Believer: Extractions From Mortality | Re extracting the fire of thrash metal
(2024 Reissue – Bombworks Records)
Thanks to the label Bombworks Records, who are doing an excellent job of re-releasing old forgotten Metal albums with their “Metal Icon Series”, we have this very good re-release of what was the first album by this really cult band. I am referring of course to Believer, a band that knew how to go through the late ’80s and part of the ’90s aboard their old school Thrash Metal, creating their own style and resulting in one of the most interesting bands of the so-called White Metal.
Believer was founded in 1986, under the name of Deceiver. Later it would mutate its name and original proposal (NWOBHM) towards Thrash Metal, recording a demo and thanks to it, reaching the extinct REX Music label to record this “Extractions From Mortality” that comes back to life thanks to this excellent re-release, which in addition to the compact disc, is released again on vinyl. In addition to the 9 original tracks contained in the original edition, 5 more tracks belonging to the above mentioned demo, an unreleased track included in the “East Coast Metal” compilation and a remix of the song “Vile Hipocrisy” were added as bonus tracks. The entire album was remastered at Bombworks Sound Studios by Rob Colwell, doing an impeccable job of “rescuing” this essential material for any self-respecting fan of old school Thrash Metal. Both the cover of “Extractions From Mortality” and the inner sleeve have not suffered unnecessary retouching, but a good job has been done in highlighting the original colors of the cover, as well as adding vintage photographs and the necessary information to enter the world of Believer.
Going to the album itself, we have a proposal fully embodied in a Thrash Metal more linked to bands like Dark Angel or Exodus than to bands like Megadeth or Testament. In this work we will find several previews of what would come later with albums like “Sanity Obscure” or the great “Dimensions”. The raw, stripped down sound and Kurt Bachmann’s heartbreaking vocals are a real find. To this must be added the melodies intelligently created by Dave Baddorf’s guitars that give a twist to Believer’s Thrash Metal. The high points of “Extractions From Mortality” can be found in songs like “Vile Hipocrisy”, the excellent “D.O.S. (Desolation Of Sodom)” or even in the furious “Unite” and “Blemished Sacrifices”. The link with the later albums is found in the title track. There Believer shows that facet for which he will be known: the taste for including classical music elements in his songs, with violins and cellos, with all that this implies. This is only the first step. In “Stress”, the closing track of the album, Believer plays punk/Hardcore with a really different and at the same time fun track, if you want to see it that way.
Regarding the usual bonus tracks of this re-release, we are grateful for the possibility of having access to the band’s demos from before the release of this album with two unreleased tracks, “The Return” and “I/Y/F (In Your Face) plus the one included in this work, ‘Unite’. In this demo we can notice a Believer closer to Metallica or Testament in their proposal (thank goodness they changed in time!). The sound is poor and possibly has its origin in some cassette in not very good condition. On the other hand, the unreleased “The Chosen”, included in a vintage compilation, already shows the Believer’s proposal that we all know. It can be concluded that it is a way to see the evolution of the band over time.
After this excellent album, Believer would continue with their career with more albums, raising their level with each release, even reaching the “Roadrunner” team, climbing to the major leagues, although without much success or repercussion. The recognition would come with the passing of time, at least for those who follow Thrash Metal, being one of those mythical bands that today, thanks to this great re-release work, we have the possibility to enjoy again.
To get the CD or Vinyl you can go to https://boonesoverstock.com
