Born...Suffer...Die

Headhunter D.C. is a death metal band that got their start in the late eighties with more of a death-thrash start, and like many others to-and-fro would belong to the Cogumelo round-up with this and the next album. This has the guitarist who would later session for two of Mystifier's releases, who also comes from the same state of Bahia. And according to their site Paulo Lisboa is at the energetic age of 17 when this came out.

This is a fairly loud and rowdy album. The musicians wanted to make an impression with their version of bands that were playing primitive, fast and out-of-control at that point and before. The early Sarcofago comparison is inescapable. The black portion is missing, but the fiber of a chaotic, harsh and mean-spirited collective is there.

The production on Born Suffer Die wears a muzzle, but hides behind it like a Hannibal Lecter with big gaping teeth. The sound is fuzzy and has its share of piercing characteristics here. And some effects soaking into the framework of the instruments, especially the vocals have quite a bit of wetness in this regard. However, the music seems to be a matching of this dirt-stained projection.

While Headhunter D.C. here is primarily a death metal band, they would have some unrefined aspects that show a band that was forming their own sound. For instance, 'Death Vomit' is a short track that resembles some death-grind traits: with monotonous growls, higher pitched back-ups and with relentless, barbaric sounds. 'Disunited' is another quicky with an all fast fading in-and-out twenty-something second song. Then there are some longer tracks that have varying, if still primitive, change-ups. Then there is of course their death-thrash movements that are still somewhat similar to their demo, if not harsher. In and out quickly played palm muted riffs are used and some of the drum beats might resemble their prior period. Although, can shift from fast-as-a-blast to a mid-paced beat and many moments of being situated in between.

Since the musicians are going for an extreme sound, they might of stepped over their bounds a little. The instruments on Born Suffer Die don't come together as a uniform act. Though this can give it its innocent charms as well. The drummer presses his speed to blasts, yet finds this faster speed home to miscues. And some fills that want to attack the drum set with an ambition to fill each guitar note, yet with the loose capabilities of doing so. Although, this is what gave this particular genre its starting ambitions. The guitarist can switch to using some graduated and more inherently death metal sounding riffs. There are some solos scattered about to aid to the anarchy as well. The vocals use switching growls and screams, picking up peaking moments with more of a screaming nasally growl, and at other sections having a deeper growl.

Born Suffer Die is a grainier start that would show some black-heart in regards to chaotic death metal. Yet in that same sentiment, this release can be a little disordered. There is a fine line with a classic album for the time that still has flaws. While I think this favors Headhunter D.C. to some degree, it also shows a faltering side at points. A band that seemed like they wanted to bring out an array of abilities and weren't always there filling in the circumference of the whole shoe.