No Return, Contamination Rises

No Return, Contamination Rises - "Formed in 1989, the French band No Return was the first band signed by Semetary Records. The fledging label marked No Return as their highest priority and quickly sent the band to Germany to record their debut album, Psychological Torment, with Coroner drummer Marquis Marky serving as producer. The record was well-received in Germany and France. The band traveled to America to record their sophomore release at Morrisound in Tampa, FL, with producer/engineer Tom Morris (Morbid Angel, Savatage, Coroner). With Contamination Rises, No Return established themselves as the premier underground French band".

The 1991 album 'Contamination Rises' is a typical-sounding, early-90's Death Metal offering, with a barrage of wild guitar brutality interspersed with semi-technical solos and riffage. The album manages to create a tight and proficient Death Metal offering, with twelve tracks of well-written and diverse music.

The tracklisting is as follows:

1. Damnation

2. Memories

3. Raving Lunatic

4. Uncontrolled Situation

5. Trash World

6. Sacred Bones

7. World Of Impurities

8. Civil War

9. Perversion

10. Sorrow

11. Mass Grave

12. Revolt Of The Hanged

The album begins with the 26sec intro track 'Damnation' that sounds like it belongs as an intro on a Deicide album. The album races by from here on in, with each track delivering a high speed, technically sound death metal number. Track ten, 'Sorrow,' is a haunting, ambient number that reflects the band's ability to create a beautiful lament track that is purely instrumental.

All in all, 'Contamination Rises' is a prime example of Death Metal played well, with a mature and technical approach to the music. Well worth picking up.