WARMATH · Damnation Play | CD

CD in jewelcase. Limited to 500 copies.

Background information about 'Damnation Play'

Here's a record that's been begging for a proper reissue for decades, and finally, finally, someone had the good sense to make it happen. Warmath emerged from the early '90s Hungarian underground with a sound that was equal parts ferocious death metal and surprisingly sophisticated melodic sensibility — and Damnation Play, their 1993 debut, is the kind of album that makes you wonder how the hell they didn't blow up internationally the first time around.

From the moment the opening riffs kick in, you're treated to that glorious sweet spot where Scandinavian death metal meets the more technical, progressive inclinations of the era. The guitar work here is absolutely stunning — intricate without being wanky, melodic without sacrificing an ounce of brutality. There's a real sense of dynamics at play too, with the band effortlessly shifting between full-throttle blastbeast sections and slower, more atmospheric passages that let the songs breathe. The production has that perfect early '90s rawness where everything sounds alive and dangerous, not polished to death like so many modern releases. The vocals are deep, guttural, and commanding — the kind that rattle around in your chest long after the record stops spinning.

What makes Damnation Play such a revelation is how complete it feels. This isn't some scrappy demo-level material getting the nostalgia treatment — this is a fully-realized, confident statement from a band that clearly had the chops and the vision to run with the big dogs. The songwriting shows remarkable maturity, with tracks that twist and turn in unexpected directions while never losing their essential heaviness. If you've worn out your copies of early Edge of Sanity, Unleashed, or Grave and need something that scratches that same itch while offering its own distinct personality, this is your ticket.

For fans of:
Edge of Sanity, Unleashed, Grave, early Amorphis, Demigod

Track listing

1. Damnation Play
2. The Hardest Core
3. Control Is The Cure
4. Slaveyard
5. Seeds of Disorder
6. The Land Of The Living
7. Rope Trade Doing Well
8. The Fifth Season
9. The Darkest Age

Manufacturer: Oy Svart Musik Ab, Saippua Center, Ruissalontie 12C, laituri O, 20200 Turku, Finland, Contact: www.svartrecords.com