PHOBIA - SERENITY THROUGH PAIN - DEATHVOMIT/NECROPOLIS
Anyone who likes, supports or buys music from Napalm Death should own one piece of Music from Phobia. It would only be correct to label Phobia the underground's answer to Napalm Death. The implication is not that Phobia is a Napalm clone - just that conceptual and grinding similarities exist. Phobia has endured the whole nineties and beyond without compromise to bring us energy-laden fast and heavy music untarnished by the ravage of the years. In fact when I compare Serenity... with the band's 1993 output, one could argue that this material is both faster and heavier! The message too is on the money. As songs like Sieg Help, Poison Your Mind and B.u.s.h. - and the inside jacket's graphics - demonstrate the California grinders have their heads screwed on the right way. This is some potent stuff to combat the weaknesses of today's scene! - Ali "The Metallian"