Music

Released to universally positive critical reviews in the metal press, Rather Death Than False Of Faith saw Hydra Vein hailed as the UK’s answer to Slayer. The UK thrash scene at the time (and subsequently) had been lagging behind the US and Germany both in quality of output and exposure in the media and Rather Death … was widely considered to be a decent riposte on behalf of the underdog. The album’s highlights are undoubtedly the breathless title track, the stop-start “Right To Die” and the high octane “Crucifier”.

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Track listing

  1. Rabid – 4:28
  2. Crucifier – 4:45
  3. The House – 3:33
  4. Right To Die  – 7:07
  5. Rather Death Than False Of Faith – 4:39
  6. Misanthropic – 3:12
  7. Harlequin – 7:10
  8. Guillotine – 3:25
  • Tracks 2 and 5 also appear on CMFT’s UK Thrash Assault compilation (1989)

Credits

  • Mike Keen – vocals
  • Danny Ranger – guitars
  • Stephen Davis – guitars
  • Damon Maddison – bass
  • Nathan Maddison – drums
  • Recorded and mixed February 27 – March 8, 1988 at Blue Box Studios, Hove, England
  • Produced and engineered by Mark Waterman and Charlie McLean

The follow-up to debut record Rather Death Than False of Faith was again released to much critical acclaim. Whereas in some quarters, the band had been pigeon-holed as the UK’s version of Slayer after their debut, After The Dream saw the band continue to develop an individual personality all their own. Stand-out tracks “Born Through Ignorance” and “Turning Point” show-case the band at their snarling, savage best.

Track listinghyve-2

  1. 7-U-S-C
  2. Pro Patria
  3. Born Through Ignorance;
  4. Passed Present /
  5. No Future;
  6. Turning Point
  7. After The Dream;

Credits

  • Mike Keen – vocals
  • Damon Maddison – bass
  • Nathan Maddison – drums
  • Paul Bate – guitars
  • Jon Balfour – guitars