Cadaver - Hallucinating Anxiety (1990)

intothewellsabyss
Dec 3, 2022
2 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

On December 3, 1990, Cadaver released their debut full-length studio album Hallucinating Anxiety via Necrosis Records.

Background:

Anders Odden and Ole Bjerkebakke founded Cadaver in 1988. They were later joined by bassist René Jansen (R.I.P.) and in 1989 the trio released the Abnormal Deformity demo.

The demo attracted the attention of Carcass members, Bill Steer and Jeff Walker, who signed the band to their Earache imprint label, Necrosis, subsequently releasing Hallucinating Anxiety.

The LP and MC versions of Hallucinating Anxiety were the only formats to be released individually (and with all tracks), whereas the only CD version (via Relativity Records) was a split with Carnage's only album, Dark Recollections, which omitted the track Hypertrophyan due to time constraints. Shortly after the album's release, René Jansen was replaced by Eilert Solstad.

The track listing on all versions was incorrect, as it failed to list the track Erosive Fester (track 3), and mistakenly listed Tuba and Ignominious Eczema as separate tracks (1 and 2), when they are in fact joined together as track 1. This in turn means that what is listed as track 2 and 3 (Ignominious Eczema and Corrosive Delirium, respectively) is also incorrect; tracks 2 and 3 are really "Corrosive Delirium" and Erosive Fester.

Critical Reception:

“In a primitive state of complexity resembling musically educated Grindcore, the first album from Cadaver is a Death Metal hybrid with Black Metal in the style of Merciless or early Mayhem bearing influences of grinding Death of the oldest school (Asphyx, Obituary) integrated into its stream of consciousness with the deft tremolo strumming popularized by the Swedes.

For this time, this album was ahead of the curve with harsh open-throated vocals in contrast to the guttural thunder of most Death Metal, and attempted a complexity of interlocking structures in evenly-distributed linear patterns that rivals that of Neurosis for schizophrenic logic. Interestingly, guitars create tempo over constant drums as the basis of technique, calling to mind the offbeat sliding tones of later Black Metal. While these musicians introduced many innovations and influenced others no doubt to a great degree, their music remains placed behind its stylistic creation because of prevalent characteristics that anchor it firmly in the old school, but these are unobtrusive to listeners from that genre.”

Churning riffs and familiar patterns kept this album competitive with the death metal of its day, yet its experimental and more morbid side made it distinctive at the time for its eccentric aggression.” — deathmetal.org

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells