Atrocity - Hallucinations

ATROCITY - Hallucinations (NUCLEAR BLAST - LP 1990)

This is definitely one of these classic death metal albums you need to know, when speaking of the early 90's scene in Germany. It is also one of the first full albums from this country with that music, I think. Released in 1990 by Nuclear Blast and recorded in the famous Morrisound Studio, "Hallucinations" had everything to achieve success. Well, back at that time Atrocity was a name, which meant something. But in my opinion 90% of death metal fans stopped to care for them, mostly because Atrocity went through some very drastic and controversial musical changes that happened after their second album. So, old fans only care for their early recordings and newer death metal fans probably never even heard about "Hallucinations". 

Which is a shame, obviously, because it is a very good and surely a unique album. Stylistically it is just different from most of the stuff you’ve ever heard. It's brutal, yes. It's dark and sick, yes. It's often fast and griding, sure. But the riffage is simply sick. "Hallucinations" is very progressive, twisted and complex album, full of weird riffs, sudden rhythm changes, unusual arrangements and structures... It's an album, which you could put aside with the likes of Disharmonic Orchestra, Loudblast, Atheist, Dark Millennium and such. Yet, each of these bands had something original and own to offer. "Hallucinations" is a weird journey, full of surprises and bizarre riffs. But what I like about it is that it doesn't forget about the aggression and that vicious death metal feel we always need to hear. There are many blasting, almost grinding, parts, which sound awesome, and riffs or songs are technical, which is why this album isn't easy to listen to, but there's a method in this madness, I think. At the first listen - like in many albums from that techno death metal style - it can sound bizarre and cacophonous, where riffs and parts don't match. But that's just a charm of this old progressive death metal album. If you want to hear something easy and "nice", you could pick "Human". If you want something twisted and weird, bring "Hallucinations" on!  

Obviously such music can struggle a bit nowadays, it didn't get old perfectly, I also think that it's not a perfect album (for instance I never like Alex Krull's screaming vocals that much... I wish he used more growls)... But it has its charm and as I mentioned, it is just a unique album. I cannot think of many bands, which would play alike nowadays, for instance. Sure, people now are crazy for Blood Incantation for instance, but it's just not the same kind of progressive death metal. All in all, it is an album, which is worth checking out, especially if you missed it before (because you're a younger fan) or forgot about it (because you're old enough to have a memory failure haha). 

While listening to "Hallucinations", it is worthy to check the lyrics, as it's one of the few concept albums within death metal scene of that time. And the subject of that concept is also something quite different as it deals with child abuse, drug addiction, prostitution, overdose... Not a happy story and not typical for death metal band, but it's an interesting one for sure. Just as unique as the music of Atrocity is. 

Standout tracks: "Defeated Intellect", "Hold Out (to the End)", "Deep in Your Subconscious" 

Verdict: 80/100