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FLAMES

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:24 am
by The Knell
Opinions on them?

Personally I love both their first power speed metal steps with triggered drums and the later more "mature" aggressive thrash records. You just dont see this band mentioned anywhere, I think they're really excellent...
How rare are the records by the way? I only own a Black Dragon pressing of "Summon The Dead", I think it should be the most common one as it's their most successfull, internationally sold album
I heard something about a german LP pressing of Made In Hell, is this true? I thought there is only a hard to find greek pressing. If someone could post pressing infos on their releases it would be kind.

Metal ok

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:39 am
by decibelrebel
Opinion: like them.

Only have Merciless Slaughter on LP & Made in Hell on CD - never bothered to check out anything after these two, how does it compare, worth the effort of hunting down?

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:57 am
by The Knell
e.g. I guess Summon The Death is quite easy to get and well worth getting. I prefer it a bit to the early two LPs, even if they have that certain obscure cult sound that isnt offered so much on the later stuff. The old speed/power metal was exchanged there with an evil, aggressive thrash sound.
Live In The Slaughterhouse is a Live EP playing stuff from the two albums which is a bit short, but has a much better sound. Last Prophecy cuts in the same style of Summon... but I have a hard time finding this
I can recommend everything up to that album. I havent heard the last two yet though...

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:14 am
by The Erlking
Well I like "Made In Hell" quite a lot. FRIDAY NIGHT I'M DRESSED TO KILL :lol:

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 1:07 pm
by Helm
I really don't know what my opinion of Flames would be had I not been Greek and known the stories I know about them. Probably more positive, though.

Re: FLAMES

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 1:44 pm
by pentagramophone
The Knell wrote: I heard something about a german LP pressing of Made In Hell, is this true?
Yes, there's a German press of this vinyl but it's missing the inner sleeve with lyrics if I remember correct.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:11 pm
by ION BRITTON
I've only heard the first two. Above average stuff, but definitely not anything special.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:34 pm
by deathster
I find them great... obscure raw thrash metal. Definately above average in my book.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:54 pm
by convent guilt
I really like their rough n' ready style of thrash, especially on 'Made in Hell' and 'Merciless Slaughter'. Some killer melodies amongst the filth. To me some of it even points to the sound that bands like Necromantia and Rotting Christ pursued, mainly due to the production.

'Summon the dead' and 'Last prophecy' are very good too, though more straight forward thrash.

None of their '80s LPs are massively rare or expensive, they tend to be in the 20 - 40 Euro bracket.

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:36 am
by Avenger
i've never been a fan of this band.

Their first two releases sound very close to Venom, which I am not a fan of and the second two are in the raw German Thrash style of Sodom/Kreator which are also not too hot in my books.


Helm wrote:I really don't know what my opinion of Flames would be had I not been Greek and known the stories I know about them. Probably more positive, though.
What have you heard?

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:21 am
by SideShow
I enjoy them. Then again, I'm a thrash freak and can find something to like in almost any album falling under said genre.

I've got the Unisound release (bootleg?) with Summon The Dead / Last Prophecy on 1 CD. Reminds me a great deal of early Sodom, though not as "sloppy" in the musical department (mostly the vocals and production values (or lack thereof)). The track Avenger from Summon The Dead is a GREAT tune!

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:58 pm
by DaN
"Last Prophecy" easily makes my top-10 EuroThrash list. Love it to death. And it's also their most original release, chock-full of godly riffing w/ some really eerie chords elevating them from the hordes of Sodokreastruction-wannabes of the time. Songs like Red Terror, Silo and Revenge is all the proof you need. "Summon The Dead" would be a close 2nd, similar in style to LP w/ more killer tunes but not quite as unique.

"Flames Of Hell" is very close to Just Plain Bad imo. The 2 first songs are great but then the abyssmal production take the upper hand. "Merciless Slaughter" = great early Slayer-thrash but once again ruined by those awful triggered drums. I'd rater recommend the live MLP since it does some of the early songs more justice.

The last one I own is "Nomen Illi Mors" and I guess it's a logical continuation of StD and LP - more technical but still brutal, quite US sounding in a Dark Angel/Slayer kinda way.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:20 pm
by Helm
I've heard lots of stories, I'd rather not circulate them as I can't verify them. But hearing so many of them certainly left a mark. What I've heard of them I am not sure if I'd enjoy today. I hesitate to even give them a listen now, heh.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:31 pm
by Cochino
The same thing that happens to Helm with Flames happens to me with RetroSatan. Everybody thinks they're great, but I don't buy it, and I can't get into they're music. I just hear poser music.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 8:12 pm
by THRASHER BE
i have got last prophecy and summon the dead on cd.
Avenger is a great thrash song!