Demo review: Phthisis - Embodiment of Decay (2020)

PHTHISIS - Embodiment of Decay (Demo 2020)

USA

Brutal Cave Productions

“Embodiment of Decay” is the debut demo from Colorado miscreants, PHTHISIS, and was released by BRUTAL CAVE PRODUCTIONS (Portugal) on CD. The demo features 4 tracks of cavernous Death/Doom, with a pinch of power electronics on the first and third track. The vocalist emits a powerful growl, backed by hellish rasps here and there. The guitars are well executed and do a good job at conjuring an ominous atmosphere. The bass is nicely laced in the mix and add an extra layer of heaviness. The drums are well implemented, with the drummer doing some pretty inventive fills and stuff. The production also isn't bad for a demo and does well at augmenting the performance. The atmosphere evokes horrifying images of being locked in a dark room with some hideous monstrosity. “Embodiment of Decay” is definitely a very solid entry and considering that it's the band's first demo. 4 tracks of pure sinister Death/Doom madness that clocks at 23 minutes. Recommended. (HT)

https://brutalcaveproductions.bandcamp.com/album/embodiment-of-decay

Demo review: Shitangel - Demo XXX (2020)

Shitangel - Demo XXX

Vermont / USA

Born For Burning Productions

Those with a penchant for some decidedly raw and blasphemous black/death/thrash, will do well to check out the latest demo from Vermont-based maniacs, Shitangel. Their music evokes an evil aura in the vein of bands like Sarcofago, Necrovore, Blasphemy, Parabellum, etc., supplemented with a cavernous production complimentary to the style.

The band's name and “artwork” gives the impression of something foul and unholy, and that's exactly what you will be subjected to after pressing play. All the instruments are well arranged. I love the effects used for the vocals; they are really cool and go hand in glove with the putrid atmosphere. The riffs are sick and just what the doctor ordered. The music possess a menacing tone replete with an adoration for the classic black/death/thrash abyss of yesteryear.

On the balance, “Demo XXX” offers 5 tracks of pure hellish metal of death made for maniacs pure, so If you're a dork for clean sounding metal, then don't fucking bother. Killer demo!!!(HT)

Demo review: Maze of Terror - Death Worshipers (2019)

 

Maze of Terror – Death Worshipers – Demo (2019)

Peru

Independent

Peruvian death-thrashers Maze of Terror released an absolute scorcher of an album back in 2016 titled, “Ready To Kill.” I loved the aggression and ballsy attitude of that album. Fast forward to 2019, after a split and two EPs, the band released this killer demo called “Death Worshipers.” The four songs on this demo are very well composed and contains absolutely no filler at all. The music can be described as thrash metal, although in the most uncompromising sense imaginable. They also incorporate some black and death metal elements into their sound. The vocalist is a maniac and sounds like he is hell-bent on murdering someone. All instruments are well played and blend together nicely, coupled with a solid production that enables you to hear everything. The guitarist's penchant for solos is impressive and it definitely sounds like he knows what he's doing. I must say, for a thrash metal band, Maze of Terror sounds more extreme than a lot of black and death metal bands. The music on this demo is raw, unapologetic, and fierce. I love the sample on the first song, 'Incubus,' which is taken from the cult horror movie The Entity. Anyway, if radio-friendly “pizza thrash” is your thing, then stay far away from Maze of Terror. These Peruvian maniacs will skin you alive. (HT)

https://mazeofterror.bandcamp.com/

EP review: The Incursion - Pandemonium (2020)

The Incursion – Pandemonium - EP (2020)

USA

Our Ancient Future

California's The Incursion release their debut EP, “Pandemonium,” featuring 7 tracks of tumultuous black/death metal that goes straight for the skull. The music is fairly fast, featuring speedy drums, bestial vocals, and an apocalyptic wall of dissonance that penetrate the senses with lethal force. This is pretty filthy stuff. The music is about as straight-forward as it gets, with chaos and hate as its focal doctrine. There are no guitar solos, which is something I like to hear in war metal. The music is played with passion and decidedly ferocious, with snippets of brilliance throughout; however, the band still needs to evolve their sound a bit, seeing as that they have the potential. For its 20 minute duration, this EP sure leaves a devastating blow. If you enjoy bands like Nexul, Antichrist Siege Machine, Human Agony, etc., then absolutely check these guys out.(HT) 

https://ancientfuture.bandcamp.com/album/pandemonium

Demo review: Garden of Eyes - Altar of Despair (2020)

 

Garden of Eyes – Altar of Despair – Demo (2020)

England

Cryptic Blood Records

Garden of Eyes is a one-man manifestation spawned from the depths of Nordwich, England, with sole member Nattskog handling all instruments on its latest demo, “Altar of Despair.” Personally, I always like to check out new death metal bands from the UK, even though the amount of quality death metal from over there may not always be in abundance, but the few that manage to pop up on my radar never fail to impress me. Garden of Eyes utilizes the Swedish axe tone, but what makes them a bit different is their varied use of tempos, and the fact that the music is mostly slow, evil and excruciatingly heavy, paired with a cavernous vocal assault that sounds like it was spewed from the mouth of some hideous ghoul. The band refers to their music as “Rotten Eldritch Death Metal” and the description couldn't be more spot on. Programmed drums can be a hit or miss, but are well done in this case, adding a heavy dynamic to the music. The atmosphere on this release is absolutely morose and makes me think of being lost in some underground catacomb filled with all things decayed. The three songs on “Altar of Despair” offers a tasty 12 minutes of pure charnel, unholy death metal that is bound to raise a few dead souls every time you press play. (HT)

https://ahpnrecords.bandcamp.com/album/altar-of-despair

Demo review: Roudansirppi – III (2019)

 

Roudansirppi – III – Demo (2019) 

Finland

Hessian Firm

Raw black metal would be a good place to start when describing Roudansirppi's music. Their latest demo features four lengthy tracks of mournful, atmospheric black metal that takes us back to the old days. Each song is comprised of despondent screams, buzzing guitars, and an atmosphere that conjures images of vast and barren landscapes. The music is decidedly primitive, but also cohesive, supplemented with a low-fi production that is sure to please diehard fans. You basically have all the hallmarks of classic black metal written all over this, but minus the Satanism. The band also incorporates some keyboards and clean vocals here and there, which is a nice touch and adds depth to the music. Overall, the material on this demo is quite strong, as “III” is a release that will find its appeal among fans of the most cult and austere type of black metal. The CD can be obtained through Hessian Firm. (HT)

https://roudansirppi.bandcamp.com/album/iii

Demo review: Chronicles - Astōdān (2020)

 

Chronicles - Astōdān (2020)

Bangladesh

Independent

Chronicles (or “ChronicleS” as the band prefers to spell it) is a young death metal band from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and “Astōdān” is their latest demo. When I think of the Bangladeshi scene, bands like Orator, Morbidity, and Nafarmaan comes to mind. That being said, it's always interesting to hear new and upcoming bands from the South Asian scene. The demo has a fairly underproduced sound, which gives the music a sinister, subterranean-like feel, paired with their predilection for occult themes pertaining to Angra-Mainyu. These five songs are fairly well played, and while I wouldn't really say it's anything special, the music on this demo is quite good and straight-forward, with a sound that gives nods to bands like Mortem, Autopsy, Necrovore, etc. The demo offers five tracks of raw, abyssic death metal, including a dandy cover of Hellhammer's Messiah, showing their appreciation for the classics. Overall, it's a decent entry from a young Bangladeshi horde showing a knack for blasphemous black/death metal. The underground is alive in Bangladesh and bands like Chronicles is proof of that. (HT)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPOqyZOAS_c&feature=youtu.be

Demo review: Cambion - Unfold Chaos Supreme (2015)

 

Cambion – Unfold Chaos Supreme (2015)

International

Lavadome Productions

Cambion is an international project with members situated in the US and Germany. "Unfold Chaos Supreme" is the band's debut demo from 2015, featuring five songs of blisteringly fast and menacing black/death metal that hits the listener like a freight train. The songs are backed with a considerably good production which works in favour of the excellent rhythms and tempos therein. The intensity is taken to its peak, with insane, wizard-like drumming perpetually battering away, while jaw-dropping riffs and solos are hammered out with fervour and precision. The vocalist commands the chaos, belching out sickened rasps of madness and malice rendering a more blackened element to the music. The guitar solos on this release are absolutely top-tier, fast and precise, and brings to mind Gene Palubicki. A pinch of thrash-infused riffs also makes its way in the mix, showing an affinity for old school metal. The band shows a great capacity for fast, ferocious and evil blackened death metal, coupled with excellent musicianship. For a first demo, it sure packs a hefty punch, and keeping that in mind, I'd definitely like to hear more material from this band. This demo is absolutely sick and I cannot recommend it enough. For fans of Angelcorpse, Force of Darkness, Hacavitz, etc. (HT)

https://lavadome.bandcamp.com/album/unfold-chaos-supreme

Demo review: Mesmeric Revelation (2020)

 

Mesmeric Revelation – Demo 2020

India

Black Cum Productions

You know you're in for a treat when a band's music gets dubbed as "Kolkata Gutter Grind" by their label. The story began when I logged into facebook one day and saw that all my friends had posted this. So after listening to it I immediately purchased the cassette and had no regrets. The music can be described as blackened noise-grind in the same vein as their label peers Methgoat. The guitars on this EP are tremelo picked, backed by a massively thick, raw production filthy enough to stain the horizon. Strangely enough, for this style the lead guitars will pop up throughout the mix several times, mostly strummed high notes, brief and fitting for what you're being subjected to. The drums will stay on constant alternating blasts with the tempo not changing much except for a few short, slower parts here and there. Lastly, the vocals are drowned in reverb and echo, which gives the music an immensely evil effect, making the vocalist sound like a descendant of Kali herself. This has been on my playlist regularly since it was released. If you're a fan of Nyogthaeblisz, Chaos Cascade, or Methgoat, this will be right up your alley. Special thanks to Kolkata Inner Order Propaganda and War Vellum for all the sick music lately. (LR)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IyydtuFwL8

Demo review: Koffin - Nailed Into The Coffin (2020)

 

Koffin – Nailed Into The Coffin - Demo (2020)

Estonia

Morbid Chapel Records

Koffin is a young band hailing from Tartu, Estonia, and "Nailed Into The Coffin" is their debut demo and released on CD by Morbid Chapel Records. Koffin play a chunky style of old-school Death Metal that's loads of fun to listen to. There's no doubt that these guys are inspired by old Scandinavian death metal as there is some obvious influences shining through. The band has an excellent grasp for heaviness with a sound that brings to mind bands like Convulse, Rottrevore, and Rippikoulu. The low-end production is absolutely paramount and gives the riffs the necessary crunch to distinguish itself along with everything else. Between the four members, there isn't one instrument being played that doesn't stand out, everything goes well together and the mix is excellent. At this point, I've listened to this demo several times and still can't get enough of it. Demos come and go, but few rip through you with such heaviness and conviction as the release in question. Highly recommended. (HT)

https://morbidchapelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nailed-into-the-coffin

Demo review: Grizzly Fetish - Promo 2020

Grizzly Fetish - Promo 2020 

Japan

Independent

Grizzly Fetish hail from Tokyo, Japan, and this is their newest release, a promo featuring three new songs. I wasn't able to snag an official copy so bandcamp sufficed. They have their own unique style, mixing genres like death metal with crust and adding synths to give it an ominous atmosphere. The guitars are dirty, raw, punkish and fast. The drums are programmed but don't sound too cheesy. The vocals are raspy with occasional effects that sound pretty trippy. My favourite part about this is definitely the synths; they stand out from anything I've heard before on a metal release and are nicely laced throughout. The first song starts off with a killer Entombed-esque riff that carries the song for the most part. The drums have a tendency to drop then pick back up again, which is fun when they kick back together. Towards the end, there are some synths and leads very reminiscent of Left Hand Path. The second song is basically a crust song (aside from one section of a verse that blasts for fifteen seconds). The artist creates a very unique sound, so even though it's a different genre, it doesn't feel out of place. The drums retain a basic 1-2 beat throughout, so there's nothing really special going on. The third and final track has a death 'n' roll with a little grind feel that is spastic, with the drum programming going insane and the vocal delivery all over the place. It's something you have to hear for yourself to understand. I enjoyed this a lot, it was fun and groovy. If you're a fan of Reek of the Unzen Gas Fumes, you'll enjoy this. (LR)

https://grizzlyfetish4444.bandcamp.com/album/promo2020

Review: Abstersion - Mors Vincent Omnia - Demo (2020)

Abstersion - Mors Vincent Omnia (2020)

Canada

Darker Than Black

From the first moment you hear the feedback, this demo doesn't let up. It's vicious and demands your attention. Abstersion's "Mors Vincint Omnia" tape is a 15 minute onslaught that is a pleasure to the ears and the best thing musically I've heard come out of 2020. The guitar riffs are fast, tremelo picked in the style of Bone Awl, but down tuned and with a more clean production, so it will remind me of punk occasionally. The drums don't particularly stand out as they are nonstop alternating blasts for the majority but they are good and do their part. As we get to the vocals, they are definitely something that stood out to me. It's not often you hear a black metal band using low-pitched growls throughout their entire songs but here it seems to work perfectly. There was no stand out song as they all meshed and flowed into one another ending way too soon. If you're into relentless hateful black metal with a punk edge, I would recommend checking this out. (LR)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJDbQCbsSpI