Customer Reviews

World Downfall

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A tip for those interested in exploring 'Grindcore' - assume that 99% of the genre is utter garbage and you'll save yourself a lot of time and money.

Remember that the genre exists for the sole purpose of being as inhumanely fast and ridiculously extreme as possible, making it very difficult to do with any conviction. 90% of the bands are just not musically talented enough to hold everything together. The remaining 9% fail either because they have absolutely no appreciation of song dynamics, or because they treat the music as a clinical exercise requiring a degree of mathematical precision that negates the naive charm and excessiveness that made it all so damn cool in the first place.

This of course, is precisely why you need to own *this* record, because 'World Downfall' is the pinnacle of the genre. Taking the basic elements of Repulsion and Napalm Death and beefing it up with one of the greatest drum performances of all time, captured perfectly under a murky Morrisound production. Brief (but recognisable) songs blur seamlessly into one another, climaxing with the incredible 'Dead Shall Rise'. Forget for a moment that the band shared members of Morbid Angel and Napalm Death, because this record is effortlessly superior to anything either band ever recorded, and I can pay no higher compliment than that. Utterly essential.

You cannot talk about Grindcore without mentioning the band Terrorizer. When Grindcore first started out, bands like Napalm Death, Carcass and Extreme Noise Terror where the godfathers of the genre. Then Terrorizer came, and blew the lid off everybodies heads! Terrorizer was what not only gave the early Grindcore bands the push, speed, and noise it needed, but as well gave them the modern day song structure. Terrorizer at the time was a Grindcore "supergroup" formed of Jesse Pintado(Napalm Death), David Vincent and Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel), and Oscar Garcia(Nausea). Terrorizer is one of my favorite classic Metal bands along with Vulcano, Pentagram(Chile), Sarcofago, Possessed, Dark Angel, Nuclear Assault...etc. Evene though they released 1 album, it still beats a LOT of what everybodies putting out these day. If you are a Grindcore fan and have not listened to this, then just drop everything you are doing and purchase this classic album.

Napalm Death and Bolt Thrower are often credited for being grindcore's godfathers, but Terrorizer were every bit as responsible for making and popularizing this type of music. In other words, if Napalm Death (who debuted in 1987) and Bolt Thrower (1988) planted grindcore's seeds, then Terrorizer watered them and helped them to grow and prosper. Thus, all three bands were at the root of grindcore's creation.

And Terrorizer were not only one of grindcore's first bands, they were also one of the first extreme metal supergroups. Two out of the four band members, bassist/vocalist David Vincent and drummer Pete Sandoval, would later become famous for their involvement in Morbid Angel, and guitarist Jesse Pintando was apart of Napalm Death.

All metalheads need to know the following two words: "World Downfall." This is the title of Terrorizer's first--and so far only--studio album (which was released in 1989). This disc is widely thought of as being immensely influential in the grindcore genre. In fact, it has got to be one of the most important metal albums in the history of extreme music. Terrorizer were, after all, the first American band to fuse thrash with death metal.

"World Downfall" kind of sounds like Napalm Death, circa 1987 (the "Scum" era), except these songs are longer and David's vocals are much more constipated. This record is one long, ultra-intense, giga-heavy, super fast maelstrom composed of walls of crushing guitar noise and constant, speed of light blast beats. It is so full of scorching riffs and walloping blast beats, one can't help but wonder if Jesse's fret board is smoking and Pete's bass drum is in splinters by the time the first song is done playing.

Jesse and Pete are incredibly nimble and skilled musicians. They never fall behind or get lost in the mix, and they both play an equal part in driving the songs' rhythms.

None of the songs ever cop into any kind of melody or slow tempos. Thus, when the album is over, about all the listener remembers is one long blur. But, if you listen closely, there are a few standout tracks here. "After World Obliteration" is the album opener, and since it is an onslaught of blindingly fast riffs and pounding bass drums, it sets the pace well for the rest of the songs to follow. Later, "Fear Of Napalm" is a fiery, churning steamroller, and "Corporation Pull-In" is backed by careening guitars and insane drumming. The last really memorable song is track seven, "Condemned System." Pete really gets to show off his talents, here (he goes berserk on his trapkit and creates an all-over-the-place, jackhammer rhythm.)

If you're just getting into Terrorizer (in 2006), you might not understand what the big deal is about, since there are louder bands out there nowadays. But bare in mind that "World Downfall" came before all of those bands. (Without this album, there would be virtually no grindcore as we know it, today.) So, if you've given this disc a couple of listens and you still (for whatever reason) don't get anything out of it, you should still give Terrorizer credit for being so influential. And if you're a Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, or extreme metal aficionado, there is almost no C.D. you need to buy more than this one.

Truthfully, this album is one of the illest grindcore or otherwise albums released in the history of heavy music. The lead in to After War Obliteration just kicks your @ss in, and it is on to nihility from there. I really can't verbalize how good this album is. Sandoval kills it on the drums and the riffs are hooky and superb as well. One of the greatest parts about this album is it's ability to cross over. I am not a huge fan of grindcore, I do like Napalm Death, Repulsion, Carcass, and Black Army Jacket, and LOVE intersparsed blastbeats. However, sometimes I find some grind just plain old rehashed. I mean there is a blueprint whether you would like to admit it or not. Blastbeat, poor production, and a guy shouting like he is deaf. The cool thing about this album is the rawness, it kind of reminds me of Beneath the Remains era Sepultura. You have heard grindcore like this because it has been copied, the great thing about this is it's seminal nature. It was one of the FIRST grind albums. Another cool thing is the hooky, and often groove laden aspect of this album. it just kills from start to finish. Also worth of mention is the fact that this clocks in @ just under 40 minutes which is just about the minimum length I like an album to be. The cover art is cool and makes for an excellent T shirt print. This has got to be one of the top 10 all time albums for me and would definitely be a superb specimen to represent the grind genre. It never gets old. NEVER. I got into this album only 3 months ago, and I am sort of glad I did not back in 87 instead. I feel I would have taken it for granted, as well as kept on looking for albums to match it until today. I really think that older grind is better grind and it's simplicity should not be held against today's grind. If you dig Napalm, or go out and buy this, don't sleep on Repulsion's Horrified. Relapse did a nice job on the 2 disc (the demo's are actually listenable!!!) version of thier only album with liner notes and packaging and the price is good too. These albums contain the realness and should not be slept on. GRIND!!!

has been in automobile since purchase from relapse. only hope that sound system loud enough to inflict its malevolence onto the unsuspecting. eloquent articulation fails. only coursing need to destroy remains.

Whaddaya know another really underrated awesome album. This is a pretty interesting band because as others mentioned we definitely have a supergroup on our hands. The band is Oscar Garcia doing the vox, Jesse Pintado who went to Napalm Death (is it a coincidence that once he joined ND they got A LOT better?) two guys from Morbid Angel, Dave Vincent doing the bass of course and then PETE SANDOVAL! YES! PETE IS HERE!!! Geez, that should be more than enough for you to buy this but let's get into some more details shall we?

If I had to describe this album in one word I'd call it a 'Whirlwind', 'Tornado', 'Hurricane', or any of those other natural disasters that involve air. Yes you have 16 songs and the longest is about three minutes, half of them being under two. Sorry kids, no 10-minute epic technical Opeth masterpieces of art to splooge in your pants over because this is balls to the wall AGGRESSION. I mean you all love Reign In Blood right? Well this is basically the RIB of grindcore so to speak. This is grindcore with some serious f*ckin riffs and blast beats galore. Speaking of the those, it's pretty amazing that they use it frequently but it still seems like they're placed perfectly in the songs and it just feels awesome. These guys were able to do on this record what ND were not on their first two records, which was harness the insane brutality more accurately. Yeah they had Bill Steer but I dont think he reached his potential until Carcass.

Ok so there's no solos on the album, big deal. Now I don't what that to deter some people from trying this out. Some people (well I used to as well) think that if it has no solos then it's not metal, which I've realized is a sorry-*ss excuse to dismiss something. This album alone completely shatters that argument and after just one listen I'll bet you feel the same.

So how's the vocals? INTENSE. This Oscar guy sounds like a souped-up more brutal version of Max Cavalera actually, and that's saying something considering Max aint exactly one of the Bee Gees. Yes he is doing the "yelling like I have two hearing aids" style but I like it. Like ND, they sing about left-wing political issues (like corporate take overs, animal cruelty, etc)I also love Dave's bass here, it's so crunchy and thick it's like eating Grape Nuts without milk, just check out the second track!

The only criticism one could make of this album is that is has that 'samey' feel to it but if you're a true metal fan I believe you'll be able to discern each song and really enjoy it.
My tip for this (and other albums with this problem) is to never listen to just one song from the album, always listen to the WHOLE thing to get the full effect. Hey it works for me.
I don't see any reason to dislike it if you're an extreme metal fan, another totally essential album.

Highlights - After World Obliteration, Fear of Napalm, Whirlwind Struggle, Dead Shall Rise

I'll end with some good news and bad news. The good news is that these guys just put out a new album last month and I heard it's not bad. The bad news is that Jesse actually died last August from complications with his diabetes. Rest in peace man...

You shouldn't call yourself a grind fan until you listen to this album. Sure, it's the only album they ever released, but it's a landmark in the late 80's grindcore scene, like with Napalm Death, Carcass, and Repulsion. It also features members of Morbid Angel and Napalm Death as well. This is what real grind is about. Downtuned guitars, crust punk related riffs, and pure insanity. Buy or consider yourself not worthy!

This one of the best grindcore albums in history. When it comes to music, only a few bands define the sound and thousands end up copying it. Terrorizer not only helped define the sound of grindcore, they perfected it. With Pete Sandoval on drums, this is an album of shocking technical profeciency which maintains its hostility by mixing elements of darker hardcore acts such as discharge and siege. Buy this highly influential record. Its that intense.

World Downfall is a grindcore classic, and one of my favorite albums. Mere words cannot describe the hostility and menace that Terrorizer puts forth in this recording. Easily one of the top three genre-defining slabs of grind--along with Reek of Putrefaction and Horrified--this is an excellent representation of the style. Lyrics dwell upon social issues, war, greed, hatred and loathing of the human condition. The guitar parts on this album are a thing of beauty, Jesse Pintado (RIP) gives a textbook example of how technical wankery can be triumphed over by good, solid riffing sense and timing. The drums by Pete Sandoval are jaw-dropping--the man is a living, breathing metronome. Vocals are handled by Oscar Garcia, who has a very clean, easily understood death grunt; he is not basement low guttural but has more of a mid-range hoarse rasp that is very powerful. David Vincent has the bass duties here--its low in the mix, but we ARE talking about a Scott Burns engineering job here so that is par for the course. The actual sound of the album is crisp, clear and has just enough dirt in the mix to make it intense. Due to the fact that three members Terrorizer all are alumnus of some of the flag-bearers of death metal (Napalm Death for Pintado, Morbid Angel for Sandoval and Vincent) this album is a must-buy for those wanting an introduction to grind.

If you have even a casual interest in grindcore or death metal, you need this album. Its truly amazing to hear David and Pete (of Morbid Angel fame) playing this crusty, nasty stuff. The production is flawless for the time period, sounding far more brutal and heavier than anything thats getting put out today. Just buy it and get your face shredded!