DETERIOROT has been active since 1988, formed by the songwriter, guitarist/vocalist Paul Zavaleta. They started out in Paterson, New Jersey, only to move on to Charlotte, North Carolina later on. During their career they produced four studio albums, none of which have ever reached my ears or brains, making this a first encounter with DETERIOROT. What we have here is a rerelease of the 2025 compilation "Echoes From The Past". The original was an independent release under the name Faithless Entertainment and housed 15 songs, while the version I'm about to review is by VIC Records and has no less than 17 songs on the setlist. This version of the album features the "1992 Demo", the 1993 "Manifested Apparitions Of Unholy Spirits" EP, some live 1993 recordings, the "Unholy Return" promo 2000, "The Faithless" (all 5 tracks!), the entire "Demo 2003" and a very special bonus track "Reanimation" (2025 recordings).

And before you ask, DETERIOROT is Old School Death Metal from start to finish, and as it is an amalgamation of a whole lot of different recordings, the sounds also are varying in quality as well. But you can be assured that everything sound rather good. The studio recordings vary between adequate and really good, while the live recordings that have come from the soundboard have some songs where the vocals are too prominent, whereas sometimes they are too far in background. But as a whole I have to say that the sound quality of "Echoes From The Past (Reissue)" is very pleasing. And what's more, so are the songs that are being played. They all have that undeniable but also indescribable quality that makes you just want to hear more, enjoy this more.

I find myself drawn in more than I would have expected from a Death Metal band that has this kind of low sound, with low grunting that is adequate without being outstanding or above reproach, but still very fitting for the Old School Death Metal that is being offered here. If you are a real Death Metal fanatic you undoubtedly will know DETERIOROT and have your opinion at the ready. If, like me, this is a first encounter, I suspect that the more than 77 minutes that you can enjoy "Echoes From The Past (Reissue)" will rev up your interest in the history of the band, resulting in you digging through their past recordings to find out if the studio albums come close or surpass the recordings that are on this compilation album.