Merciless "The Awakening"

Merciless is a Swedish extreme metal band.

The band was formed during the summer of 1986 in Strängnäs, Sweden by Erik Wallin (guitar), Fredrik Karlén (bass guitar) and Stefan Carlsson (drums). They were inspired by the early fast-playing bands such as Kreator, Sodom, Destruction and Bathory. First they did some local gigs as "Obsessed" and "Black Mass" but changed their name to Merciless in early 1987. 

A demo was recorded titled Behind the Black Door, which led to the replacement of Kåle by Rogga in early 1988. With this line-up they recorded a second demo Realm of the Dark in June 1988. This demo drew the attention of Deathlike Silence Productions - the label of Euronymous. That label released their debut album The Awakening in March 1990.

One of the first underground death/thrash outfits to rise from Sweden. Merciless were also the first band to sign to the underground record label Deathlike Silence Productions, owned by Euronymous of Mayhem fame, which released their first full-length The Awakening (Anti-Mosh 01).

Tracklist:

1. Pure Hate 03:27  
2. Souls of the Dead 02:58
3. The Awakening 03:09   
4. Dreadful Fate 02:45   
5. Realm of the Dark 03:51   
6. Dying World 04:16   
7. Bestial Death 02:24  
8. Denied Birth 04:00

Time:   26:50  

This is the first press on CD released in 1993. Originally released on VINYL in 1990 by Deathlike Silence Productions. Reissued in 1993 on CD and VINYL by DSP/Voices Of Wonder.

Worldwide distribution: Voices Of Wonder

Recording information:

Recorded in summer 1989.