From Dissonance Productions, here’s a double CD reissue of the first two albums by Canadian Death Metal project Gorguts- 1991’s Considered Dead, and 1993’s The Erosion Of Sanity. The band started a more straightforward DM venture, before later morphing into a more technical, at times avant-garde example of the genre. These two albums chart the beginning of that switch, so they are certainly key/ important albums, not just in the band’s history, but the development of the DM form in general.

The two CDs come presented in a six-panel glossy digipak, and under each CD -we find a reproduction of the original cover artwork for each. Also included is a glossy/ colourful inlay booklet- this features a 2023 nine-and-a-half-page write-up about the band's development/ these two albums by Oliver ‘Zoltar’ Badin, two pages of testimonials from other DM musicians, and a fair selection of pictures of the band, flyers, etc. So, a nicely presented item.

The first disc takes in the band's debut album, Considered  Dead. This was first released on the 8^th of October 1991 on Roadrunner Records. It was recorded in Tampa’s Morrisound studios by Mr US death metal himself, Scott Burns- with guest vocals on three tracks by Chris Barnes(Cannibal Corpse & Six Feet Under), and a guest guitar on one track by James Murphy ( Death, Obituary, etc). And, yes, the album does have a fairly typical 90’s US DM feel, but the band do add in their own subtle twists and turns to the form- for example, some neat discordant riff touches, moodily effective breakdowns, or higher in the mix bass elements on a few tracks

We move from “Stiff And Cold” which shifts between clamouring speed bursts edged discordant tone flourishers, mid-paced chugs, and doomy thrashes.  Onto ghoulish galloping to morbid mid-paced flow of the title track.  Though to the hectic bass bounding, drum bashing, and long-to-speeding guttural growls of “Body Corrupted”. Onto chug ‘n’ slug meets bounding gallop of “Inoculated Life”.  The original ten-track CD is finished off with demo versions of album tracks. All in all, Considered Dead is a decent 90’s DM album and a worthy debut from the band.

On the second disc, we have the band's second album The Erosion Of Sanity.  This originally appeared on the 19^th of January 1993, once again on  Roadrunner Records. it was recorded in Victor studios in Montreal, Quebec by producer Steve ‘Chopper’ Harris, who had worked with a wide variety of bands/ projects, going from the likes of  Fear Factory & Lawnmower Deth, to Natalie Imbruglia and U2. The album is a step into tech DM, with a lot more risks, twists and turns added into the record's eight tracks.

We move from “Condemned To Obscurity” with its moody piano opening that leads into complexly angular &  discordant riffing, galloping speed runs, and hissing drum ‘n’ bound bass breakdowns. Onto “A Path Beyond Premonition” which shifts between meaty chugg-outs & speed darts ‘n’ lurches- with some great uneasy/  off-kilter bass line activities weave here and there. Though to “Dormant Misery” which starts with layered & ornate acoustic guitar, before launching into a manic DM workout, which dartling shifts between grim speeding runs, mid-paced angularity ‘n’ chugg, and galloping Trash-outs. The CD is finished off with once again two demo versions of album tracks.  As an album The Erosion Of Sanity is a great follow-up release, which shows the band offering up a wonderful, at points quite unpredictable tech death album. Sure, it’s not as avant-garde/ unbalancing as later albums like Obscura or Colored Sands, but there are hints where they might go down the line.

It's great to see these two albums getting a double CD reissue, as the first album was last repressed in 2016, and the second in 2006. If you’re a fan of 90s DM, and when it switches into more challenging tech DM, then this is most certainly something you need to check out.