CADAVER

"Hallucinating Anxiety" (Listenable Records; 1990/2025)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

When you hear about a classic release getting a remastered version, sometimes you cringe. I mean, sometimes there's a reason that a particular album has become a classic, and sometimes futzing around with the original production can screw things up. Muddy the waters or, perhaps even worse, give clarity where murkiness worked better.

Such was my concern with Cadaver's 1990 album, "Hallucinating Anxiety."  Would this remaster turn this into something clean and clear, removing the album's buried-alive sound, or would it only enhance the album's qualities, both intensity and darkness?

Well, after giving this remaster a listen, I can only say, "I can't really say" and that's probably a good thing. "Hallucinating Anxiety" is 16 tracks of classic death/black metal and this 2025 remaster maintains its raw energy, its darkened sounds, its musty production. It's been so long since I've listened to the original (and I don't have time to dig it out of my collection—that'd take about a week) that I just can't recall. Butl, like I said, that's a good thing. No matter what happened with the remaster here, this album still sounds great. It may have lost some of its impact over the years, due to the bands that followed and were inspired by Cadaver, but that's true of vritually every 35+ year release, isn't it?

According to Amazon, you can still buy a pre-owned vinyl copy of the original "Hallucinating Anxiety" there for around $500. Or, you can simply pick up this far less expensive remix. I know which one I'd pick.

For more information visit http://www.cadaverinc.com. 

"Necrosis" (Candlelight USA; 2004)

Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter

Norway's Cadaver got their start in the late '80s but by the early '90s got lost in the overwhelming tidal wave that was Norwegian black metal that held court throughout the mid '90s through early '00s. After a brief run as Cadaver, Inc. the band has simply switched back to Cadaver and have simplified their music accordingly.

I am extremely guilty of dismissing almost anything death metal related, although classic death metal has been a keen interest of mine in recent months. So I was surprised when less than 6 minutes into Cadaver's latest effort "Necrosis" I was grooving right along with it.

In order for a death metal band to capture my immediate attention it has to be technical (i.e. Nile) or at the very least groove-laden (Suffocation). Cadaver fit neither of these poles but somehow manage to be very riff-oriented and catchy (that's right, I wrote 'catchy' while referring to a death metal band). Most death metal bands stick to a tried a true formula as it relates to the genre and then stick to an even more narrow formula as it works for the band. This is not the case with Cadaver's "Necrosis." Everything from traditional death metal to black metal leanings, to seemingly punk-inspired intensity, to a revisit from Cadaver's slightly techno past on "Heartworm" color "Necrosis" from one track to the next.

So you're saying to yourself "Is Cadaver really old-school death metal?" And I say "Yes it is, but it's so much more." It's not often that I'm even slightly impressed by a death metal band but I'm impressed by Cadaver's "Necrosis" even if it isn't going to change my opinion of death metal as a genre.

Necrosis" was produced by Bjorn Boge.

Cadaver is Apollyon on vocals and bass, Neddo and Blavaz on guitars, and Czral on drums.

For more information visit http://www.cadaverinc.com. 

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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