There are bands that the fans never heard about, and one of the main facts for it is that, even with good works, they never released an album. The facts for this are endless, but one is that the band's started on the wrong time. To describe this: what would be of METALLICA if the band didn't released "Metallica" on 1991, months prior the coming of Grunge Rock invasion? They reached a massive commercial success, and became safe of the negative effects of the change of commercial trend during the first half of the 90's (from Metal to Grunge and Alternative forms of Rock). But what can be said of others that started their career just few years before this change? Maybe RUTHLESS HORDE's "Demo Anthology 1989-1991" can make things clear to the fans.

As the name states, these songs are from Demo Tapes between 1989 and 1991, and shows a band with a wise mix between Thrash Metal with melodic Speed Metal and Hard Rock elements (hear some parts of "Deadly Mass" and "Dancing in the Morgue" to catch the idea that these words express), and their music is influenced by acts as METALLICA, DARK ANGEL, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, TESTAMENT and others, but without being a copy of them. But as countless bands of those years, they started as a band on 1989, a little time spam before the changed spoken above. But for the lucky of the fans, here is this anthology, and it's worthy of being heard and acquired. This release is a recollection of Demo Tapes, so don't expect something great and defined to a level similar to what can be found on albums of those days (it's not, because demo tapes are just to present a band's album to labels, after all). It's good what the remastering did, the sound quality isn't as bad as could be, but one will not find something in a high level.

"Deadly Mass" (a fast song with clear influences from Thrash Metal and Crossover, but filled with some excellent melodic parts, and what very good work on the guitars), "Dancing in the Morgue" (this one shows extremely catchy melodies in the middle of the aggressive ambiences, with expressive vocals), "The Forgotten Dead" (there are climatic parts on this one due the slower tempos, with excellent arrangements from bass guitar and drums), "Demonic Majesties" and "Shadows of Death" (this one shows clear traces of early works of BLACK SABBATH due the horror-like feeling of some parts, and even some traces of US Metal parts similar to the melodies used by VIRGIN STEELE in those days) come from "Ruthless Horde" demo tape, of 1989, depicting their beginning. And from "Darkness Comes", their second demo tape, released on 1991, come "Imminent Destruction" and "Darkness Comes", both songs depicting the bands maturing and more aggressive, as adding influences of SLAYER and with rough vocals. And after hearing to these songs, one can say 'how in the blazes a band like this hadn't a chance back then?', and the only answer that can be given is 'blame NIRVANA, after all'.

Unfortunately, no one can say that RUTHLESS HORDE is active or not (ok, they have a Facebook page), and this writer truly hope that the answer can be yes. For now, "Demo Anthology 1989-1991" is a fine opportunity to know another very good name of those days. Listen to the album here:

https://stormspell.bandcamp.com/album/demo-anthology-1989-1991-cd