Spanish label Xtreem Music is fairly busy with all kind of compilations and rereleases of known and unknown acts lately. This time it’s Spanish technical Death/Thrash metal act Canker and the release of their debut ‘Physical’ which was released back in 1994 and mixed by Tomas Skoksberg.
In 1997 they released their second album, but that is not included in this 2CD release. Still, in the good tradition of Xtreem Music, bonus material has been added. In 1990 and 1991 Canker made two demos and both are present on the second disc. Some say they are highly influenced by the technical part of Death, but I can’t say I hear the resemblances. Sure, you hear “some” Death approaches but it’s not like you hear something like ‘Lack of Comprehension’ song structures. Therefore the riffs and leads are far too thrashy. I would rather think they are more influenced by the Pestilence albums before ‘Spheres’, especially when I hear some parts of their self-titled track.
Nothing special and not a must have, but if you are enjoying the thrashy Death Metal era before 1995, nobody will stop you to check it out.
