
KAT “666″ LP & “Metal and Hell” Pic LP
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One of the greatest speed/thrash metal albums ever created and possibly the best record ever exported from Poland, Kat’s 666 LP is finally re-released after 21 years. Recorded during the oppressive years of the Polish Communist regime’s rule, 666 contains some of the most sinister thrash metal produced in the mid 1980’s. At its inception, Kat focused on playing heavy metal songs containing well-composed songs with catchy riffs. By the time of 666, however, the band had darkened both thematically and musically. Rather than playing highly crafted heavy metal, Kat utilized the same style of catchy riffs but sped them up resulting in a speed metal album at once fast and evil yet also containing enough hooks to elicit repeat listens. Furthermore, the lyrics on 666 all deal with themes of Satanic darkness and the vocals are rasps of pure evil. NWN is proud to reissue this masterpiece with the original cover art and a gatefold jacket including many rare and unpublished photos. The DIE HARD version will also come with a bonus picture disc containing Kat’s Metal and Hell LP. Containing the same music as 666, the vocals on Metal and Hell were re-recorded in English while on 666 all of the songs were sung in Polish. Any serious fan of mid-1980’s evil, European-style thrash should have this LP in their collection. Regular version on heavy 180 gram vinyl in gatefold jacket with 24” x 24” poster. Die Hard DLP version on 180 gram colored vinyl in gatefold jacket with patch, sticker, and 24” x 24” poster. Also includes bonus picture disc containing the Metal and Hell LP.
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Sarcasm “Crematory” LP
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Were it not for the fact that, at the time Sarcasm released its debut cassette album, Crematory, Slovenia was part of the former Yugoslavia then under the control of a Communist dictatorship, this album may have been revered far more than it has been. Yet even though it took 18 years to receive proper vinyl treatment, this legendary album will finally get the attention it deserves. Sarcasm’s sound varies throughout the album from aggressive speed metal tracks resembling Kill ‘em All-era Metallica to songs that lean more heavily toward the band’s heavy metal roots. Every track on Crematory contains riffs and choruses that get stuck in your head and constantly draw you back to replay it over and over. The production is clear and warmly analog and all of the instruments are played with precision. No effort was made to obscure any incompetence by virtue of overly distorting the guitars or mixing down the drums and the vocals are written in such a way that accentuates the catchiness of the guitar riffs and delivered with a heavy metal sensibility at times, still retain an evil quality. This is, quite simply, one of the best thrash albums made from behind and the Iron Curtain and, furthermore, it has stood the test of time and far exceeds much of the thrash output from that time period. Regular version on 160 gram vinyl with poster. Die Hard on 160 gram colored vinyl with poster, patch, and sticker.
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