Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Third Degree - Outstay - 2005 - Self Made God

Track Listing1. Let's Hail Satan 2. Piggsy 3. Everywhere And Nowhere 4. Ojcze Moj 5. Pope Died Tonight 6. Sick 7. Why Are They Not Coming? 8. No Forgiveness 9. This Is Not Life!!! 10. Divine Intergrity 11. Never Gonna Get Me 12. God Sees You 13. Zamienie

It has been quite some time since I've heard a really good dose of old school death metal. Leave it to those guys over at Self Made God to serve up some grinding crust, this time delivering the proverbial goods with Third Degree, and their sophomore effort "Outstay", complete with beheaded fish album artwork. This Polish act recall early Benediction, Napalm Death, and maybe some of Bolt Thrower's brutal death sound, all neatly wrapped up in tight, precise drum patterns and chaotic, speedy guitar chops.

Up until now I've never heard the band, and I find that really odd considering the amount of bombastic, ear shattering rampages on display here. Third Degree move quick and precise, really creating a thunderstorm of tight, machine like death metal. The big, crushing groove riffs and timing changes are all here and better than some of the early legends I mentioned before. Healthy cuts like "Pope Died Tonight" and "Let's Hail Satan" dish up some fast punches, highlighted by Wojtek Blaszkowski's fast footwork behind the skins, all tightly wrapped up in the fast picking of guitarists Pawlowski and Czech. Vocalist Tomasz Bardega works his way into the mix in much the same register as a Barney Greenway or Dave Ingram. Of course it wouldn't be grindcore without the sadistic humor and Third Degree has plenty of that, just see "Piggsy":

"He's got a chainsaw!!!
A fuckin' chainsaw!!
He's got a chainsaw!!!
And he's gonna tear my flesh apart"

Bottom Line - Missing the sounds of early Napalm Death and Bolt Thrower, turn to the Third Degree!


--EC 11.27.05