Reincarnate, yet another NWOBHM band that never put out an album. With only a demo and a single to their name, for a total of six songs, it's safe to say that they were obscure. However, with the benefit of hindsight and without much care for chronological significance (who do I look like, Gutterscream??), I can say that Reincarnate make for a rip-roaring good time if you like this kind of thing at all.
Sounding like a more upbeat (though no less melancholy) Angel Witch, both songs NWOBHM-gallop along at a fair clip, as if while depressed they're still in no mood for fucking around. With both songs under 4 minutes in length, neither is particularly flashy or frilly, though they both portray some great stripped-down songwriting. In the singer especially is the Angel Witch comparison to be heard, as he's a dead ringer for their guy. The production is a bit muffled, but doesn't get in the way of anything at all, and considering it's a demo from 1982 I think we can loosen our ears at least a half-turn for this one.
Really, Reincarnate are one of those bands that just makes me break out in a smile and start headbanging the instant the music comes on, whether it's the first or forty-first time I've heard it; don't let that fool you into thinking this is some mindless sugary entertainment, though, as it's got a very dark and serious tone to it and each note is placed with the utmost care and precision. Reminds me of Hemingway's short, punchy style; simple, but not simplistic.