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MERCILESS had been one of the first bands in Sweden, which played Old School Thrash, inspired by German heroes like SODOM/DESTRUCTION/KREATOR/ASSASSIN. At first, they called themselves OBSESSED, then BLACK MASS and after that, they founded with MERCILESS finally a proper name. In 1987, they released a 4-track demo "Behind The Black Door". After one year followed "Realm Of Dark", which received excellent reviews. Deathlike Silence Records from Norway signed the guys and released "The Awakening" in 1990, the debut album of MERCILESS. After some intense tours (for example with SEPULTURA on their "Beneath The Remains"-tour), they could tackle the next record. "The Treasure Within" is already a little classic - unfortunately they had some problems with the record label Active Records and the album was hardly to find for a long time (midwhile, this must-have album is again available about Osmose Records). The third record "Unbound" was released via No-Fashion and is unfortunately unknown to me.
Despite missing support from record companies, MERCILESS managed it to produce a new album. "Merciless" is pure Thrash Metal, uncompromising fast, merciless heavy and extremely pissed off. That power, they offered, could hardly be denied by every Thrasher. It has nearly the quality of their milestone "The Treasures Within". What I miss a bit are that highly catchy moments, equally if choruses or repeating guitar themes... but it's very compact and every headbanger can expect some pain in its neck. You get your ass beaten and the borderline to Death Metal is really fluent. (Online October 17, 2003)
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