From the internet: Formed in 1988 in Fredrikstad, CADAVER is one of Norway's first and most influential Death Metal bands, has carved a distinctive path through the annals of extreme music. Their vision blended Thrash and Death Metal with Progressive influences from bands like VOIVOD and the chaotic insanity of NAPALM DEATH, forging a sound that defied traditional metal. Before the Black Metal storm engulfed Norway, CADAVER delivered raw, unfiltered, and terrifyingly innovative Metal. The "Hallucinating Anxiety" debut album had deeper intentions than being just an album; it was a declaration of war on polished music and convention. It now has been reissued with brand new artwork and a powerfully upgraded sound. Originally recorded on a 4-track cassette player and deliberately mixed in mono to preserve its suffocating atmosphere, this is the sound of pure, unadulterated creativity forged in the underground.

Well, I hadn't heard anything of CADAVER before now, and as we at METAL TEMPLE are a bit short of writers who are into their Death Metal, you pick up an album or two when possible. I for one am glad that I picked "Hallucinating Anxiety" as one to review, as I feel that this 1990 release does deserve the sound it has gotten on this rerelease by Listenable Records. It has a distinctive sound that works. If this version is better in sound, I probably would have discounted the original as trash, but I do have to admit that I actually like what CADAVER brings to the table on "Hallucinating Anxiety". For one, this isn't exactly standard Death Metal. Using all those influences and references mentioned gives the band a lot more substance and a lot more credibility in the Metal community.

I'm sure that the real afficionados of Death Metal are already familiar with the original version of "Hallucinating Anxiety". I do hope and expect them to embrace the fact that Listenable Records has taken the plunge and allowed this debut CADAVER album to be brought into a sphere where I feel that a lot more people will enjoy and appreciate it. And I don't care if you're a Death metal fanatic, a Thrash Metal nutcase, a NAPALM DEATH admirer or even a Grindcore groveller, you need to take your time and listen to CADAVER on this reinvented version of "Hallucinating Anxiety". I can assure you that you'll like it at least as much as I do, if not more.