SCHIZOPHRENIA “Recollections of the Insane”

By Dr. Abner Mality

This one brings me back to the years of 1989-1992, when thrash was evolving into death metal, resulting in a mixture of both. There was a lot of “cross-pollination” going on and you could often flip a coin to figure out what term to use. Think of MORBID ANGEL’s “Altar of Madness” and SEPULTURA’s “Beneath the Remains”, amongst others.

These Belgian maniacs reach back into that era with “Recollections of the Insane” and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the band name is also the name of one of SEPULTURA’s best albums. This is not anything revolutionary but it’s delivered with a lot of spirit and a pleasing organic sound that has been quantized or digitized to death. The first couple of tracks are OK raw death/thrash but the band really starts to come into its own on “Sea of Sorrow”, which boasts technical but brutal riffing that keeps you hooked all the way through. “Monolith” continues the attack and leans a bit more towards the death metal side.

From there, SCHIZOPHRENIA deliver the goods that will have fans of the late 80’s/early 90’s scene stoked. I even detect some traces of those cult Belgian thrashers CYCLONE now and then. It’s not the usual Bay Area or German retro stuff and that helps keep “Recollections of the Insane” interesting.

REDEFINING DARKNESS RECORDS

SCHIZOPHRENIA