If
any record should be credited with the title of 'South America's Premier
Thrash/Death/Black Metal album', you have to look slightly further back
in the metallic history chapters than the early works of KORZUS, VULCANO*
or SEPULTURA. The only album which could be said to have 'started it all'
is this one. Released already in 1984 to coincide with a large Metal festival,
it's small edition of 500 copies sold out almost instantly and the amount
of copies that have traveled outside of Brazil seem to be absolutely miniscule
(the only one I've ever seen offered is my own copy). Had it not been
for Dies Irae's initiative to re-release this record, as well as a compilation
of old demos, rehearsals and live recordings ("Ultimatum Outtakes"), your
chances of hearing it would have been limited to this original and a late
live CD which featured this session as a bonus - probably a bitch to track
down too. "Ultimatum" seem to be a highly valued cult-record
in it's homeland Brazil and almost any classic/cult Brazilian band in
the brutal school claim to have been inspired by the most famous of the
contestants: DORSAL ATLÂNTICA. (SEPULTURA allegedly formed after
seeing an early DORSAL ATLÂNTICA-gig.) This means that those fortunate
to have laid their hands on an original copy are very unlikely to pass
it on to any foreign collector scum, as opposed to any Cogumelo/Rock Brigade/Devil
Discos-release which came out in the thousands.
In all honesty, METALMORPHOSE was hardly the object of interest when I
purchased this album at a W:O:A Metal Market many years ago for less than
half of what could have been considered decent. As much as I'd like them
to be this unknown nice surprise, I cannot lie to myself any more than
I can lie to you: They're a bloody mess. They play an awkwardly stale
and untight form of nonsensical Metal with quite peculiar vocals, sometimes
growling, sometimes wailing and sounding more than just a little silly.
"Hárpya" starts with an odd acoustic intro with flutes, which then breaks
into a slower, heavier piece that could have been quite nice if it weren't
for the out-of-tune vocals and guitars. The speedy "Complexo Urbano" is
more HC/punk than Metal, but in 1983-84 there weren't that many faster
Metal acts around to draw influences from, so that's not very surprising.
Apparently the band released a very rare 12" EP on their own a few years
later, but I can't imagine it's anything worth spending time and money
on.
DORSAL ATLÂNTICA is without a doubt the most eye-catching of the
2 acts. I've seen plenty of outrageous Metal outfits in my days, but Carlos
Vândalo's studded leather
beak is possibly the most
fucked up accessory I've come across so far. I haven't quite made up my
mind weather it looks exceptionally cool or extraordinary silly, but many
of the lineup shots on the sleeve are some of the most wicked I've seen
from this period and this was the main reason I picked it up. It just
had to be cool with pictures like
these
on the cover. When actually playing the record you won't be surprised
to hear how all trax show heavy influences from the hardest core of Metal
Anno 1984, VENOM, EXCITER and HELLHAMMER in particular. Five fast, raw
& angry bursts of noise from a period in time when labels like Speed,
Death, Thrash and Black Metal meant pretty much the same thing. In all
honesty they never come close to the originals and the only noticeable
cut would be "Armagedon". Not for it's outstanding originality
or being tighter or better produced than the rest of the material on this
side, but simply because the riffing and arrangements is more accomplished
and memorable here. I wish I had more superlatives and smart comparisons
to write, but "Ultimatum" just doesn't inspire to any big words,
at least not musically. I guess you just had to be there.
On a final note I'll just mention that you can easily spot the difference
between the original and the reissue. Just look at the text. On the original,
all logos and writing are handmade, while the Dies Irae-version have had
all graphics remade with ugly computer fonts. And it won't be as yellowed
and stained either I guess. It's also been said that the original smells
nicer and will grant you 3 wishes if you rub it sideways and call it Charlene.
*="Um Pushne Namah" isn't Thrash, ya twat!
Thanx to Rainer Krukenberg/Metaleros
for additional info