Chakal - Abominable Anno Domini

Classic is a word bandied around far too easily in music. But Chakal's debut album 'Abominable Anno Domini' is a bone fide Brazilian thrash metal classic if ever there was one. It was available only on vinyl for a long time (from its original release of 1987 through until the first standalone CD issue in 2005). Here it is featured in both its CD forms, pictured at the top the re-issue from Cogumelo (licensed through Greyhaze Records), and below the original Cogumelo digipak pressing - both sadly out of print. Both come with the 'Living With The Pigs' EP as bonus tracks. The band went on to play much more groove-oriented metal later in their careers, but their debut was a fiery blast of tropical heat from the depths of the Brazilian jungles. Oh, and if you recognise the cover art, it's because it's 'The Triumph of Death', painted by Pieter Bruegel - also used in many other metal cover artworks (Angelcorpse's 'Hammer of Gods' to name but one).

Carcass - Symphonies of Sickness

Carcass' 2nd album here; where they kept their grinding edge but moved away from the carcinogenic & atonal distortion blistered mess that was their debut, to something with more palatable structuring and songwriting. This pressing is the most interesting thing for me, as it's a joint release between Combat Records & Earache (the first US pressing of it, I believe). Not a particularly easy to version find these days. As is evident, this has the original artwork intact, too. Carcass are still the daddies of pathology/gore inspired metal to this very day.

Cerebral Fix - Products of Disgust (Box Set)

The 4 CD box set release from Metal Mind combines a whole stack of material from Cerebral Fix, spanning their early more hardcore edged crossover years to their more thrashy releases that they were blasting in the early 90s. Limited to 2000 copies, this is not only packed to the brim with bonus tracks featuring all sorts of rare live material and rehearsal tracks, but also a nice fat booklet with all sorts of rare pictures and information that all major fans will revel in.

Cannibal Corpse - 15 Year Killing Spree (Box Set)

This set from long running legends of death metal Cannibal Corpse combines a 2 CD 'best of' selection, a CD of demo and unreleased material, and a live DVD of footage from multiple performances throughout the bands career. Whilst not essential to the hardcore fan who probably has a lot of this stuff already, it also contains a nice comic illustrated by their long running cover artist Vincent Locke, as well as a poster, expanded band history/biography in booklet form and a guitar pick.

Clandestine Blaze - City of Slaughter

The ninth album from the black metal outlet of Finnish multi-instrumentalist and band juggler, Mikko Aspa. Clandestine Blaze has been pretty consistent over it's many years of existence, fiercely unwavering from their strict path of black metal orthodoxy - and this album is no exception. Released on Northern Heritage, Mikko's label.

Carcass - Swansong

Swansong, the 1995 release from Carcass which was (for a long time), the bands Swansong that the title suggested. A departure in sound from their earlier works, increasing on the melody of 'Heartwork', and gaining a much more rock inspired riffage into their sound. The loss of Michael Amott who went on to pretty much reproduce the mid-period Carcass sound with early Arch Enemy was a big one, but Bill Steer was still the driving force and riffmeister general. This was the limited edition 'brain' shaped disc version, which came with a bonus disc featuring (strangely) the last track of the regular album, and a bonus track tacked on - thus 2 tracks on the disc in it's entirety. The reason behind this was apparently that the full album wouldn't fit onto the shaped brain disc, so a last minute fix was made. Oops! Anyhow, a nice little rarity that is worth picking up if you see it kicking around.

Celestial Season - Orange

The third album from Celestial Season here (their first two albums have also featured elsewhere on this very website - have a search if of interest). This album was the first major step away from their original doom/death sound towards the stoner they would go on to play from this album onward- the difference in music was plain for all to hear, but just take a look at the difference in layout! I must admit I preferred their early career more, but this album was also pretty good for what it was. Original first press on the wonderfully named Big Bloke Records.

Cynic - The Portal Tapes / Uroboric Forms: Complete Demo Recordings

A couple of Cynic demo compilations here, the first is their 'Portal Tapes' material, secondly their early pre 'Focus' demo material collected on 'Uroboric Forms'. 'The Portal Tapes' is basically a stripped down, metal-free version of Cynic as we knew and loved them, recorded after their debut 'Focus', they were heading down the route of this new sound, changing their name to Portal. Anyhow, none of this came to fruition and the project was put on hold, only to be released officially years later on this comp. More interesting to a metal head is their 'Uroboric Forms', featuring their thrashy beginnings, right through to the material released just before their debut, which sounded very similar indeed to the material on it, minus the vocoder-ed vocals.

Cemetery - Enter The Gate (Discography 91-93)

Among the many bands named Cemetery nestles these German death metallers who were to release their debut album 'Enter the Gate' on West Virginia Records (a label whose CDs are pretty sought after by collectors these days). Shortly before it was released, their drummer left, and the label went bankrupt - so the album ended up never getting an official release on CD. Spanish label Memento Mori (who are one of my favourite labels these days) has compiled their entire discography onto a beautiful double CD set, which includes the album and demo material to boot. Considering the material on display (particularly the album itself) it's a shame these guys aren't mentioned in the same breath as German greats such as Morgoth and Fleshcrawl. Well worth checking out!

Cyclone Temple - I Hate, Therefore I Am

Cyclone Temple's debut here, and a CD which I used to see in bargain bins ten a penny throughout the land only 10-15 years ago. These days Combat is quite a collectable label so it's not quite so widespread, but I know that I have owned it on CD at least three times - haha! Forming after the dissolution of Znowhite, these guys came out through Combat Records and tried to make a name for themselves. To an extent they did, but for me they never quite lived up to Znowhite's awesomeness. This album is pretty damn good however, so definitely give it a whirl if you manage to stumble across it.

Cradle of Filth - Dusk & Her Embrace (Coffin Box Set)

The infamous Cradle of Filth here, loved and hated in equal measure (though, maybe not quite so equal - they get a LOT of hate - haha). This was one of the albums which was seen as their best, their 2nd full length from 1996, before they went fully mainstream. Comes in a cool coffin shaped box, limited to 10,000 copies. At one point I managed to find three of these in the same shop, all being sold off cheap. I kept the one in best condition, one went to a friend, and the other went on eBay. I'm a sucker for ltd edition packaging versions of albums, so it was nice to find an older one just waiting to be picked up.

The Crucified - The Pillars of Humanity

The Crucified's 2nd (and final) album here. Never quite setting the world alight (Christian lyrics alert), their brand of crossover thrash was actually pretty aggressive for a crew of the indoctrinated. Worth a punt for fans of Suicidal Tendencies and Cro-Mags thrashier era etc. Ocean Records.

Cephalic Carnage - Conforming to Abnormality

The debut album from Colorado's very own "hydrogrind" merchants Cephalic Carnage here, in its original first pressing on Headfucker Records. Did I mention that these guys worship weed? No? Well that's pretty much the quintessence of what we have here; a ganja grinding schizophrenic blaster of an album, incorporating groove, core, sludge and doom into their sound. This was the first full length to make their mark and whilst better things were to come, this has the odd spark of creativity and has enough to hold your attention throughout. Decent!

Cannibal Corpse - Hammer Smashed Face EP

Cannibal Corpse's most famous track? I'd say so, but there are so many classics from their early years to choose from. This is the original first press uncensored version of the 'Hammer Smashed Face' Ep, released by Metal Blade. Later censored pressings decided to go for a red background with a skull/candle combo, but this has the oh so offensive and realistic (yeah right - cartoony more like) smashed up face. Via hammer, no less.

Carcass - Surgical Steel Tin Box

'Surgical Steel' was a long time coming, but it was worth the wait for most followers of the originators of goregrind (and one of the inventors of melodic death metal too). This set was available for pre-order only, and was snapped up pretty smartish (it was originally meant to be limited to 666 copies, but it is actually limited to 1,000). Comes in a nice cold tin box, with a nice stash of first aid equipment such as bandages, plasters etc. Also, the scissors have 'Surgical Steel' printed on them which is a nice touch.

Crusher - Undermine EP

In addition to their debut full length album featured earlier on this site, here is the final EP release from French death metal crew Crusher. Nothing which will turn your life upside down, but a nice slice of early 90s european death metal played the way it's meant to sound, with nods to Benediction, Bolt Thrower and the like. An original press on Semetary Records.

Chastain - Mystery of Illusion

The debut album from Chastain here, in its Roadracer Price Killers pressing. Gotta love that old school artwork, reminds me of some of the true greats of US heavy metal (particular stuff like Omen or Manilla Road). Good stuff, well worth checking out if you're a fan of the style, and I definitely prefer it to what I've heard of their later material.

Crimson Relic - Purgatory's Reign

Forming from the ashes of Divine Eve (after their initial split in the early 90s), Crimson Relic appeared to release this one full length album, before quickly disappearing into obscurity themselves not long after. Pretty much ignored back when it was released, the age of the internet has allowed this to now receive the praise it was most definitely due - a fine example of doomy death metal for sure. This is an original press on Radiation Records, a short lived offshoot of Nuclear Blast Records.

The County Medical Examiners - Forensic Fugues and Medicolegal Medleys

This is the debut album from The County Medical Examiners, a band who've basically based their entire existence on early Carcass. Now, I'm a huge Carcass fan, so have no issue with the likes of these guys (or Exhumed, Impaled, General Surgery... or anyone else who have taken the goregrind blueprint and ran with it). This is the only Razorback Records press, and has been out of print for a long while. Good shit if you're a fan of the style like myself.

Ceremonial Oath - Carpet

Ceremonial Oath are likely know to fans of the Swedish melodeath scene for featuring what were to become future members of such luminaries as In Flames, Hammerfall and Tiamat. Their recently re-issued (thanks to Century Media) debut is excellent in my opinion, but this is the bands 2nd album, which isn't quite as good as their evil sounding debut (this has way more melody in my opinion). With that said, this was still better than a large percentage of the dross which was churning out of Gothenburg and the like at the time of its release in 1995. At time of writing, this is still out of print. An original pressing on Black Sun Records.