Description
2017 us press on black vinyl with lyric insert. Limited 200 copies
This Californian band was the last truly great thrash metal band to emerge during the scene’s heyday. Thus with a release date of ’92, the more savvy among you are perhaps wondering if this release was not a bit overdue. True, too true. Despite issuing a self-released debut some years back, it took Epidemic quite some time to reach the lower rungs of indie label metal stardom. By ’92 death metal was flailing all over the metal scene like a possessed three headed hellhound, and thrash was very, very quickly becoming extinct. But high speed crunchy thrash metal was Epidemic’s thing, and on Decameron they did an exemplary job of executing said style. Epidemic essentially takes the most efficient thrash, a la Reign In Blood, and mixes it with vintage death/grind, most notably Terrorizer and Morbid Angel. In retrospect, it is difficult to determine exactly why the band never received the attention they deserved. Decameron is completely eschewing the more melodic strains and occasional balladry common to other thrash acts, Epidemic instead cast themselves as a thrash/death hybrid, savagely browbeating the listener beneath a furious, frantic, blisteringly-paced sonic assault. Lyrical themes cover the usual territory: politics, society, human nature, and personal struggle, with a healthy dose of warhawking and violence thrown in for good measure. Fortunately for Epidemic’s posterity, charges of camp or awkwardness cannot be successfully levelled against the band, as the rage of lyricist/vocalist Carl Fulli is made painfully obvious, despite the minimalism of his descriptions. He roars in a not-unpleasant growl that keeps a foot in both the thrash and death camps, as does the instrumentation. When Epidemic turns up the speed to blasting tempos, Carl keeps right up. Check out “Insanity Plea,” “Blown Doors,” or the insanely fast “Tornado,” for Epidemic’s real strengths. No other thrash band every attempted to throw in blast beats like this. Decameron is certainly an unique album, sitting the fence between death and thrash like other underrated greats like Demolition Hammer.
Track list:
1. Circle Of Fools
2. Insanity Plea
3. Vision Divine
4. Hate
5. Unknown
6. Live Your Death
7. Factor Red
8. Blown Doors
9. Territories
10. Tornado
11. Three Witches
12. Lord War