Various Artists "Metal Massacre VII (1994 Reissue, Remastered, USA, Metal Blade Records, 3984-14071-2)"

Metal Massacre is a series of compilation albums released through Metal Blade Records. It is famous for "shedding light" on bands such as The Obsessed, Trouble, Overkill, Metal Church, Metallica, Slayer, Virgin Steele, Hellhammer, Voivod, Armored Saint, Lizzy Borden, Possessed and more.

In 1981, Brian Slagel, founder of Metal Blade Records, decided to put out a compilation of unsigned, underground metal bands. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s he continued to release more volumes of the compilations. Metal Massacre XII was released in 1995 and was the final Metal Massacre album until Metal Massacre XIII, released 11 years later in 2006. Metal Massacre XIII differed from the previous releases which featured primarily unsigned bands, containing mostly established bands on the Metal Blade roster.

Metal Massacre VII – 1986

1. "Impulse" – Heretic – 4:18
2. "Sentinel Beast" – Sentinel Beast – 5:20
3. "I Live, You Die" – Flotsam and Jetsam – 6:19
4. "Rented Heat" – Krank – 4:09
5. "Backstabber" – Mad Man – 2:53
6. "Widow's Walk" – Détente – 2:20
7. "High 'n' Mighty" – Commander – 4:16
8. "In the Blood of Virgins" – Juggernaut – 4:13
9. "Reich of Torture" – Cryptic Slaughter – 2:33
10. "The Omen" – Have Mercy – 4:18
11. "The Awakening" – Titanic – 4:42
12. "Troubled Ways" – Lost Horizon – 4:31

All songs published by Bloody Skull Music (BMI)

Administered by Bug Music

©1994 Metal Blade Records

Cryptic Slaughter "Speak Your Peace"

Cryptic Slaughter was an American crossover thrash band based in Santa Monica, California, United States, and originally formed in 1984.

Cryptic Slaughter was formed in 1984 by Les Evans (age 17), Scott Peterson (age 14) and Adam Scott (age 15), who met through their mutual participation in the American Youth Soccer League (AYSO). Soon they were joined by Bill Crooks (age 15), a friend of Adam Scott and a fellow soccer player. Adam Scott was let go a few months later due to conflicts regarding his parents and school.

Speak Your Peace is the fourth and final album from crossover thrash/hardcore punk band Cryptic Slaughter. It was released in 1990 on Metal Blade Records and follows 1988's Stream of Consciousness. Actually, the band had split up following the 1988 album and remaining member, Les Evans, relocated from California to Oregon and reformed with three new members, including former Wehrmacht drummer, Brian Lehfeldt. The resulting album was quite a change in style for the band, moving from their hardcore punk roots more to a crossover thrash sound, complete with quirky rhythms and melodies. The band again split shortly after this release.

Track listing

1. "Born Too Soon" (Dave Hollingsworth, Les Evans, Bret Davis) – 5:15
2. "Still Born, Again" (Hollingsworth, Evans) – 3:32
3. "Insanity by the Numbers" (Hollingsworth, Davis) – 2:39
4. "Co-Exist" (Hollingsworth, Evans, Davis) – 4:10
5. "Deathstyles of the Poor and Lowly" (Hollingsworth, Davis) – 2:00
6. "One Thing or Another" (Hollingsworth, Evans, Davis) – 3:12
7. "Divided Minds" (Hollingsworth, Evans) – 4:24
8. "Speak Your Peace" (Hollingsworth, Evans, Brian Lehfeldt) – 3:20
9. "Killing Time" (Hollingsworth, Evans) – 5:15

Issued with inner lyric sleeve.

Cover concept by Cryptic Slaughter.

Recorded Dogfish Sound, Newberg, Oregon, USA

Produced by Cryptic Slaughter and Drew Canulette

Engineered by Drew Canulette

Mixed at Pace Video Center, Portland, Oregon, USA

Cover art by Mike King and Steve Cheese