Here’s a double CD release of the two albums put out by Northern British band D.A.M. during the late 80’s and early 90's. Their sound primally focused on Thrash metal, but they blended in elements of Power metal, Speed metal, and Hardcore too.

This reissue appears on Dissonance Productions- the heavy metal sub-label of Cherry Red.  The CD’s comes presented in a glossy six-panel digipak- under each disc we get a reproduction of each album's original cover art.  Also included is a twenty-page inlay booklet- this features thirteen page write-up/ come selected interviews article. With, of course, band pics, flyers, etc.

D.A.M.(  aka Destruction and Mayhem) were formed in 1985 in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe.  They recorded their first demo, Human Wreckage, in 1988- it featured four songs, with a line-up of Stuart Capstick-Vocals & Bass, John Bury- Guitars, Tony Martin-  lead Guitars  & backing Vocals, Phil Bury-Drums & backing  Vocals.  Though it seems over their career, they had somewhat of a shifting line-up- the band originally ran between 1985 and 1992, releasing the two albums featured here, Human Wreckage and Inside Out. They re-grouped in 2012,  and while the band has a presently active Facebook page- I’m not clear if they are playing shows or not, but they’ve never recorded anything new since the regroup.

So first up, we have the band's debut album, Human Wreckage- this appeared in the year 1989 on the infamous Noise label. It featured a total of ten tracks, and it’s, I’m afraid to say, a fairly generic Thrash metal record. Though that’s not say the band did'nt have spirit, and there are some decent/memorable moments.  There’s the meaty chugging meets wail leads of “Left To Rot” which brought to mind early Death Angel meets moshing Anthrax. “Total Destruction” moves between galloping- head bang-able lead riff and speeding metal verses, with some neat scorching solo work. And the title track, which mixes a bounding mid-paced riffing, gang chorus vocals, and a thrash/ traditional metal crossover feel. The CD is topped off with two bonus tracks, “Aliens” and “F.O.D”- the latter switches between speeding/ manic mosh moments, and this rather neat mid-paced Slayer-type riff. I’d say Human Wreckage is a passable/ entertaining enough late 80’s Thrash metal album.

Next up, we have the band's second album, 1991’s Inside Out, which originally appeared on Noise. It’s a nine-track affair, and woven into its Thrash metal core are elements of both power and speed metal. The songs here feel more distinctive/ not just retreads/ blends of their influences, and I’d say it stands as one better/ more interesting Thrash metal records of the early 90’s. We go from “House Of Cards” with its galloping meets darting lead riff, effective call & response gang vocals, wailing harmonics, to shredding lead breakdown. “Winters Tear” opens with a mix of moody wind effects & clear guitar, building/ bounding bass line, and expressively dramatic vocals. In time, it slips into atmospheric chugg, but we keep dipping back to clear guitar element- with an impressive mix of mid and higher ranged metal singing, which brought to mind Candlemass’s Messiah Marcolin at his most impassioned. “No Escape” kicks off with rapid power metal harmonics before kicking into speedily galloping metallics- once again with effective call & response gang vocals. At times, Human Wreckage did seem to drag/ felt like a chore to get through, with Inside Out, there is no such issue, with a great collection of well-penned/ played songs, with one or two creative/inventive touches along the way. It’s such a pity this was the band's last album.

I recall seeing adverts back in the day for D.A.M., and their cloaked, evil-eyed figure holding their cracked rock logo. I was always curious about them, but never checked them out. So I’m so glad to see this reissue- the debut album is passable, but the follow-up is way better- with a impactive/ distinctive sound.