Rough Edge: Orcus CD Reviews

ORCUS

"The Forgotten Prayer" (Demo)

Orcus was birthed in the Pennsylvania community of Edgemont. I didn't receive a bio but I did get a black and white 5x8. Judging by the photo and the pics on the CD, I can tell you this much: Rich Books is the bassist and vocalist and an all around evil looking dude. Greg Allison is on guitar and likes to wear white t-shirts and is a member of the "bomb squad." Lou Branco the drummer, likes Pantera and is a Philadelphia Flyers hockey fan. There is a fourth guy in the 5x8 that's not on the CD. He looks like "Doogie" Howser and he drinks Red Dog in a can. Who the hell is he? I don't know.

Let's take a look into the world of Orcus ... I wonder if they know that their name comes from the world of Dungeons & Dragons?

The first offering is "Brain Damage." It really harkens back to 80's thrash, sounding somewhat like Destruction meets Exodus meets Dark Angel meets most other thrash bands. Breakneck guitars, crunching riffs, and broken glass vocals, bring back the past. Rich has the cookie monster thing going but it's somewhat decipherable and not an irritation like most death metal heroes.

"The Forgotten Prayer" picks up the thrash party where it left off. The tune is faster and heavier and has me windmilling my head, wishing I still hadn't cut off my hair for that damn day job! Definitely air guitars galore here for me.

"Bloodlust" is a song about my favorite nighttime friends, vampires. The first line goes something like this: "I feel the loss, the loss of your soul as I suck it through your neck." More doom laden guitars are found littering this crunchfest. Ok, time for me to get out the leather trench and go searching for the elusive barfly. They have the most interesting tasting blood.

"Orcus" is the final cut, regurgitating lyrical projectiles about Hades, the lord of the underworld and the home of the dead. Damn, I'm getting psyched for Halloween already. Thrash really brings out the beast in me. I truly miss this stuff, it has a lot more soul than most of today's rap-poisoned nu-metal. Metal is for headbangin' not dancin'!

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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