Asphyx- The Rack

Artist: Asphyx
Album: The Rack
Label: Century Media Records

Asphyx is a name that any self respecting fan of death metal should instantly recognize. "The Rack" was released in 1991 on Century Media and is an excellent example of uncompromising, old school death metal at it's finest. This album plods along through nine tracks of mid-tempo death with some doom metal influences. It's not all slow though, as throughout "The Rack" there are chaotic fast sections that are mixed in perfectly. Asphyx has gone through quite a few lineup changes but with Eric Daniels(guitar), Bob Bagchus(drums) and ex-Pestilence frontman Martin Van Drunen(bass/vocals), this was my favorite. Van Drunen has always been one of my favorite death metal vocalists and his sick and twisted screams fit in very well here. To me, "The Rack" is a perfect example of what death metal always has been and the way it should be played now. This is a must have!