Kill or Be Killed

It's easy to pick on emulators of iconic bands and hit them with labels like knockoff and tag-along, but often times there is some good music to go along with the lack of stylistic originality, to the point of making it so that a favorite band seemingly put out twice as many albums. Blessed Death don't quite measure up to this level of distinction within their speed/thrash niche, which involves heavy borrowing from Canadian outfits Exciter and Razor. On the surface, it's little more than the same sped up, slightly more dangerous version of NWOBHM that Metallica's "Leather Charm" songs embodied, with occasional hints of the developing thrash metal style that was already being purified and distilled by the Bay Area league and their New York competitors, whereas a more dangerous version with the earliest hints of death metal were already starting to take shape via Sepultura and Possessed. Nevertheless, points need to be given to this New Jersey outfit for putting out a respectably raw and vital excursion into high octane metallic goodness.

All of the usual elements are methodically placed, making this aptly dubbed "Kill Or Be Killed" album a rather predictable affair. The presentation largely plays off the horror, war and religious aesthetic that was still largely a staple of bands that were still reliant upon Venom and Slayer for their lyrical inspiration. At times, vocalist Larry Portelli almost listens like an amped up version of Tom Araya, though the banshee wails are employed at greater frequency and with a bit more of a nasally sleaze factor in line with Blitz's glass shattering wails on "Feel The Fire". The guitar work tends to follow a largely formulaic riff set, but the presence of two axe men allows for occasional dueling harmonies, which are employed a bit more often than the usually doubled riff format of Metallica, though the shredding of both clearly favors the older school Tipton vs. Downing mode of head cutting.

Like a number of cookie cutter speed metal albums from the mid-80s, the lyrical content is definitely a side issue and heavily masked by an over-the-top vocal delivery, whereas the music going on tends to be the center of gravity. Most of the shorter numbers like the more thrashing and varied opener "Melt Down" and its one-dimensional speeding follower "Pig Slaughter" establish their credentials entirely by flash and impact, being loaded up with exaggerated vocal and guitar gymnastics while being otherwise fairly simple in delivery. By way of contrast, much like a number of token longer songs found on an average Exciter album, "Knights Of Old Bridge" and "Blessed Death" accomplish their impact by reverting back to more of a down-tempo rocking character and lacing in some speedy sections to remind the listener where it is that they actually excel. The resulting effect is a bit jagged and uneven, but does yield a nice change up from what is largely a one-dimensional format.

"Kill Or Be Killed", like a number of 2nd tier albums from the mid 80s, is one of those albums that isn't an essential pick up but is worthy if it happens to be found in a local bargain bin. To the band's credit, they do manage to get the job done in supplying guitar shred fanatics with plenty of flashy, albeit somewhat choppy lead guitar displays, and the vocal work is about as unapologetic in its 80s character as can be imagined. Exciter and Razor definitely had a leg up on much of their U.S. competition in the speed metal department, and those looking to blow money on a truly killer project would be encouraged to look into their earlier works before seeking this out. Then again, it wouldn't be a crime for a native of the Mid-Atlantic area to check these guys out for sake of loyalty to past local accomplishments, for what it's worth.