METALLICA demonic invocation EVIL7801

Cliff Burton’s Final Stand: Metallica’s ‘Demonic Invocation’

Today’s entry is a sombre and significant piece of thrash metal history. We are examining the 1987 unofficial double LP Demonic Invocation by Metallica, released under the guise of Evil Records.

A Historic Performance

Recorded live at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon in London on September 21, 1986, this bootleg captures the band at the absolute peak of the Master of Puppets tour. The recording possesses immense historical weight as it documents one of the very last performances by bassist Cliff Burton, who would tragically perish in a bus accident in Sweden just six days later. The setlist is a relentless display of the classic lineup’s power, featuring “Battery,” “Welcome Home (Sanitarium),” and “Damage Inc.,” alongside a bass solo that serves as a poignant reminder of Burton’s talent.

Bootleg Quirks

Typical of unauthorized releases from the 1980s, the packaging is a mix of mystery and errors. While the sleeve claims the record was manufactured by “Evil – Records Ltd.” in London, collectors have identified it as a German source production. The back cover is notable for its typos, listing tracks as “Sanatorium” and the bizarrely garbled “The That Is That Should Not Be.”

Technical Details

This double album features hand-etched matrix numbers (CB 26986 A through D) in the runouts. Despite its unofficial status and rough edges, it remains a prized artifact for collectors, serving as a raw memorial to the end of Metallica’s first era.