US label MAGIC BULLET RECORDS have been around in one shape or another since 1997. In 2016 they started to reissue various older recordings in the context of celebrating being an active label for 20 years, by artists that one way or another had been assets to the label in some capacity. This split single featuring contributions by US bands Coliseum and Doomriders is among those celebratory releases, a limited edition vinyl single where the band cover classic tracks from Danzig’s debut album, originally a part of a split EP jointly released by these bands back in 2005 featuring these two tracks plus original material from both bands.

Coliseum takes on the track Am I Demon, and in this version this is a rough and raw 80’s heavy metal cut. Intense, vibrant and energetic, but with aggressive punk style shouted vocals that, at least when used on this type of music, comes across as something of an acquired taste.

Doomriders pick is Possession, which opens with an elongated psychedelic prologue consisting of textured guitar sounds and a distanced spoken voice prior to erupting into a gleefully bouncing hard guitar riffs and booming bass driven affair, with sharp, raspy yet melodic lead vocals and a certain raw, honest and lo-fi sound as a key feature throughout. Not without flaws, but with tons of honest, rough charm making up for some arguable shortcomings.

Those who enjoy rough, raw and honest 80’s metal will most likely find this single to be a charming one, despite of or because of the songs here being covers of songs from Danzig’s debut album. A single that makes me recall the really underground metal albums of the 80’s, in a good way.

My rating: 90/100