Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Retroview: Terrorizer - World Downfall


When I was 14 years old, I thought Lawnmower Deth was a fantastic band. I also liked this album a lot. But like "Satan's Trampoline," in retrospect, "World Downfall" is awful. I know it is heresy among the world of internet metal nerds to say that Terrorizer sucks, but it is the truth.

Grindcore is mostly a terrible genre full of boring, generic riffs and talentless morons that can't write songs. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense that grindcore "musicians" worship this album, because it is very, very boring and they are retards.

Some grindcore is tolerable because the songs are short, so if it sucks, it's OK because the song will be over in 30 seconds anyway. Not so with Terrorizer! They're happy to repeat the same couple riffs again and again, for nearly 4 minutes in some cases. The arrangements are so basic and dull that even Discharge would be ashamed of themselves if they were responsible for them. Likewise, Terrorizer's child-like lyrics make Discharge's simplistic, subhumanly-stupid chants sound like Shakespeare. "Why?" is like Finnegan's Wake compared to "Corporation Pull In."

And as far as production goes, I don't know who thought Scott Burns would be a good grindcore producer, but they were wrong. All you can hear is the fucking hi-hat going SSHSSHSSHSSH and Oscar Garcia's wretched barking.

But "World Downfall" is not without its merits. Aside from the cover, which is quite good, the best part is the thanks list in which they thank "N.W.A." and "E.Z.E." I am disappointed that although this album has been out for 20 years and they have been interviewed countless times, nobody has ever asked them about this!

Pete is seconds away from the emergency room, attn alcohol poisoning dept. She takes off her shirt in a second, too.

For bonus laffs, don't forget to watch the infamous Topless Radio interview with Morbid Angel (NSFW). In this interview, Pete Sandoval is on the verge of falling into an alcoholic coma and has the physique of a concentration camp survivor. He manages to ramble on and on about how he invented "dee blass beat" in 1986, though, and it's pretty entertaining. I tried to put it on Youtube but the fucking fascists wouldn't let me because of the bewbs. Where is Mike Muir to fight against censorship when you need him?!

In any case, this album is generic, boring grindcore that is to blame for legions of crappy imitators that have clogged my ears for nearly two decades. It's even worse than Carcass, who were also awful. Listen to Unseen Terror instead. If you are getting angry right now, you should probably consider suicide, or at least self-castration.

46 comments:

  1. aside from the thank list, i absolutely love the huge headphones they are all wearing in the pictures. it gives us a rare, behind the scenes look at a grindcore band in the studio.
    also, why the hell did they have a picture of scott burns? to my knowledge, that's the only time the producer of a record has ever been photographed for an album, and that includes albums that have been produced by celebrities (like how glen danzig produced the Kinghorse album, and Mustaine produced Sanctuary). Is it to say that he's the extra Terrorizer member? Like how the Beatles has numerous fifth members?

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  2. dude... dude... dude... let's stop for a second here and realize that this post comes from someone who likes forced entry. a band that wasn't underrated (or overrated), because it wasn't rated at all. sorry, sgt, you know it to be true.

    that being said, i fucking love this record, because of the simplicity of the music and the less-than-perfect production. you do make a few good points, tho. oscar garcia's vocals could be better, pete sandoval is an all around assclown and the lyrics are hysterically bad, but this CD has consistently been in my top 20 records, for the last 15 years.

    as a side note, jesse pintado's hair was awesome. i was SO bummed when he died... this dude was in some of my favorite bands of all time.

    has anyone heard their 2006 CD? is it any good?

    lawnmower deth are still good for a laugh, that's for sure!

    .

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  3. you know right after posting the comment i put the CD on. GOD THE PRODUCTION IS AWFUL! it's still an awesome record, but it think pete and scott were in love, cuz all you hear is cymbals and snare...

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  4. i don't like Forced Entry. i LOVE Forced Entry! in fact, i was considering posting about them instead of terrorizer this morning! maybe next time.

    we can agree to disagree on this one, but let's just pause for a moment to ask this question: skullkrusher and pete sandoval- separated at birth?? the similarity is undeniable, especially back in your undercut days.

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  5. it's all about the octoclops

    uncertain future!!!

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  6. Terrorizer isn´t gring it´s total death metal as it should sound. Listen to the Terrorizer/Nausea splittape for evidense.

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  7. I love your blogs but I think you got this totally wrong. Terrorizer sucks? Listen to Unseen Terror? You must be seriously joking. This is one of the all-time great metal albums.

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  8. they really aren't death metal either. they were one of the first "grind" bands, because the genre didnt really exist until napalm death listened to replulsion, morbid angel and these dudes. sure, they dont sound like what later would become "grindcore", but these guys and repulsion were the ones who ripped off celtic frost in a way that made napalm death say: 'ay, let's rip off, these wankers who ripped off celtic frost and cryptic slaughter'. the definition of the genre "grindcore" is really tough, just because it's a really vague term that many different bands have been labeled that. as far as im concerned terrorizer are grindcore, anal cunt arent. you figure it out.

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  9. Unseen Terror disliked Nermal, Terrorizer didn't even mention how Jon would always take Nermal's side when he would make Garfield look bad or eat all his lasagna.

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  10. Shit albums don't achieve legendary status - period.

    World Downfall is fucking god.

    Don't see too many people citing Unseen Terror as influences. Furthermore didn't Shane Embury hear World Downfall, disband Unseen Terror and recruit Jesse Pintado.

    Like this site a lot but I think you've fucked it on this one.
    Admittedly the production is rank and the Scott Burns photo was nicked from a 1960's barber shop.

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  11. Both times I've seen Forced Entry everyone either went to the snack stand for nachos or outside to yell shit at cars.

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  12. 1. I would just like to let it be known that not all Metal Inquisition staffers agree with Sergeant D's ludicrous opinions (myself especially).

    2. The hit-hat sound on World Downfall = best ever!

    3. That ToplessRadio interview is one of the greatest moments in metal history! I'm glad you posted it because I was looking for it a few months ago and couldn't find it. I knew Pete was an immigrant, but I'd never heard him speak before and was surprised to find out how thick of an accent he has. DEE BLASS BEAT!!

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  13. Forced Entry is way better, but this post is way off. "World Downfall" rules and is a surefire classic.

    I'll have to watch the topless interview when I get home from work tonight, ha, ha...

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  14. didn't Shane Embury hear World Downfall, disband Unseen Terror and recruit Jesse Pintado.

    biggest mistake of his life IMO. imagine how the rich tapestry of history could have changed with a follow up to "Garfield For President."

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  15. As for Repulsion, I listened to this album a bit late, in mid-nineties. I still think Pete & Jesse played very well, and that Oscar is a brilliant lyricist (not necessarily on this LP).

    Another thing: Carcass AWFUL? Fuck off. "Symphonies of sickness" is still the shit! Period.

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  16. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

    LIFE STATUS REVOKED!

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  17. not to take anyone's side as i don't particularly remember what either terrorizer or unseen terror sound like (and i don't feel like taking the trip down the memory lane), but something caught my eye: the word "classic" seems to get thrown around quite a bit. well, to take this party into the world of cinema: aren't classics like "citizen kane" etc. usually boring and have aged badly, regardless of the merits they had at the time, but to say so is one of those the-emperor-is-naked types of deal?

    like i sad, i'm on the fence here, but just a little food for thought.

    oh, and rosebud is a sleigh!

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  18. BREAKING YOUR BACK
    RETAAAAAAAAAALIATE
    BRINGING FULL FORCE
    TO EXTEEEEERMINATE

    Forced Entry were pretty awesome

    And yeah, Terrorizer were not very good.

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  19. fuck yeah dude, that song was great! Forced Entry were awesome and totally underrated.

    citizen kane is boring.

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  20. Someone's been smoking crack again...

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  21. the forced entry video for "macrocosm, microcosm" is one of my favorite 7 minute videos that was every played on headbangers ball, that featured a guitar solo being played while walking through the streets of seattle. remember that? that video was slammin!

    i love how predictable metal fans are. all you need to do is say "carcass sucks" and people get all upset. i love it. it's the equivalent of an arena band wearing shirts for the local sports team. everyone loves it. it's such an easy and obvious thing.

    look, terririzer was okay i guess..but nothing i would listen to today. truth is, it holds a dear place in many people's heart because it was the first band of a certain genre that many people heard by virtue of the label they were in, or the level distribution they got. why on earth would i like the Kiss album "unmasked"? its a terrible piece of disco crap, but i love it because it was the first record i ever owned. almost everyone i know owns that DBC record with the skull on it. why? it got good distrubition in mall stores, and was two bucks cheaper on cassette than other full length releases.
    also...regarding unseen terror....songs about garfield are very important, and had more impact on society than any terrorizer lyrics ever could have.
    lastly, no one has brought up david vincent in all this. how great is it that he was in a grind band with three latinos, a band that thanked NWA...and he goes on to be a racist douche and wear SS uniforms on tour. that poor miguided little man.

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  22. This doesn't really matter as far as the review of this album here but I've never liked when people referred to this LP as grindcore.

    World Downfall doesn't sound like Scum or Reek of Putrefication. Does it?

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  23. Something's wrong here because I'm not laughing. For the first time I get upset while reading this blog, haha...

    With exception for Oscar's vocals, nothing could be improved on "World Downfall". Especially the sound is GREAT! Defense position here, but it's one of my all time fave albums, and stupid as I may be it just seems surreal that some people think it's a piece of crap.

    World Downfall doesn't sound like Scum or Reek of Putrefication. Does it?

    Of course not! It sounds exactly like "Left Hand Path" or "Cause of Death", right?

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  24. I couldn't care less about any of the crappy bands that y'all are arguing about, but I do take issue with mentioning the first DBC record and Kiss "Unmasked" in the same sentence, or paragraph. "Dead Brain Cells" stands up as a great album regardless of when or why you bought it (their second album sucks balls though)... and it's a hell of a lot better than "Uncertain Future".

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  25. ohhh come on! that funky bass drum beat on the beginning of kiss' "torpedo girl" is the jam!

    i love this post, because we have our first controversy ever. yay!

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  26. while i do think Terrorizer sucks, mostly i just posted this because i knew how easy it would be to make internet metal nerds angry, which i knew would be funny! it's like poking your fat little brother with a stick until he has a tantrum, then you and your friends laugh at how angry he is, which only makes him more angry. in this case, Terrorizer fans are the fat little brother.

    also, the 2nd Forced Entry record is much better than "Uncertain Future" (although that one is pretty good too).

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  27. I have the Unseen Terror cassette, bought only because it was on Earache. I didn't realize people actually listened to it more than once, though. But it probably amused the hell outta the kids on the short bus, what with the songs about garfield and odie and nermal and all.

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  28. I had to special order World Downfall on cassette back in the day. The local record shop had fuck all for metal back then. It cost around $18 Canadian...for a fucking tape! I love Forced Entry too....Bludgeon was a fucking awesome video. Time to break out the old VHS compilation tape. With any luck...Trapped by the Crumbsuckers will be on that tape too!

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  29. i like your blog,but you dont know shit when it comes to this music. you like wigger slam mosh,so what the hell do you know huh....theres a reason this album is so classic. what do you want.. metallica production and boring butch mosh shit in every song? go listen to garbage like meliah rage or something huh..

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  30. I'm with Grindove, I totally dig on "World Downfall." And it sounds really good, I mean the bass is even audible! My only complaint is that it's a little too clean. It's one of Scott Burns' best productions; compare it to Death's "Human", a great bunch of songs that sound like mud.
    And Terrorizer's songs are the shit. I wanna get up and shake my booty like a go-go dancer when I hear 'Fear of Napalm' or 'Ripped to Shreds'!

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  31. I attempted to rediscover this album a while back, and I'll have to admit I was disappointed. It's not an all-out travesty, but an all-killer no-filler fest of rule it is definitely not. I usually turn it off after a few tracks.

    As for Carcass, I've said it before and I'll say it again: their only worthwile releases were Swansong, Symphonies of sickness and their Peel session. Especially the Peel session. Heartwork is unlistenable drivel.

    Scott Burns would almost certainly be the only producer ever to have his picture on a record he didn't produce, as that same shot from World downfall is also on the back of Mayhem's Deathcrush EP. Aside from that, I think Mike Clink is pictured in one of the Use your illusion innersleeves.

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  32. Pete Sandoval is an idiot. That interview was fucking amazing. And to think I listened to Morbid Angel on the way to work yesterday morning. That video made me seriously question whether or not I can ever listen to that band again.

    Not really, but... it probably should.

    I mean... holy fuck... I'm not convinced that he was inebriated in any way. I am convinced that he has some sort of severe medical problem that is probably eating him from the inside out (he'll be bald within another few years, if he's not already), though.

    Ugh.

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  33. Anonymous Rating for this Post:
    ** (2 stars)
    too much opinion, not enough funny.

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  34. A sentence to seriously make nowadays metal nerds angry: MESHUGGAH SUCK BIG BALLS!

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  35. I'm pretty sure all of you once fell in ethilic coma...but there were no one sticking a microphone under your cocaine-smeared big nose making questions!

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  36. Of course not! It sounds exactly like "Left Hand Path" or "Cause of Death", right?


    Is this sarcasm here? Either way, it sounds MORE like LHP and CoD than Scum and Reek.

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  37. Jesus, I don't visit the site for a week and I return to find that Sgt D. has lost his fucking mind!

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  38. "also, the 2nd Forced Entry record is much better than "Uncertain Future""

    Debatable. Let's just put on some Aftermath(US) and agree to disagree.

    I am much more upset (which is to say, very little) over making fun of Turbo or Manowar than I'd ever be for making fun of Terrorizer, for one. The cover of Kawaleria Szatana is one of the best ever. Only topped be the likes of this:

    http://www.locustleaves.com/VARVAR.png

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  39. Terrorizer may sound weak 20 years later.
    Back in the days I had a grincore band and it was THE reference,no one could play faster nor really understand what they did!
    OK,I agree the 2006 darker days ahead album sucks,but when all the grindcore freaks tells you it's good,please mind there might be something to it.
    Unseen terror was slower,less precise,underproduced and more boring!
    I think your provocative attitude shows you don't understand much of the genre...
    What d'you really listen at home?

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  40. Sandoval is a serious drug addict. Meth makes you sit next to a topless chick and talk about blast beats instead of grabbing her tits. Don't look for intelligence in death metal musicians, most of them are idiot savants...emphasis on the idiot.

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  41. "pete sandoval will be bald in 2 years"...?

    fuck,he looks pretty much bald in that vid if it wasnt for the 14 hairs he has left that he strategically combs over..

    to no real good effect actually

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  42. I dint sse how the lyrics suck. is it cause they dont sing about faggot ass satanic crap that most of you faggots probably like? oscars voice isnt bad. its the style of the genre. its meant to be dissorted. times have changed that style to singing and all else. how is pete an ass clown? who did a blast beat before him. and im not talking about that jazz beat that sorta sounds like a blast beat. it dont i cant say it sounds like a common thrash beat from dave lombardo then.

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  43. OK terrorizer may of had a death metal start but they really evolved into more of a political hardcore unit...or grindcore as the term came to be...the lyrics were highly political ...except for the one or two songs that came from their earlier sets....look at Jesse on that album ....he has a dove and a peace symbol.. I knew Oscar and Jesse during this time and they wanted to be more hardcore than death metal...although they loved and were influenced by the bigger thrash metal bands of the day....slayer, Metallica but were very much into and part of the current extreme hardcore scene of the day...heresy ENT Sacrilege etc....oh and Dave Vincent was a last minute fill in for the fourth Latino which made up Terrorizer...Garvey the OG bassist...unfortunately was in prison at the time and couldn't make it to Florida to record the album...think Dave Vincent was used as fill in through Pete since he was already with morbid angel at the time...i remember when Oscar came back from Florida he felt weird about having Dave Vincent be a studio musician for the LP recording and having his picture taken...I thought that dumb ass should had never been included in the artwork...he wasn't a member of terrorizer..told Oscar they should have excluded Dave Vincent from the album art..he didn't fit in and he was posing like an idiot metal head of the day ...ala slayer....oh well the lp remains a classic even with the rushed artwork and clean recording....we always thought it should have been a dirtier recording like the demos...but Scott burns was a metal recording dude and didn't truly know the real sound terrorizer had wanted on that record ...maybe if it wasn't so well recorded it wouldn't have become a classic....maybe it should be remastered ?!

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  44. All your points are right..knew Oscar at time and remember asking him why Vincent and burns were photographed...always hated how Vincent posed in that back photograph....he was Only a hired gun studio musician shouldn't have been included.

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