![Toxodeth – Mysteries about Life & Death [Re-Release] toxodeth – mysteries about life & death [re-release]](https://www.vm-underground.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Toxodeth-Mysteries-about-Life-Death-Re-Release-cover.jpg)
Info
- Band(s): Toxodeth
- Label(s): VIC Records
- Release Format(s): CD, Re-Release
- Release Year: 2023
- Review Date: January 26, 2025
- Author(s): Morgue
First things first, this is a fucking SICK release from northern Mexico made of two digestibly sized releases – Toxodeth is a pioneering early Death Metal/Thrash Metal band and these recordings were recorded back between 1988-1989. This collection compiles the album ‘Mysteries Of Life & Death’ (1990) and the ‘Phantasms’ demo (1988) and was remastered in 2023. From the riffs to the audio fidelity to the strange strangled choked croak of the vocals that are almost at a whisper, this has personality in spades.
The guitar playing stands out as it should for a Thrash album. The solos here are very sick, this dude Raul Guzman is playing like he owes dudes money. He’s riding the line between shredding and ripping these classical guitar influenced Thrash riffs. Album also opens (and ends, spoiler alert) with a classical guitar bit which works well and quickly turns into the main course and kicks into high gear. No parts overstaying their welcome/flexing here.
This is beer drinking music perfect for the nearest shed or barn to lounge about in on an old couch and get progressively drunker and more belligerent. There’s some palm muted chord chunkiness here and there but things are kept pretty nimble and ripping as opposed to heavy for the most part. This type of Thrash is more lightweight and nimble like a rapier as opposed to a heavier claymore (think: Slayer, Teutonic scene). The way the riffs progress keeps things fairly technical without spilling over into progressive territory. New musical ideas/licks/variations on riffs are constantly being introduced keeping things fresh.
The vocals are a good example of how this album does some things that are left field but manages to pull it off, never overly distracting from the music. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, they would be best described as “creepy dried out uncle’s corpse vocals”. Seriously, someone get this fucking guy a glass of water! Different vocal style on ‘Mysteries Of Life & Death’ than on the “Phantasms” demo a bit more subdued I would say and also more atypical but they work and caught my interest.
There some mid tempo upbeat ride-cymbal parts that remind me of the flying high in the sky type of Iron Maiden-style New Wave Of British Heavy Metal but with more of an edge. There’s a part where buddy straight up plays the ‘Halloween Theme’ by John Carpenter as part of an intro and on another song ‘Tubular Bells’ by Mike Oldfield from The Exorcist right before he rips into another solo. Just a little nod for a bar or two before changing into the actual riff and something about these little cheeky references/interpolations on his guitar in the context of a Thrash Metal song is great and gets me stoked as a listener.
I like the mysterious album title and the cover art of an autumn day on some back road. It reminds me a road I used to live on, in a way seems kind of out of place for this album’s sound and vibe but it also somehow works and is memorable. “Graveyard” stands out me on this album, I’d start there if you’re unsure of committing to the whole release start to finish but I enjoyed my time with it certainly. There’s a few longish songs on here at 7m and a few 6.5m songs but don’t let that freak you out. The album and the demo bring slightly different takes on early Death/Thrash Metal and compiled here together it’s a fun listen. Check it out!
VIC Records
- Country: Netherlands
- Style: Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Thrash Metal, Other
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube