Well what do you know - yet another band from Hells Headbangers Records to go and turn the grey mass within my skull to pudding. I'm not exaggerating either. This label has put out some intense releases in the last few years. You can thank them for all manner of auditory decimation; insane offerings by CEREKLOTH, JOEL GRIND, IMPEITY, and NUNSLAUGHTER all the way to more Rock / Punk offerings like SUPER CHRIST, WITCH CROSS, and SATANIC THREAT are all brought to you by this fantastic label. Today I have one of their more mixed releases, a reissue, of INSANITY's "Death After Death". Is it good? Well...

When I say that INSANITY's "Death After Death" is assorted, I really do mean that it is a mixture. I tried my very hardest to pinpoint what exactly I could consider INSANITY - you know, since usually purely physically played (like all instruments and vocals, really played) bands usually tend to stick to one style and slash bands don't really branch too far out. From hearing the track "Attack of Archangels" I thought, maybe this is some sort of Prog-Thrash-Punk infusion? I mean it began with acoustic guitars, got really fast, loud, and Thrashy - the vocals were certainly Punk-like. Was I right? Maybe on that track. The next, "Fire Death Fate", throws Thrash, Death, and Black Metal elements in your face at blistering speeds (it's good though, really good). "In Memory" is an entirely acoustic song - again, throwing me off. Where it really started to go nuts was in "Rotting Death" which has all previous elements (aside from the acoustic) along with some melodic elements included. I could go on but you see the point - INSANITY almost actively defies genre specification.

"Death After Death" is really good but with the diversified nature of the tracks, it is sometimes hit or miss. Oddly, some songs are really heavy - some are acoustic - and occasionally some have vocals which remind me of David Brockie (GWAR). I suppose that would go into why INSANITY chose their name - they are insane!

Certainly INSANITY does well to keep its place on Hells Headbangers Records's mantle. I suggest if you like some Thrashy Punk fusion you grab a copy of "Death After Death".