heavy-metal-darkness: Megace |Inner War |Golden Core Records/ZYX Music (Reissue)

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Megace |Inner War |Golden Core Records/ZYX Music (Reissue)

Release Date: July 2025
Format: Double LP
Genre: Progressive Metal, Technical Thrash Metal
Country: Germany

Megace formed in Hamburg in 1988, at a time when German thrash metal was pushing far beyond raw speed. The band entered the scene with a strong interest in demanding song structures and progressive ideas, drawing attention early through demo releases. With vocalist Melanie Bock, Megace gained a distinctive presence, combining aggressive delivery with melodic control in a way that separated them from many contemporaries. Their debut album “Human Errors” earned wide praise and slowly became a cult favorite, keeping the band’s name alive well beyond its original release period.

“Inner War” represents the second chapter of Megace’s story, originally released in 1999 and now finally receiving its first vinyl edition through Golden Core Records. The album reflects a period where technical precision and progressive thinking shaped much of the European metal underground. Thrash elements remain part of the foundation, though the music places stronger focus on melody and complex arrangements, creating a sound that sits comfortably between intensity and careful construction.

Melanie Bock’s vocal performance plays a central role throughout the album. Her range supports the music’s shifting dynamics and reinforces the emotional direction of the material. The interaction between vocals and instrumentation gives the album a distinct identity, separating it from more conventional releases of its time. The songwriting favors layered structures and evolving themes, rewarding attentive listening without drifting into excess.

This 2025 vinyl edition adds further value by including a bonus LP with demo versions and rare material, all remastered specifically for vinyl. The production, originally handled by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dirk Schlächter, benefits from the updated mastering while retaining its original character. With printed inner sleeves, liner notes, lyrics, and archival images, the release presents “Inner War” as a complete historical document rather than a simple reissue.

“Inner War” stands today as a strong example of German progressive thrash metal from a transitional era. Its growing reputation over the years explains the demand for this edition, and the album’s balance of technical discipline and melodic direction remains engaging decades after its first appearance.

Score: 8.5