Wargod was a little-known and short-lived Los Angeles thrash band who made two demos and broke up. Their career is notable for one thing only; boasting the first recorded drum performance of the mighty Gene Hoglan (who was 17 when this demo came out). Bear in mind that this was only a year before “Darkness Descends”. Apparently, he had already joined Dark Angel when this demo was recorded, but agreed to complete his commitments with Wargod rather than leaving them without a drummer in the short-term.
In retrospect, this was probably a smart move by Hoglan. He gained some valuable recording experience before stepping into the deep end with Dark Angel. His performance on this demo also gives Wargod the turbo-charge they would not otherwise have had. Even a casual listener can hear that the drumming on this demo is better than average for a thrash band in the mid-80s. Hoglan’s natural flair, power and charisma are evident at this early stage. His style is unmistakable.
Wargod showed enough nous here to indicate that they could be a decent thrash contender. This demo reminds me of bigger Los Angeles bands (i.e., Slayer and Dark Angel); fast-paced and evil, with screaming vocals that sound like a young Tom Araya (“Show No Mercy”-era). The songwriting and riffing are decent. There are lots of triplet gallops, fast breaks and some manic (amateurish) soloing. “Day of Atonement” is the highlight, being a more complex and lengthy song that blends several good riffs together. “Warning Redemption” is faster and more akin to hardcore punk. “Preserved Corpses” is the weakest song, with an awkward rhythm that never gets going, but Hoglan’s drumming still shines.
I have no doubt that Wargod would have matured into a great thrash band under different circumstances. I can also understand why their prized asset joined Dark Angel, who were higher up the thrash metal food chain and were in a better position to use his talents. Fans of early Dark Angel should give this a listen or two, it is pretty good despite its obvious production shortcomings.