Band:	Spinal Cord
Album:	Stigmata Of Life
Style:	Death metal, Thrash metal
Release date:	2004
A review by:	Jeff

01. Burn Them All
02. Body Dismorphy
03. Retrospection
04. Mind Killer
05. Amphitheatre
06. Storm
07. Ramirez
08. Beg For A Fast Death
09. Stigmatized Possessed
10. Critical Moment (Dead End)
11. Epitaph
12. Exile

Formed in 1999, Spinal Cord is actually one of the other bands of Marcin Nowak (Vader). Like Vader, Spinal Cord plays some kind of technical Death/Thrash Metal and really the second album of their discography is a really great piece of music. I highly recommend it to all the people who like Vader and Death Metal from Poland in general.

"Stigmata Of Life" is violent, aggressive and tortured. This album is a pure release of extreme blasting Death Metal but like with Vader we have great melodies and excellent guitar soli too. We have a lot of Thrash Metal influences on "Stigmata Of Life" (especially with the tempo and guitar soli) this is fast as hell and the riffs are devastating. Though as I said just above, "Stigmata Of Life" is melodic and the melodies are beautiful. This release is real album of Polish Death Metal and all the people who like Vader like Devilyn will not be lost here. This is just the same kind of music! On the other hand, "Stigmata Of Life" is not really original, this is solid as hell of course but if you use to listen to Polish Death Metal, you'll not find anything new here. It works, it's well done etc but it's not original, so don't expect to be surprised by this album.

I have in my hand the re-released version of this album which was released in 2004 actually. The production, the artwork, the track-list are still the same. Even if it's great that Metal Mind chose to re-release this album (which deserved a better promotion) it's a bit sad that we don't have anything new on the album (why not some bonus tracks?). All in all, if you already have this release, no need to have a look on this one but for sure now it will be easier for all the people who can be interested by "Stigmata Of Life" to find it in your records shop.

If you like classy technical Death/Thrash Metal, if you like devastating riffs and blasting drums, be sure that you'll check this release. Even after four years the music of "Stigmata Of Life" still works so why couldn't you have a look on it? Really, "Stigmata Of Life" is a great album despite its big lack of originality but I hope that the band will find a way to release a new CD as soon as possible now. Highly recommended for all the fans of complex Death Metal.