While Morgoth were arguably the most recognizable death metal band to come out of Germany on the early 90s, Dortmund’s Lemming Project, whole not as lauded released 2 pretty solid and slightly more unique death metal albums in the early 90s. However, whether it was their un-90s death metal moniker or their slightly more experimental, quirky style, they never quite got the recognition that Morgoth did.

Released in 1992 on Noise Records, (who were quite a respectable European label in the late 80s early 90s), Hate and Despise was the band’s second and last album. I have a vague recollection of hearing some of the band’s first album, 1991s Extinction, but being one of those shallow minded teenagers that thought the bands name simply wasn’t cool.

Either way, Lemming Project were a little bit different to what most 1992 death metal was. While the death metal landscape was being dominated by Stockholm death metal (Entombed, Dismember), or Floridan death metal (Death, Morbid Angel Etc), Lemming Project were playing this sort of off kilter, slightly technical, weirdly eclectic, slightly mechanized death metal, not dissimilar to early Atrocity.

Though vocally and production wise rooted in Death and certainly culling from most of the genres expected early 90s influences, the band refused to simply play simple riffs, blasts or grooves for 4 minute songs, thought they used them all at some point. They played odd time changes, strange warped riffs, and other, for the times, pretty non traditional things in death metal. They also had song titles that could have certainly put off your average 17 year death metal fans ( like me): “For All Suckers”, “Judas Billygoats” and “Sperm of a New Generation”. It’s actually pretty hard to explain. But it wasn’t so far out there that its wasn’t still death metal, but certainly odd enough that your average fan listening to Obituary or Cannibal Corpse might have certainly scoffed at it. The best I can do is direct you to this and listen for your self:

Lemming Project seemed to be a classic case of ‘ahead of their time’ and Hate and Despise was certainly lost in the hey day of death metal. But thanks to someone who didn’t know what they had on their hands, I’m the proud owner of it and mighty happy about it as it looks to be one of the more unique 9and cheap) additions to my  CD collection.

Actually, this bands two releases probably deserve the  re-issue treatment more than  a lot of the stuff being re-issued now.