Hour of Pain

Blessed Death were one of the many 80’s US metal practitioners who were roaming the underground, but at least in their particular case this paid off with whole two full-lengths released, the less convincing, more speed metal-based debut, and the much more proficiently executed, thrash-fixated sophomore. A third instalment was cooking in the guys' kitchen who weren’t willing to give up the fight during the 90’s, but that album was never released…

until some 15 years later when it eventually saw the light of day under the title “Hour of Pain”. However, if you delve into this effort expecting the frantic technically-charged thrash of “Destined For Extinction”, you’ll be in for a surprise as this affair tries to follow its own path at the beginning with the ballad/semi-ballad “Fallen Walls”, a cool albeit underwhelming cut under the circumstances which at least doesn’t pull the album down as “You Are Nothing” is a vivid speed/thrasher with Larry Portelli unleashing some of his notorious banshee-like screams that also stay around for “Shadows Of The Living”, a less eventful pounding power/thrasher. More balladic/semi-balladic motifs with the stomping title-track and once the listener comes across a similar intro on “Black Snow Sky” he/she may plain turn the player off, but this piece is smattering wild speed/thrash later, an invigorating roller-coaster which infects "Resurrection Earth”, a delight for the headbangers again after overcoming a slow, doomy start. “Atomic Fear” easily reaches the heights set by its predecessor with intensity to spare, a wild thrilling ride that flows into the nearly proto-death rager "Global Confusion" and the short exploding speedster “Terminal Rage” with Portelli attempting some deathy growls to suit the more brutal setting. The vicious speed metal on “Born Dead” in the best tradition of early Angel Dust inspires Portelli for a few more infernal piercing vocals the latter even more prominently featured on “Out of the Void” which retains the unbridled aggression all over, closing this opus with a bang.

A bang that had a resounding echo through the underground in the mid-00’s regardless of the fact that this album was released with the band in a dormant state which is ongoing as we speak/write. The diversification attempts are well noted in the long run, especially after the rousing second half when it becomes clear that the guys were not intent on becoming romantic lyrical providers although Portelli does a really good job on this laid-back material, proving himself a capable performer under different guises. Again, sadly this wasn’t a comeback effort as the band have no interest so far in giving themselves another chance during classic metal’s second revival. At least they managed to put this proverbial third outing out for the fans to enjoy, a testimony that even during the darkest hour the true metal artist can deliver with passion to spare.