WARFARE - Total Death 12" Vinyl EP Album

- 1985 RoadrunneR Records Release

Front cover of Warfare's Total Death EP featuring bold grey block letters spelling WARFARE, slashed by bloody barbed wire and gothic red text reading Total Death EP

"Total Death" is an EP (Extended Play) record from the NWOBHM Metal band "Warfare". The band-members at the time of the recording include EVO, Falken and Gunner. "Algy Ward" was responsible for the production. It has been recorded at the "Impulse 24 Studio". Keith Nichol was responsible for the sound engineering. Album cover artwork was by Elky-Fritz-Otch-Apple.

WARFARE - Total Death EP: Blitzkrieg in a 12-Inch Package
Album Description:

If 1985 was a sonic warzone, then Warfare's "Total Death" EP was a grenade lobbed right into the heart of it. This wasn't some dainty collection of love ballads or radio-friendly anthems; it was a four-track assault on the senses, a declaration of sonic warfare against the mundane and the mediocre.

By this point, Warfare had already established themselves as key players in the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) movement. But with "Total Death," they weren't just playing the game; they were rewriting the rules. It was a raw, visceral blast of energy, a middle finger raised to the polished and the pretentious.

This EP wasn't about technical prowess or musical complexity; it was about pure, unadulterated aggression. Imagine Motörhead on a bad day, Venom with a chip on their shoulder, and you're getting close. The title track, "Total Death," is a relentless onslaught of distorted guitars and pummeling drums. Vocalist Paul Evo snarls his lyrics with a venomous intensity, painting a bleak picture of a world on the brink of destruction.

Musically, Warfare weren't reinventing the wheel. They were rooted in the classic heavy metal tradition, but they injected it with a punk rock energy and a streetwise swagger. Songs like "Burn Down the King" and "Nuclear Attack" are stripped-down and brutal, with no time for solos or frills. The production, handled by the band themselves, is rough and raw, capturing the intensity of their live shows.

"Total Death" wasn't without its controversies. The EP's lyrics, with their references to violence and apocalyptic imagery, raised eyebrows in some quarters. But Warfare weren't afraid to push boundaries, to challenge the status quo. They weren't looking for approval; they were looking to make a statement.

Roadrunner Records, the label that released "Total Death," was known for its roster of cutting-edge metal bands. They weren't concerned with commercial success; they were about giving a platform to the underground. Warfare fit perfectly into this ethos, and the EP became a cult classic among fans of the heavier side of metal.

Looking back, "Total Death" stands as a testament to Warfare's uncompromising spirit. It's not an easy listen, but it's a powerful one. It's a reminder that heavy metal can be more than just entertainment; it can be a weapon of rebellion and a channel for raw emotion. In a world of polished pop metal and manufactured angst, Warfare were the real deal.

Transcript of the liner notes on the album back:

And so the Noise, Filth and Fury, Metal Noise Mix, and Pure Filth, thundered forth into the desolate night, like a gargantuan engine of death an immense mechanical annihilator which blazed out of the darkness, shattering all auditory barriers within its path, and imposing a state of lawless cacophony upon the minds of all those it encountered. Its black, guttural sound rolled forth across the barren heavens, enshrouded the metropolises of the world with its dark abandon, raping the innocence of mankind, and enchanting all and sundry with a promise of even greater achievements to come, proclaiming future deeds of a magnitude and immensity hitherto unrealised in the world of history. The new age of total warfare marches on, uncontrollable, irrepressible, invincible .. . come on turn it up.

Album Fact Sheet: WARFARE Total Death

Music Genre:

NWOBHM, Heavy Metal 

Album Production Information:

The album: "WARFARE Total Death" was produced by: Algy Ward, Keith Nicho

  • Algy Ward - Singer, Bass Guitarist, Record Producer

    From The Saints to The Damned to Tank: Algy Ward's bass always sounds like it wants a fight.

    Algy Ward is the rare beast who carried punk's spit into heavy metal's engine room. With The Saints (1977-1979) he learned how to make a bass line snarl; with The Damned (1979-1980) he helped drive the "Machine Gun Etiquette" comeback like the amplifier was on fire. In 1980 he formed Tank and stayed on the front line - vocals and bass slung low - through the first run (1980-1989), the later revival (1997-2003), and his own late-era return (2013-2023). He wasn't chasing studio perfection; he leaned into volume, grit, and speed, and he also stepped into production work when needed. I always hear him as a moving wall: not fancy, not polite, just forward motion until it hurts.

    Algy Ward Wiki

    • Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Keith Nichol

  • Keith Nichol – Producer, Sound Engineer

    Neat’s in-house studio hand gives "Wiped Out" that rough-edged Newcastle bite, all speed, sweat, and no velvet padding.

    Keith Nichol, producer and sound engineer closely tied to the Neat Records workshop, helped shape the raw NWOBHM racket coming out of Newcastle in the early 1980s. On "Wiped Out", his production keeps Raven fast, sharp, and slightly dangerous around the edges; the sound is not polished into boredom, thank heavens, but left with enough grit to make the speakers sweat.

    • This album was recorded at: Impulse 24 Track

    Album cover design: Elky-Fritz-Otch-Apple

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    RoadrunneR Records – RR 125499

    Record Format:

    12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

    Total Album (Cover+Record) Weight: 230 gram

    Year & Country:

    1985 Netherlands
    Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: WARFARE Total Death
    • Falken – Bass
      Falken was the original bassist for the British heavy metal band Warfare, formed in 1982 alongside drummer/vocalist Paul "Evo" Evans and guitarist Gunner. He played on the band's early releases, including their debut album Pure Filth (1984), produced by Algy Ward of Tank. Falken's tenure with Warfare lasted until 1985, after which he was replaced by Zlaughter. His real name is David Taylor.
    • Evo – Drums, Vocals
      Evo is the stage name of Paul Evans, a British musician best known as the founder, drummer, and vocalist of the influential metal band Warfare, formed in 1984. Known for fusing punk’s raw energy with the speed and heaviness of early thrash and NWOBHM, Evo helped pioneer the punk-metal crossover sound. Warfare’s debut album Pure Filth was produced by Venom’s Cronos, reflecting their underground credibility. As the driving force behind Warfare, Evo became a cult figure in extreme metal for his aggressive style, anti-mainstream attitude, and unapologetic approach.
    • Gunner – Guitar
      The guitarist known as Gunner from the British metal band Warfare is Kelvin Johnson. He was a founding member of the band, which formed in 1984 alongside drummer/vocalist Paul "Evo" Evans and bassist Falken. Gunner played a significant role in shaping Warfare's aggressive blend of punk and metal during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) era. He remained with the band until 1990, contributing to their early and influential releases.
    Complete Track-listing of the album "WARFARE Total Death"

    The detailed tracklist of this record "WARFARE Total Death" is:

    Track-listing Side One:
    1. Metal Anarchy
    Track-listing Side Two:
    1. Rape
    2. Burning Up
    3. Destroy
    Front cover of Warfare's Total Death EP featuring bold grey block letters spelling WARFARE, slashed by bloody barbed wire and gothic red text reading Total Death EP

    The album cover of Warfare – Total Death EP is a striking and aggressive visual design. Dominating the artwork are oversized, heavy grey block letters spelling out the band’s name, WARFARE, in a stacked and staggered format across the top two-thirds of the cover.

    Slicing horizontally through the text are three jagged strands of red-and-white barbed wire, each dripping with vivid red blood. The barbed wire intersects the letters forcefully, with droplets clinging to the sharp points and pooling around the wounds in the text, suggesting pain and violence.

    Beneath the band name, in the lower third of the image, the album title Total Death EP is written in bold, stylized red gothic lettering. This typeface is ornate, medieval in appearance, and evokes a sense of dark drama and intensity.

    The entire design is set against a plain white background, emphasizing the brutal simplicity and rawness of the imagery. The contrast between the cold grey of the lettering, the stark white backdrop, and the blood-red barbed wire and title text creates a powerful visual tension that mirrors the music's confrontational nature.

    Album Back Cover  Photo of "WARFARE Total Death"
    Back cover of Warfare Total Death EP featuring a blood-dripping frame around a band photo, a dramatic liner note text, tracklisting, and production credits

    The back cover of Warfare – Total Death EP delivers a visceral and visually intense presentation, consistent with the album’s brutal sound and theme. Dominating the upper half of the cover is a block of dramatic liner notes in black text on a stark white background. The text describes the music as a force of "Noise, Filth and Fury" thundering into the night like a "gargantuan engine of death," emphasizing the chaos and destruction embodied by the EP.

    Centered in the layout is a black-and-white photo of the three band members—Evo, Gunner, and Falken—posed with grim, defiant expressions and intense rock attire. The photo is enclosed in a jagged, red barbed wire frame, dripping with exaggerated, bright-red blood, creating a violent and anarchic visual statement.

    On the left side of the image, in bold red uppercase text, is the heading for Side One: Metal Anarchy. On the right side, Side Two is listed: Rape, Burning Up, and Destroy.

    Beneath the band photo, the personnel are listed in large black font: EVO (Drums and Lead Vocals), GUNNER (Guitars), and FALKEN (Bass). The production credits follow in smaller text, naming Algy Ward as the producer and noting the recording location at Impulse 24 Studio. Publishing and distribution information, along with acknowledgments, are also included, concluding with a tongue-in-cheek "thanks to absolutely no-one."

    The bottom left corner features the RoadrunneR Records logo and catalog number RR 125499. The bottom right credits the cover design to Elky-Fritz-Otch-Apple. This back cover solidifies the album’s raw underground identity with a provocative, blood-soaked punk-metal aesthetic.

    Enlarged & Zoomed photo of "WARFARE Total Death" Record's Label

    Using the marked/"highlighted" rectangles below , you will be able to correctly identify this release of the album.

    Label of Warfare Total Death EP Roadrunner RR 125499, side 1 with track Metal Anarchy, 1985, made in Holland, STEMRA 45 RPM, produced by Algy Ward, published by Complete Music London

    This is a close-up image of the vinyl label for side one of the Warfare – Total Death EP, issued by Roadrunner Records in 1985. The label is printed on a light gray background with black and red text. Centered at the top is the bold red Roadrunner logo inside a bordered box, with the large capital letter "R" highlighted on the right.

    Below the spindle hole is the text: WARFARE "TOTAL DEATH" followed by the track listing for side one: 01. METAL ANARCHY. The songwriting credits—Evans, Taylor, Johnson—are given in parentheses, along with the track’s duration: 3 minutes and 19 seconds. The track was produced by Algy Ward and published by Complete Music, London.

    To the left of the center hole, the label states: SIDE 1, STEREO, and catalog number RR 125499. On the right side, it lists the collecting society STEMRA, the playback speed 45 RPM, and the year © 1985. Running vertically along the right edge in red uppercase is the text: MADE IN HOLLAND.

    Along the bottom, the text reads: © 1985 Neat Records with a repeat of the year, the Roadrunner logo again, and copyright declaration. The outer rim contains a red circular legal notice warning against unauthorized use of the recording.

    This label confirms the Dutch pressing of the EP and highlights its original release through the collaboration between Neat Records and Roadrunner, with production by a prominent figure in the NWOBHM scene.

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