Rather Death Than False of Faith

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".

• All songs written by Damon Maddison, unless stated

1. "Rabid" – 4:28
2. "Crucifier" – 4:45
3. "The House" – 3:33
4. "Right To Die" (Maddison, Danny Ranger) – 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)

• 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

• Hydra Vein official website