| Musical Style: Melodic Speed Metal / Thrash | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Independent / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1986 / 2019 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 8 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: 26:04 |
When Los Angeles, California based Deliverance released its Intense Records self-titled debut in 1989, it revolutionized the speed metal and thrash scenes. Basically, it unveiled a unique ‘Metallica cross Queensryche’ sound (as noted by critics, fans and the band alike) to draw upon very heavy and fast paced riffing not unlike the former but with high end vocals akin to the latter. One reviewer back in the day that described Deliverance as ‘melodically-orientated power, speed, and thrash metal’ had the right idea! More specifically, No Life Til Metal went so far as to compare the group to Death Angel, making particular mention of the ‘soaring vocal performance by (front man and rhythm guitarist) Jimmy Brown’.
Brown remains to this day the heart of Deliverance, having founded the group in 1985 prior to recruiting the classic lineup to include lead guitarist Glenn Rogers, bassist Brian Khairullah, and drummer Chris Hyde. First Deliverance demo to follow in 1986, Greeting Of Death, potentially proved more influential than the debut in that as one of the first Christian thrash released, it helped pave the way for the success of contemporaries Vengeance Rising, Believer and Seventh Angel. It also went on to sell an impressive 5000 cassette copies, but similar to many ‘demos’ from the era, it went out of print and turned into a hard to find (not to mention pricey!) collectors item.
Magdalene and Retroactive Records stepped to the plate by re-issuing Greeting Of Death in 2001 and 2007, respectively, but with revamped cover art and under the new title Greetings Of Death, Etc. ‘Etc’ refers to how it includes bonus material in the form of the two songs Deliverance recorded in 1987 for the California Metal compilation, “Attack” and “A Space Called You”, in addition to seven others from its Weapons of Our War demo from 1990.
Finally, with both versions out of print, Greeting Of Death was re-issued a third time (also Retroactive) in the summer of 2019 with the original black and white cover art and in the CD, vinyl and cassette formats. Vinyl and CD includes the two California Metal cuts as bonus tracks. For those wondering, despite also including a song entitled “Greetings Of Death”, the title is actually Greeting Of Death, referencing how Brown’s girlfriend at the time heard the title prior to drawing the classic cover art to feature a Grim Reaper waving ‘Hi!’
Deliverance opening cut “Victory” also starts Greeting Of Death. As one might imagine, it bleeds of a bit more youthful exuberance compared to the original - noting the raw as it gets unwieldy production - with Brown singing in a courser lower register form and drums delivering added punch to compare as well. It otherwise upholds the same catchy hooks (noting the ever-catchy refrain) in representing an all time classic early Deliverance number.
Albums sledgehammer title track ensues as a three-minute mauler later recorded for iconic Deliverance sophomore album Weapons Of Our Warfare. It proves disruptive as it gets, reveling in impudent rhythm guitar to plow over a foundation of hyperactive drumming as Brown rumbles vocally in the back end. Instrumentally, impetus heats up as frenzied lead guitar gives way to a protracted scream. On a side note: musically, this is the potential direction the ‘Big D’ reached for on its 2018 comeback album The Subversive Kind to see Brown reunite with Rogers.
“No Time”, also making an appearance on Deliverance but as the second cut instead, is slower than its predecessors (remorseless guitars prevail throughout) in suggesting of a straight on thrash feel as opposed to speed metal. Quality, nonetheless, fails to diminish as the same above the line melody still makes its presence felt. I also appreciate how both versions come with a similar instrumental charm as plunging bass gives way to Rogers’ blistering guitar solo.
“J.I.G.” rips its forty-second length to a punk-like thrash demeanor in repeating its title in near hardcore fashion: ‘Jesus is God, Jesus is God’, etc, etc. Vocals come across shouted in building up what amounts a rabid if not chaotic scene. Deliverance later recorded “J.I.G.” for its 1991 third album What A Joke.
The lone song here not re-recorded by the group, “Specked Bird” brings a minute and a half of Gospel Country flavorings in representing a partially re-recorded version to the Roy Acuff song under the original title “Great Speckled Bird”. Need I say more other than I wish it had carried been extended an additional couple minutes.
In similar fashion to the self-titled debut, “Awake” also closes the demo. In its Greeting Of Death form it might lack the haunting opening with offbeat sound effects and muffled voices but still features the same extended (minute and a half) instrumental build up of thrash paced riffs. It might move at the more expedited tempo but otherwise stays true to the original, revealed from how Brown extends and exhibits the full range to his soaring voice and refrains maintains its curtly driven angst.
California Metal tracks “A Space Called You” and “Attack” provided my first exposure to Deliverance. Never a big thrash fan, I was skeptical at first but also open minded in light of the group’s melodic take on the form. I best identify with “A Space Called You”, which with its melodic metal bent has more in common with the ‘technical sounds’ of the groups early to mid-nineties period. Not that it fails to hit hard - Chris Hyde’s drumming assails as ever - but it also does not bring that smack you aside the head feel often associated with early Deliverance.
“Attack” is better in line with old school Deliverance, as it mauls forward to ominous bass and trouncing guitars in coming across much more disruptive in comparison. Heavy-set backing vocals adorn the brash ‘Be ready for attack!’ refrain, while Brown provides over the final minute the songs definitive ‘mosh it up baby!’ voice over.
I am glad Retroactive stayed true to the original release on its re-issue to Greeting Of Death. Beyond the black and white ‘Grim Reaper waving’ cover art, packaging also contains vintage band photos and flyers, scanned in cover to the original cassette release (along with lyrics) and a tribute to the late Chris Hyde, whom passed in 2015. Releasing Greeting Of Death on cassette (along with CD and vinyl) only makes sense in light of its demo heritage. As a revealing look at the ‘white metal’ movement in its formative days (albeit on the heavier side), Greeting Of Death represents an essential purchase for fans of Deliverance and all things thrash and speed metal.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Victory” (3:40), “Greeting Of Death” (2:59), “No Time” (4:26), “J.I.G.” (:50), “Speckled Bird” (1:21), “Awake” (5:05), “A Space Called You” (3:54), “Attack” (3:49)
Musicians
Jimmy P. Brown II - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Glenn Rogers - Guitars
Brian Khairullah - Bass
Chris Hyde - Drums
