'THE GRIMOIRE OF EXALTED DEEDS' ZINE Nr.5 / Jan 1996 (USA)
	c/o BILL ZEBUB
	*Reviewed by METAL MONSTER
	Despise State of Brutality Demo

     When Infernal Majesty recorded their None Shall Defy, critics blasted them for the similarity to Slayer.But this was not entirely a source of ridicule, for the music was still enjoyable.So too, with Despise.Many of the Reign in Blood structures and musical tendencies are evident.But I would not exactly refer to them as a copy band, at least in the present tense of Slayer, for those have-beens have not produced brutal songwriting in a long time.The vocals remind me of early Death Row, from the Raging Steel album.Of course I understand that I might have made a couple of references to bands you haven't heard, so if you don't know what I'm talking about, the best way to describe the vocals is to state that they are more thrash than death metal, but not gay thrash like the fat-ass in Exodus.I'm talking about early thrash when it was relatively heavy.In all honesty, I would pay for this or any other demo from Despise because it's good music.I personally am disgusted by reviewers who can only criticise with words like 'unoriginal'.I don't think that Despise is unoriginal or a rip-off.'Similarity' to a particular band is not the same is 'imitation'.It is bands like Despise that keep the word of 'thrash' from being used as a term to define 'gay'.

	'ELYSIUM' ZINE Nr.4 / Jan 1996 (FINLAND)
	*Reviewed by MIKKU LAPPALAINEN
	Despise:'State of Brutality'

     Four tracks of Greek thrash metal does not sound much of fun,but these guys and a gal surely bash out some of the best late '80's thrash metal I've heard in a long time!Of course it's not the hippest stuff around,but they're perfectly building on the best of thrash traditions in the veins of the greatest thrash metal shit, early works of bands like SACRED REICH (who DESPISE especially remind me of), DARK ANGEL, INVOCATOR, KREATOR and even the gods SLAYER.DESPISE really have the understanding and profound knowledge how this sort of music should be done and they do it really well...It sounds really good for a change and makes me want to dig up my old thrash vinyls for a spin, so nothing but thumbs up from me!Great sound, experience since the year 1986,aggression, tightness, melancholic vibe, synchronized guitars and muthafukin' fast tempo nearly all the time