Review by JD on February 5, 2013.

I was expecting another run-of-the-mill Death Metal band once seeing a cd called Eugenic Death come across my desk. I had been hearing so many less-than-average DM bands as of late, that I hesitated to play the album right off. When I finally capitulated and played the album I found that I had been expecting wrong... this is not Death Metal.

Eugenic Death comes from North Carolina and plays some of the best 80's inspired Thrash I have come across. Sounding very close to the likes of early Exodus, Testament, Onslaught and the irreplaceable Nasty Savage that has a very angry version of Chuck Billy on vocals. They are paying respects to all of their Thrash influences, but do it with great originality. Sounding like they were the new Thrash kids on the block from about 1985 yet they seem to have re-invented Thrash into their own headbanging image, and all using the no so tired sound of the originals.

In hearing this album in its entirety, it made me smile. It comes clear how true it is to the old Thrash style and the spirit it has. Take the song 'Medication Time'... well played throughout, heavy with blistering guitars and some Old Thrash styled vocals and as a added bonus -humourous. This is the perfect explanation of Thrash - straight out while not taking things too seriously unless necessary. The rest of the album is as good as this track is but this one song made me laugh and therefore it is my favorite.

Most of the New Wave Of Thrash is somewhat good, although it has not been fully impressing me at the same time but NC’s Eugenic Death seems to have satiated my need for good and original Thrash that still pays tribute to those who have forged it in the first place. They have not reinvented it by any means. They simply have found originality in the way they havde interpreted it. For this old Thrasher it is a breath of fresh air when old school gets injected with life.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Review by Michael on December 19, 2020.

Eight months after My Dying Bride delighted us with The Ghost of Orion, they release a new EP called Macabre Cabaret. I often wonder with many bands what the point of an EP is, if not money-making, but with My Dying Bride I have never been disappointed, except for the dreadful I am the Bloody Earth EP from 1994.

The first song, immediately the title track 'Macabre Cabaret', starts with the usual stylistic devices. A wonderfully doomy, catchy and absolutely melancholic track, which offers a beautifully sad acoustic part in its middle. It makes you want to sit by the sea and toast the approaching end of the world. Global warming, pollution, war, arms race, ignorance, selfishness, stupidity and Corona - we did it!!! It's not far now....which, of course, is not what the lyrics are about, but tragic love and death, if I'm interpreting this correctly now.

'A Secret Kiss' is a song that could have easily been on The Angel and the Dark River 25 years ago, the sawing guitars and death metal-like vocals from Aaron in places are pretty cool. I wish My Dying Bride would tend in this direction more often again. Thumbs up for both songs.

The next two songs should have been spared, though, in all honesty. 'A Purse of Gold and Stars' has become quite a bore - why? The song is more of a sonic background to Aaron's chanting, more of an ambient piece. The only positive thing about the song is the piano at the end of the track. The fourth song 'Orchestral Shores (Buiksloterkeerk Cathedral Mix)' is also nothing that the world necessarily needs. It is a rather quiet acoustic version of 'Your broken Shores' from the last album The Ghost of Orion. I think instead of the two (fortunately not too long) songs they should have put one or two "real" tracks on the EP, then it would have been a round thing (although CDs always are...). So then remains but a somewhat bland aftertaste.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10