Imprecation - Theurgia Goetia Summa (1995)^{Release ID: 11084}

I've always been a fan of this compilation of Houston-based death metallers Imprecations' early works as the material is both extremely solid & highly consistent, despite the three releases it compiles offering drastically different production jobs. "Theurgia Goetia Summa" begins with the three-song "Promo 94" before moving into 1993's "Sigil of Baphomet" E.P. & ending with 1992's "Ceremony of the Nine Angles" demo tape. If pushed, I'd probably suggest that the 1994 promo is the most fully realised representation of the early Imprecation sound but all three are well worth hearing. It's the two demos that I regard as being essential listening though with the E.P. suffering a bit from a muddier sound & the raw intensity being slightly better represented on the cruder recordings. Imprecation's well-defined death metal style is reflected on all three releases with a combination of very fast blast beats, crushing doom riffs, cavernous vocals & subtle keyboard accompaniment working beautifully in the context of the global tape trading scene of the time. This release appears to have been custom built for all you filthy underground enthusiasts out there with Imprecation's blend of Incantation & diSEMBOWELMENT influences really hitting the spot for this ol' metalhead.

For fans of Infester, Blaspherian & Morpheus Descends.