Dehydrated - Psychopathological Years

Compilations such as this one from Atomic Vision Productions are about as necessary as they come. The release spans less than two years of actual releases and includes the 1992 Dehydrated demo, the 1992 Suffering of the Living Mass demo, and the tracks from a 1993 split CD called Burnt from what Atomic Vision Productions claims is "A real death metal legend from Slovakia." While copies of Dehydrated's first demos are available on collector sites at reasonable prices (at least for thirty-year old obscure demo tapes) it is more than likely that few will be willing to shell out fifty or sixty dollars for two tapes to own the rarities. That said, the music available here should have fans of old school death metal shelling out that price. Dehydrated have etched into the eighteen included tracks a timeless type of death metal; forks-in-eyes, blood down the cheeks, coagulated chunks of missing flesh type death metal. Preoccupations with intellectualism and cosmology are replaced with bursts of gutty vomit and cut-scenes of gangrenous exploding corpses. And through the all the viscera is a surprising awareness of songwriting structure often left for dead in similar period demo tapes. 

The first nine tracks are from the Dehydrated demo tape. More simplistic and raw both structurally and technically, there are still standouts. "Cannibalizmus" is a favorite, with neatly twisting motifs. While it's difficult to pinpoint direct similarities, I feel a good comparison for the first demo would be something like Darkthrone's Soulside Journey. In much the same way, Dehydrated wind awkward churning melodies and atypical rhythmic patterns coated in an otherworldly resonant guitar tone. Pegas' drumming is less inventive than Fenriz's on Soulside Journey, however this allows for an easier, primal, and less philosophical feeling to the music more in line with the previously cited focus on blood-and-guts-and-flesh, as opposed to the cosmic themes of my comparison. Another unique track which stands out is the band's (maybe) namesake, "Dehydration". Slower, brooding, with a high-register opening riff, and plunky underlying bass line from Palo, it's two minutes introduces a doom-drenched tense and stressful element to the mix of their death metal. There are blitzes of grind mixed in and also hints at a respect for the best elements of thrash. It also is an omen for the possibilities that would later show on their second demo and the demo turns weird hereafter with "Vyhrabem Mŕtve Telo" incorporating a bizarre moody atmospheric vibe. 

The real gold of this compilation, however, comes from the tracks pulled from the Suffering of the Living Mass demo. Each song is memorable, unique, and barbaric. "Toxoplasmosa" opens with a crawling guitar line before switching gears to a slow doomier middle section. "Intraoseal Fibrom" mixes the fast grindy bits with slower death metal bludgeonment, crawling and mechanized guitar runs, and a climactic final twenty seconds which ends too soon and leaves you wanting to see the band expand upon the most Swedish influenced riff of the entire anthology. What also stands out is how unafraid Dehydrated is to skirt convention at times, such as the more experimental moments of "An Advanced Stage of Infections Contagion In Abdomen Cavity". With the band often veering away from standard riffs, and even tonality, there is a consistent freshness. Each listen offers new rewards, even to veteran ears. What could sound out of place or mundane on another bands record, sounds natural and invigorating for Dehydrated. The stylistic tendencies of Suffering of the Living Mass continues to the final four tracks from the Burnt split. The songs here are slightly longer, but no less compelling. "Intraoseal Fibrom" is repeated with a better production, however omitting the defining guitar lead over the last twenty seconds. I would be curious to know why the band removed it. 

With an hours worth of material, all worthy of multiple listens, there should be a copy on it's way to you already. For me, this release satisfies all the criteria which would force me to seek out the remaining material and albums. While I do not have hope for their most recently released albums having the same charm, the same atmosphere, the same old school fetidity, I do believe that their 1997 full length and previous EP are likely to be worthy of my ears. I will be seeking those out. Start here, though, with Psychopathological Years. Dehydrated prove to have been years ahead from the start. The fact that none of these tracks appear on their full lengths means that anyone interested will miss out on very high quality death metal. Vrana at Atomic Vision Productions has also put together a masterful large 8" x 11" full page layout. This is a tape deserving of space on your shelves. The Suffering of the Living Mass version of "Intraoseal Fibrom" is essential. This tape will get deck-time for sure.