Tracks appear in a different order than on the original 1987 release. Tracks 8 -11 weren't on the vinyl version (track 8 was a cassette-only bonus track). 'Curse' listed as 'The Curse' in tracklist.
The Canadian band Slaughter is credited for influencing death metal. They eventually broke up because of their annoyance for the music industry. Dave Hewson formed a new band under the name Strappado. Εven Chuck Schuldiner ( Mantas, Death, Control Denied) was a member of the band in 1986
In December 1994, Bobby Sadzak, Dave Hewson and Brian Lourie had a short reunion and recorded a cover version of Celtic Frost's "Dethroned Emperor", which is only available on the tribute compilation CD "In Memory of... Celtic Frost", released by Dwell Records in 1996. Strappado is considered a masterpiece of underground Extreme metal, with influences from Thrash, Early Death Metal and even hardcore punk. The album was recorded on February 9th, 1986 and was mixed in February 16th but was not released until 1987.
Like a tank that annihilates everything in its way, Slaughter were masters of destruction. This quartet of musical assassins played a combination of death, thrash, and crossover. Picture DRI or Cryptic Slaughter covering Death's demos before Scream Bloody Gore, and some Hellhammer, with a meaner vocalist. Tune your guitar down about a half-step, and adjust your tone until you get a crunchy sound that makes the amp feel like it's regurgitating. Then, throw in about ten thousand riffs that you can headbang to, some of them fast and some mid-paced. Write some of the greatest lyrics to go along with those riffs. Get someone who knows how to properly smack the living maggots out of a drumset, and make sure it's loud and clear in the mix, without drowning out any of the other instruments. Last but definitely not least, ensure that the bass player isn't there just to physically fill the shoes of the bass player (see: 99% of bands). Now condense all that into 9 tracks, and slap your standard oldschool death metal style cover art on it. Then call it something awesome like "Strappado" (a form of hanging by the hands which are tied behind the back of the victim) and go get wasted.
What really makes this album click is the synergy present. This isn't the fastest, heaviest, or most technical album you'll hear, but all the components work perfectly together, which is more than I can say for most albums out there. What we have here is a thrash and death metal hybrid which just works. I don't understand why so many people consider Scream Bloody Gore to be the first death metal album; I guess they haven't heard Slaughter. Ok, so this is more thrash than death, but SBG was somewhat similar in that respect too (not to mention Seven Churches, but that came out a year before this). Anyways, I was saying how this album is vile. If you like anything resembling late 80's South American thrash you're going to drool over this. You know, that slightly downtuned thrash/death -- 80's death, the classic kind -- with a healthy dose of mid-paced riffs (but lots of fast ones too, don't cry), and lower but still rasp and pissed-off vocals. There is some variety among those too, by the way. For the most part you'll get those 80's death metal-ish vocals, but there are some of the cleaner, snotty thrash vocals too, and they sound fucking awesome. In fact, the vocals (in places, not always) along with the tone of the guitar, are the high points of this album. Or higher I should say, since there aren't any low ones. I absolutely worship the sound of the guitar on this album. It has the perfect compromise between clarity and rawness, plus it sounds ridiculously heavy. Perhaps the fact that the bass is actually audible and works WITH the guitar (instead of against it, or in most cases not at all) enhances that effect.
I can listen to this album all the way through without skipping any song, and that's not very common, considering the fact that usually there is at least one song that's harder to get into. Obviously they aren't all equally good, and the ones that are vary from person to person, but there really isn't any filler material here. Disintegrator starts off violently, and you're up to speed in no time. Frantic strumming and drumming carries you through the first 50 seconds, before you're ordered to make way for the Incinerator! And you have to either comply, or get terminated. Incinerator is a mid-to-fast paced song with some simplistic but effective riffs and one of the best choruses in all of metal, sound and lyrics wise. It is a perfect example of the aforementioned kinds of vocals, with the word "Incinerator" being grunted in the death metal tone and the subsequent verses, along with the rest of the song, being shouted in that cleaner but thrash-as-fuck style. Then comes Nocturnal Hell which is slower but has enough riff power to damage your neck. Fuck of Death follows, which is one of the best songs here. Despite it being relatively slow (really it's mid-paced) and somewhat repetitive, the underlying riff is so brilliant and brutal, that the near 4 minutes for which it ruins your stereo (or whatever you use) go by surprisingly quick. Parasites is another one of my favorites, as it has the slower riffs pitted against the fast chaotic ones, a changing of pace which is appreciated by all those who are into crossover. The title track is another vicious number, and while it lacks in variety it makes up for it with speed and aggression.
The highlight of this album has got to be the closing track though, Tales of the Macabre. This is one of my favorite songs ever written, not only musically but lyrically as well. In fact, listen to this song really loudly and follow along with the lyrics, and you will understand. It is one of the most rewarding listening experiences you will live in metal, without a doubt. It is beyond heavy, it is apocalyptic. It starts out with drums which are soon joined by a primitive bass, and then comes that ungodly guitar. Listen to how the bass supports the guitar through the riffs, while the drums maintain the pace and roll at the end of every other riff. Though simplistic and not very fast (save for the ending where it speeds up a lot), it is absolutely glorious in its perfection and morbidness. Check out this lyrical excerpt for example: "Decapitation will not be swift / I'm gonna deal the wretched blow / Hades assassin, killer supreme / Lurk in the shadow of the crow" and try to find something that tops that (outside of this song naturally, nice try). Then comes the "One two one two FUCK YOU!" and the fast riffage, along with some of the best screams found here, before this monster is finally brought to rest. What a masterpiece of dark art this is, words evade me.
Slaughter played with conviction and their music was aggressive, catchy, and relentless. Look no further than Strappado for confirmation. The conclusion is self-evident. You must add Strappado to your collection, or continue posing. There is no room for middle ground.
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