Merciless — The Treasures Within

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

31 years ago today, Merciless unlocked “The Treasures Within”!

On this day (June 30) in 1992, Merciless released their second full-length studio album, “The Treasures Within” via Active Records.

Overview:

Originally formed in 1986, Merciless, which are from the Stockholm suburb of Strängnäs, were one of the leading pioneers of the Swedish Thrash-Death Metal scene! Their late ‘80s demos, “Behind the Black Door” (‘87) and “Realm of the Dark” (‘88) were highly sought after by Metalheads in the underground tape-trading world. This led to Merciless becoming the very first band signed to Deathlike Silence Productions, where they released their debut full-length, “The Awakening” (1990).

Their second album “The Treasures Within” was recorded in June and July 1991 but it was not released until a year later due to the mismanagement of their new label Active Records (the label folded one year after its release). This delay cause the departure of drummer Stipen who was replaced by Peter Stjärnvind in February 1992.

“The Treasures Within” features a similar amount of energy and intensity as “The Awakening”, but with a more precise and technical attack. This time around though, Merciless find themselves moving closer to the realm of Death Metal, with less of the Thrash aesthetic that was displayed on “The Awakening”. Dissimilar to their unrefined debut, the songs displayed here are a tad more intricate. In lieu of an all-out Thrash assault, we find a conglomeration of variable time signatures and technical structures. This is not to say that the album is weaker by any means. On the contrary, “The Treasures Within” is a knockdown, drag-out, adrenaline fueled, headbanging, fist-pumping offering of pure aggression! — E.N. Wells

Re-issues:

The album was reissued in 2003 with alternate artwork (a skeleton with a glowing yellow light emanating from its chest, on a black background) by Black Lodge records on CD (and Floga records in 2011 on LP). A near-perfect reproduction of the original LP was released by Temple Of Darkness records, 2012.

Personal Note:

There is nothing like seeing Merciless perform songs like “The Treasures Within”, “Dying World”, “Perish”, and “Branded by Sunlight” in a live performance. The intensity they bring is sheer madness! Hopefully, they make it stateside again sometime. I would definitely love to have that experience again! — E.N. Wells

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “The Treasures Within” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-treasures-within/270684013

Click this link to listen to the Henry Fries & Friends demo’s “The Treasures Within” via Spotify: The Treasures Within https://open.spotify.com/album/0WMteWDtQPUIp9coeD8kGz

Click this link to follow Merciless on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mercilessofficial-835524339886852/

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

Merciless — The Treasures Within

Overview:

Re-issues:

Personal Note:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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