Metallian
Nominon
Remnants of a Diabolical History
(Pulverized Records) - 50/100
King Diamond, Grave, Japanische Kampfhörspiele, Pestilence, Dissection and many other bands have deemed
it desirable to go back and dig up old demo material for re-issue later in life. Releases like this are questionable
morally, commercially and an affront to the underground. It has been written in these pages before, but it now bears
repeating that everyone should let the underground remain in the underground. It has less to do with the quality of
the material and demand and more to do with preserving integrity and first-comer advantage.
Nominon is a devoutly underground Swedish band and, as indicated by the title, has entrusted the release of its older demo
material to Singapore's Pulverised Records although Trauma Records was originally billed as the issuing label. The band
wins many points for its intensely primitive underground sound and undefiled death metal. This band is the genuine article,
neither having ever attempted commercialization and mass acceptance nor attempting a far-fetched return to its heady sound
as Entombed is undertaking with Serpent Saints. Having said that, the world does not need another CD of demo material with
cover version of Voivod, Whiplash and Repulsion included to boot. Songs like Cemetery Of Life and Sodom?s Fall are great
death/thrash historical cuts, yet should have stayed available only to those who shelled out cash to buy the demos or later went
to the trouble of tracking down the material. The C. Moyen or C. Moyen-inspired black and white cover adds that little touch of
authenticity, but a myspace.com address for the band takes it right away.
- Ali "The Metallian"