sabbat a history of a time to come rarity

This demonic eccentricity complemented his embittered social commentary. Walkyier's vocals were as venomous and extreme as anyone a high pitched shriek with a strange tendency to emphasise an extra syllable after each word (e.g., 'the poison-NAH, infil-AH-trates-AH!'. Sneap could out-riff almost anyone, as the instrumental “A Dead Man’s Robe” shows in barebones form. The band’s fire came from the tempestuous relationship between guitarist Andy Sneap and vocalist/lyricist Martin Walkyier (the two major talents). The band sounded faster, tighter and more venomous than ever before. The album also included four new tunes, all of which are excellent. The contrast between those early versions and these album versions shows how much Sabbat had honed their sound by 1987 (when this was recorded). One more song, 'Horned is the Hunter', had appeared under a different title on a BBC radio session hosted by Tommy Vance. Three of the songs here had already appeared on the 'Fragments of a Faith Forgotten' demo back in 1986 ('A Cautionary Tale', 'Hosanna in Excelsis' and 'For Those Who Died'). Sabbat had already made three demos and a flexi before this debut album. Their bloodchilling tales of medieval British folk horror were a far cry from Xentrix covering the 'Ghostbusters' theme tune. This is a dark, serious, spiteful record.

Musically, Sabbat shared some features with German bands like Destruction and Kreator, but took an equal amount of Mercyful Fate's occult melodrama. These guys had deeper roots in NWOBHM than most thrash bands, and they embraced English folklore and history in ways that other ‘Brit-thrash’ like Xentrix and Re-Animator never imagined. Sabbat took plenty of influence from the Americans (particularly Metallica and Slayer), but there was no mistaking the 'Britishness' of their sound. 'History of a Time to Come' is the definitive UK thrash album.

Sabbat a history of a time to come rarity