills on the list, the legendary Sabbat and their third EP was a firebrand piece of blackened thrash from the long-standing Japanese institution. Featuring a line-up of Gezol, Elizaveat, and Samm, the three-piece wrote musically dense riff structures that were simplistic and wildly effective, much like a heavier version of Venom.
#4: Napalm Death (GBR) – Mentally Murdered
Label: Earache Records
A double-shot of Napalm Death, this time with an EP featuring the line-up of Lee Dorian, Bill Steer, Shane Embury, and Mick Harris. This is the final recording under this line-up and, effectively, the true close of an era for the band. 1990’s Harmony Corruption full-length would feature a five-piece line-up with a significant alteration in membership. This was perhaps the cleanest, yet heaviest, material produced from this era and a true gem in the grindcore canon.
#3: Morgoth (DEU) – Resurrection Absurd
Label: Century Media Records
Grinding German death in the vein of Obituary and Asphyx, Morgoth brought desolation through five tracks at 22 minutes. The Germans were mostly known for their remarkable prowess within the global thrash metal scene at this time, but it was bands like Morgoth that helped churn up and flesh out would become the German death metal scene.
#2: S.O.B (JAP) – Thrash Night
Label: Rise Above Records
Perhaps the greatest EP in Japanese grindcore. Subsequently, one of the greatest EPs of all time when it comes to fast, ripping, chaotic grindcore. Featuring the late Tottsuan on vocals, the band ripped through nine songs in a frantic 10 minutes on this righteous 7”. This piece of history was recorded at Birdsong Studios during their 1989 tour with Napalm Death.
#1: Sarcofago (BRA) – Rotting
Label: Cogumelo Records
Recorded with the line-up of Wagner Antichrist, Gerald Incubus, and Manu Joker, these Brazilian beasts conjured forth a more thrash-oriented approach to the generally high-speed off-the-rails execution that appeared on 1987’s I.N.R.I. full-length and subsequent Christ’s Death demo from the same year. This, in essence, was the spiritual precursor to 1991’s The Laws of Scourge, which showed a much cleaner, more sophisticated version of the band. The band was nearing the end of their historic run of releases post-1991, with a marked drop in quality after that point. Rotting represents an evolutionary departure from the primitive assault of the band’s formative years and journeying into a more blackened thrash metal approach with some progressive tendencies mixed in.
Outro:
There you have it, 25 splits and EPs for 1989.
As stated in the introduction, this was an English and American dominated list, featuring the likes of the hyper-explosive grindcore scene in England and the constantly expanding scene in the US. Austria continues to further European death metal on the small release format, thanks to Pungent Stench and Disharmonic Orchestra. The Brazilian scene finally lands a coveted first place position, thanks to the legendary Sarcofago, who appeared high on previous lists focusing on the top demos of 1987 and top albums of 1987, finally achieving a moment of crowning success here. The Japanese still proved their dominance of the format thanks to terrific showings from the legendary Japanese bands Sabbat and S.O.B.
Of all the thrash metal on this list, the most surprising would have to be Meshuggah and their self-titled EP, a far cry from what they later evolve into. Would they have been as remotely successful as they are now had they continued the route of progressive thrash metal they were initially on, one that had them sounding like …And Justice for All-era Metallica?
This was pure 7” chaos, which was a beautiful thing to see while putting together. The 7” format was the perfect offloading tool for bands that had new material that was ready to go but not enough to merit another full-length, they were – back then – fairly cheap to buy and had enough space on them where a grind band could put out several songs per side. Granted, CDs are now starting to trickle into the format but one has to consider the barriers to entry for that format. For example, the first commercially released compact disc player was the Japanese Sony CDP-101, which launched in October of 1982 with a price range equal to $730. Most people, barring audiophiles, just simply weren’t going to invest that sort of money in that time period.
I wrestled with the top 5 releases, debating mostly on putting S.O.B at first place, but out of the five, any of them could have been a first place release.
Another interesting trend is how these lists are now starting to form together with more recognized or well-known extreme metal acts, as opposed to earlier years which featured more lesser-known and obscure acts.
What do you think of the list? Would you have changed anything around? Let me know in the comments.
If you’re interested in checking out the first installment in the 1989 trilogy, you can check it out here at The Top 25 Metal Demos of 1989.
AJK
apanthropy 
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