DECOMPOSED The Funeral Obsession 12" '92

"Take my soul... awayyyyyy...!"

Frontman Harry Armstrong (once of Reactor and Lord Of Putrefaction, then Collapse and Hangnail now heading End Of Level Boss) had a serious case of taphophilia back in his death/doom metal days! From 'Sermons Of Morbidity' to 'Hope Finally Died' there was a strong and definite... theme you could say!

This two-track 12" vinyl record issued by The Record Label (REC2) in 1992 was a classic among those who were in the know. Remember, this was a time only a couple of years before the underground tape-trading scene died in the UK. Decomposed were the proud sons (see The Reign, Gomorrah, Incarcerated, Winter Of Torment, Nightlord [jury's out], Anathema [maybe]) of the first wave (Napalm Death, Cerebral Fix, Bolt Thrower etc.) and were part of the Underground Titans Tour '92 led by Gomorrah and Underground oligarch Jose Griffin.

Spawning a debut demo (in those few months between 1990 and 1992 where a demo tape was the primary currency for a time) called 'Sermons Of Morbidity', a brow-raising follow up - 'Ego Sum Lex Mundi' ('I Am The Light Of The World') and a will-it/ won't-it/ where-is-it 7" record (some white labels, some in sleeve - crappy shitty mess on a kiss-and-a-promise-label from the USA) DECOMPOSED let slip an almighty slab of scratches which... SILENCED... the underground for a matter of minutes in the Summer of 1992.

'At Rest' is the opener... and it thunders like Bolt Thrower awoken from their strummy chugging slumber, weaving a massive riff over some (much improved Tim) pounding drums. Just the energy of the first minute, the intro riffage, is enough. Play that and file away. Lest you want more of course and there is the entire track. A rumbling monster enthralled with its warm, cosy, dripping vinyl resting place. This is British death/doom metal! This is early Anathema in a bedsit with the shits and they're more angry that woeful. This is 80% death. On the B-side rests 'Spawn Of Maternal Cadaver' and it comes rolling at you under the earth in chunks. Doomy death metal with a little groove.

You won't believe me... but this is a classic. This one gets the protective plastic sleeve treatment from me. This one I slide carefully back on to the shelf next to 'Hope Finally Died'. But this is the better record. This has stronger, grittier production and it roars! The album... staggers a while and protests... is great for winter mornings but this record - 'The Funeral Obsession' - this one... is Decomposed.