Reviews list for Num Skull - Ritually Abused (1988)

Illinois brutal thrash metal outfit Num Skull are yet another 1980's band that time seems to have been very kind to, having slowly built up somewhat of a cult following over the several decades since their debut album “Ritually Abused” hit the shelves back in 1988. I was certainly aware of it back in my tape trading days & probably gave it a few more chances to seal the deal with me than I might usually do based purely on my love of the more brutal end of thrash metal. I can’t say that it ever really impressed me enough to become a go-to record when I’m in the mood for that kinda thing though so I never bothered to explore their 1996 follow-up record "When Suffering Comes". Regardless of that, there’s been a lot of water go under the bridge since forming my lasting impressions of “Ritually Abused” so perhaps I’ve been a little harsh on it. I intended to find out when I revisited it over the last couple of days.

The production job on “Ritually Abused” is everything you’d expect from an underground metal release of the time & was handled by legendary scene figure Griffy who was most notable for managing bands like Motley Crue & Death as well as for being the co-promoter of the Milwaukee Metalfest. He also produced releases for a string of respected bands such as Morbid Saint. There’s very little gloss & polish about “Ritually Abused” with Num Skull being presented in a suitably raw fashion that works quite well for this style of music. The levels are often overdriven to the point of distortion but you can still make out all of the instruments & everything feels quite authentic to the late 80’s model of underground thrash. The musicianship is very good for a debut release too & you can easily see that the band had paid some dues during their three years of existence.

Num Skull place their cards down on the table very early on in proceedings with their sound being built upon a few things. Firstly, we have the violent, high-speed thrash assault of Sadus, Kreator & “Darkness Descends”-era Dark Angel. This is done marvelously well at times too, particularly through the hectic Slayer-style guitar solo sections which generally represent a no-hold-barred attack on the senses. Num Skull regularly incorporate chuggier mid-tempo sections that wouldn’t feel out of place on an Anthrax record though & this material isn’t nearly as effective although it’s hard to argue that there needed to be some respite given from the relentless up-tempo stuff. Also worth noting is the vocal delivery of front man Skip McGullam which sits very much in the late-80’s death metal space, particularly reminding me of Death mastermind Chuck Schuldiner. That recipe certainly sounds pretty good on paper & the more aggressive tracks are unanimously successful at what they'd set out to achieve but it’s not all roses in thrash town.

The main detractor I find with “Ritually Abused” is in the mid-tempo material which isn’t bad in isolation but sounds pretty light-weight when placed alongside the more vicious stuff. Skip’s vocal style doesn’t exactly gel over mosh-worthy Anthrax riffs either & subsequently sounds a bit forced. I’d also suggest that even the strongest tracks (such as “No Morals”, “Turn of a Screw”, “Kiss Me, Kill Me”, “Rigor Mortis” & my personal favourite “Death & Innocence”) suffer from a lack of identity in their riffs. To be more specific, the overall energy is fantastic but the riffs aren’t all that memorable & Skip’s vocals don’t offer much in the way of hooks either which prevents any of these tracks from reaching classic status. Then we have a couple of clear duds in “Pirate’s Night” & the decidedly flat speed metal closer “Murder By The Minister” which tarnish a lot of the good work Num Skull had done elsewhere.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to like about “Ritually Abused” but I can’t say that it’s essential listening by any means. Fans of bands like Devastation, Morbid Saint & Solstice should definitely check it out as there’s not nearly enough extreme thrash around but just don’t go into it expecting a fully-realized & supreme example of its type. You will, however, find a fine selection of tracks to include on your gym playlists though.

My taste for rabid thrash metal is well documented here.  Be it death thrash or blackened thrash, I lurve me some nasty shit in my lug-holes.  Put my name down for some Sadus, Devastation, Morbid Saint or Demolition Hammer any day.  That is not to say that it can get away with being flat out shite just played like the first Sodom demo though and I do require some structure still to the frenzied attack (see my thoughts on Sadus' Illusions for proof of my desire for standards).  Regardless of however many bands I list here, I always overlook Num Skull.  Maybe it is because they only released two full-lengths and the debut is light years away from their more death metal orientated offering in 1996.  Or maybe it is because I do not feast on this style of thrash for very long before I get burned out so never quite get passed Epidemic of Violence, Spectrum of Death and Unstoppable Power before I run out of steam and go back to something a little less imposing.

Whatever the reason for me overlooking it, the debut from Num Skull is without question the bands finest hour.  Clocking in at around forty minutes, the album contains some of the most evil and nefarious thrash riffs ever created without sacrificing on catchiness (Off With Your Head  anyone).  Produced so the whole instrument set is clear on their individual contribution you can hear the chop of the riffs, the rumble of the bass, the fury of the drums and the demented scowls of the vocals as they all form a gloriously dark and majestically nefarious experience.  As the album title suggests, Ritually Abused is a nasty piece of work.  Eleven tracks of late-eighties thrash metal that references similarities with all of the aforementioned bands plus Kreator, Possessed and Dark Angel to boot.

It is not perfect end-to end and does suffer from a little bit of repetition (inevitably I would argue) but it maintains intensity well and occasionally does incorporate some speed metal style shrieks into the vocals of the superb Skip McGullam (still active in US death thrashers Luna In Sanguinem if anyone cares) who for the main part has a style that could easily be early Schuldiner by way of comparison.  Lead work tends to be swarming and chaotic in the sonics that they blaze into tracks and the drums often sound like war horses charging into battle.  The bass remains urgent throughout proceedings, charting not exactly its own path but certainly making its presence known.  If like me you continue to overlook this record then you are missing a treat and I really need to move it the front of my rabid thrash metal nights.

When looking back at the lesser known thrash bands of the 80's, it is not common to find a band that should have been an absolute world beater. Num Skull is one such band. Their debut album 'Ritually Abused' blasted on to the underground thrash scene in the same year as well known thrash albums such as 'South Of Heaven' or 'Eternal Nightmare', yet it easily tops both of those, such is the quality of the songwriting, musical performances, and production of this album.

Playing a style of violent and at times hyper-fast thrash not heard from so many bands of those days, Num Skull play with all the fury and speed of bands such as classic Dark Angel, Sadus, and Bloodfeast at their absolute fastest and most furious. The bands mentioned are actually the best guide to the sound of Num Skull, sounding very similar to those bands much of the time in the riffing, vocals, and fast tempos. Yet Num Skull gave all those bands a serious run for their money for songwriting, and easily surpassed them in production, the album's production is that good, it is simply phenomenal for an album from a lesser known band on a small independent label.

Listening to this album, it is a wonder how this band played like fiends possessed with such furious speed, violence, and aggression and execute it all so well and at a level not often heard among the classic 80's thrash bands. With such a strong album, it is also a wonder how on earth this band did not get better known and signed by a label like Combat or Metal Blade, such is the quality of this album. Perhaps what played a role was the fact that Num Skull were from Chicago, which did not have as well known a scene or characteristic sound as those of the SF Bay Area or NY thrash scenes of the day. Nonetheless, 'Ritually Abused' is one of those unhailed classics of 80's thrash that has gotten more recognition in the old school thrash revival era of recent years than it did back in its day.

Better late than never for this great album to get the recognition it always deserved now that is has been re-released officially by Relapse Recs, and there are also some unofficial versions circulating. It is difficult to pick stand out tracks, they are all that good, but personal faves would be 'Kiss Me, Kill Me', 'Turn Of A Screw', 'Death And Innocence', and the title track. Get this and prepare to be thrashed into oblivion.  [Originally written for Devoured Death fanzine #2, published Feb 2022]