Over the years, I've been called a numb skull, called people numb skulls, and even gotten very drunk and HAD a numb skull, but I've never heard of the metal band NUM SKULL. Originally released on LP by Medusa in 1988, NUM SKULL's Ritually Abused quickly went out of print. 26 years later, Relapse unearthed this criminally underheard thrash classic and reissued it on CD, LP, and Digital formats. What's it take for a lost album to get the Relapse reissue treatment? Let's take a gander.

NUM SKULL is fast, violent thrash that borders on death metal, but, while moving with the pace of death, it keeps it's thrash roots firmly planted and reminds the listener why this genre so easily took the world by storm. Reminiscent of Morbid Saint and Exhorder's Slaughter In the Vatican, Ritually Abused starts fast, stays fast, ends fast, and attempts to chew your balls of with its ferocity all the way through. After a brief intro ("The End" ... at the beginning?), "Ritually Abused" starts with classic moshing stomp before blasting into blasting drums, quick riffs, and gruff but sung vocals. Following convention, more stomp and mosh is introduced before buzzsaw guitars bring us to the thrashed out, balls to the wall bridge with expected guitar solo. This seems to be the convention on the album, and there's nothing wrong with that. Following the genre phrasings and arrangements is perfectly fine when the band puts the chops and intensity into the music that it's playing. NUM SKULL has both and isn't afraid to show 'em off.

Ritually Abused follows the standard thrash formula, but elevates itself from the many faceless bands of the time by cranking it up to 11, putting on a combat boot, and stomping your nuts into dust. NUM SKULL is a tight unit with no one instrument outshining the others. The original release is only underheard due to the limited availability, not because of content. Thanks to Relapse, many genre fans new and old will get to experience this awesome piece of the 80's thrash scene.