Fulci’s name recognition is beginning to grow, and as happens more often with popular bands, older and harder-to-find material is being re-released. This has now happened with Fulci’s debut album; ‘Opening the Hell Gates’, which is based on the film ‘City Of The Living Dead’.
Did Death Metal fans miss a classic in 2015? Not really, as this debut is a bit too ordinary for that. The influences of Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse are present, and you can hear the foundation upon which Fulci built their later career, although they clearly refined their sound on later releases. For example, the breakdowns and slam-influenced sections have become much less prominent since this album. Nevertheless, there are a few interesting diversions, such as the doomy ‘Paura’ and a synth track entitled ‘Inferno II’.
Fans of modern Death Metal and Fulci enthusiasts in general might pick this up to complete their collections, but beyond that, you aren’t missing a great deal.
