Sanctorum - Crystal Tears of Silence (1994)

Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1994

1. Flight of the Dragons
2. Silent and Forgotten
3. Crimson Dawn

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Last.fm

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Holy fuck! Not quite sure how I came across this breathtaking Doom/Death band, but after seeking out this magnificent demo, I was awestruck. The kids were young at the time of this recording, the youngest being 15 years old, but displaying truly mind-boggling talent and incredible metallian prowess. It's a crying shame that Greece's military policies forced this band to split up, as they show so much potential with this masterpiece.

Clocking in at 28:56, sit back and prepare yourself for a journey of monolithic proportions through the three songs presented here. I'm not calling these guys Atmospheric for nothing, and this demo just oozes aloof, spacey undertones in a very memorable fashion, leaving the melodies embedded in your mind for days after even a single listen. Some of the most inventive and well-structured riffing I've heard in a long time. Tremolo picking is key, yet the band somehow retains a doomy, crushing, overpowering sound. I feel I'm in the lone guy at the bottom of Beksinski's ominous valley, traversing this unknown territory, letting the music wash over me... a bit overproduced, further accentuating the suffocating atmosphere, wrapping the listener up in the music. Just wait until you're hit with the occasional interlude... beautiful. The way these songs are constructed just defies my preconceptions about metal in 1993. Needless to say, Sanctorum was way ahead of its time!

Bonus fun fact: the band initially had all three of these songs rehearsed for a total of 33 or so minutes, but unknowingly bought analog cassettes that only allowed for 30 minutes of recording! Whoops! So the band had to play all these songs faster.

This is Christos's (the drummer) Youtube channel if you'd like to see what he's up to, or contact him. Those of you who'd like to contact him directly via email, send me an email and I'll hook you up.

Note that the recordings here come directly from the drummer, Christos, at 320kbps, much better quality than the Youtube rip floating around now. Also, this is the correct artwork, the one with the red lettering is most likely fan made. Scans of the entire inlay are available in the .rar archive uploaded here!

Musica Eternal - De Tenebrae (1993)

Genre: Death/Black/Electronic Metal
Country: France
Year: 1993

1. Intro
2. Book Of The Dead Names
3. The Door Painted In The Sky
4. The Doom
5. Tenebrae
6. Nocturnal Eternal

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Here's something most of you probably haven't heard... and for good reason, too! Have you seen the genre description!? Fortunately, Musica Eternal does it well with some strange synthesized, drum-programmed Black/Death Metal. There are times where it seems more Black than others, but the Death does come out to play every so often, with the two styles fusing together quite fluently, making this a great success in experimentation, especially considering the time it was recorded at. They only released this one demo (maybe another), before disappearing forever.

The synths are used to a great extent on this demo, and have an eerily calming effect, amidst the metallic chaos everywhere else. Often cross-cutting (yes, I can describe music with film terms) between the synths and cutting guitars, great contrast is present, especially on the "Tenebrae" and "Nocturna Eternal" (best on the demo) track. Hell, there's even chanting and church bells going off! Truly a find from way out of left field, this is definitely something well worth listening to after taking a break from your traditional Black and Death Metal.

Strange... and highly intriguing...

Mutant Supremecy - Corpses in Pieces (2010)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 2010

1. Morbid Dismemberment
2. Epitaph
3. Vermin
4. Lady Forlorn

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Last.fm

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One of the good folks over at Last.fm asked me to post this demo, so here I am, posting it! I gotta apologize, though, for the incredible lateness in not getting it posted before the album was released, but hey, I've been busy. Regardless, I am finally getting around to it, so be sure to give these new guys to the Death Metal scene a good listen as you shan't be disappointed!

Old School Death Metal, with some Black fringes, Mutant Supremacy (great name) plays a dark brand of down and dirty Death Metal, deep within the depths of hell for the lovely audience of Satan and his minions. A very good first demo, and, unlike the majority of crap I get sent to be posted, this is a high quality slab of metal, and in no way a shitty teenage garage band, so I'd recommend giving these guys a listen, paying close attention for their full-length "Infinite Suffering", which I may or may not post later.

Raw and evil, go go go!

Kvikksølvguttene - Gamlem (1997)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Norway
Year: 1997

1. Skullcrusher (Vomit cover)
2. Grave Violator
3. Violent Death

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Last.fm

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You all remember that old Norwegian Death Metal band from the mid to late 80s? Vomit? OF COURSE YOU DO. Well, this is an attempt by some of the members to reform the band, under a different name. Expect more jokes, but do not be discouraged, as this is very listenable music. The name Kvikksølvguttene means The Mercury/Quicksilver Boys, which is an ironic reference to the famous Norwegian choir called The Silverboys. Already, you know you're in for something good. ;)

Gamlem was the name of a Norwegian man who was beaten to death in a gay hate crime in Sofienberg Park in 1991, so despite the raucous nature of these guys, they're conscious enough to raise social awareness! Not quite sure what the intention was exactly since the music they're recording is rather violent in itself, but let's look on the greener side of things and assume it was in good nature! ;D

The music on this EP consists of three quick songs, the longest being the last, "Violent Death", and also includes a cover of the former band, Vomit, back in its glory days, the eerily catchy tune "Skullcrusher". Hell, most of the material here is just rehashed Vomit stuff, rewritten for new songs, as well as some unrecorded material left over. Great riffs to rock out to, and vocals old school to the bones; a bunch of guys making music for the hell of it, the way it should be!

Nightmare Visions - Blasphemy (1991)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 1991

1. Intro
2. Blasphemous Dreams
3. Whispers of Death
4. Edge of Darkness
5. Genocide

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The novelty long worn off, these guys have gotten serious about making music, even if it took them four years to record another demo. And hey, it actually sounds like metal!

Definitely a massive turnaround, compared to Prophecy, their pacing no longer sounds like classic rock, but a metal variant, with tempo changes and the like! Ohoho! The production is much better and sounds quite good, actually. The vocals are more of a smooth rasp, fitting the groove of the music, and while the riffing is very simple, it's catchy, and makes for good music. Not something to die for, but a good look at how bands can drastically evolve as the scene evolves.

Nightmare Visions - Prophecy (1987)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 1987

1. Prophecy (Intro)
2. Nightmare Visions
3. Face the Executioner
4. Infantile Decay
5. The Last Nightmare
6. Fuck Off - No More - Fuck Off
7. Total Headfuck
8. Broken Corpse
9. Drunk and Abusive

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Last.fm

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This is definitely a novelty post. I don't know what's wrong with people (I am one of them), but they seem to eat up the very first incarnations of certain genres of metal, the case here being a fusion between Death Metal and Doom Metal, straying away from the Thrash-infused speed, but retaining the Death, not incorporating another existent genre, Doom!

Boring explanations aside, here we go! This is more like rock, but with dirty guitars and gnarly vocals. Most songs follow a slower, morbid beat, and can often be quite catchy! VERY primitive Death/Doom, if you ask me. However, this is another band that helped laid the groundwork for future metal! So cheers to them!

And how could you not like this shit, what with lyrics about blood pouring from babies' eyes!

Sectioned - Elme Promo (2007)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 2007

1. Intro
2. Mirrors
3. My Love of Decay
4. Village of the Sun

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 75% (2 reviews)
Last.fm

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Sectioned are a little-known band from Broadstairs, England. Fun fact: I actually misread their city name as Bloodstairs and was like "Oh man, this band is going to be awesome." Sadly, they are not from Bloodstairs, but their music is still awesome. The cover does have blood on it, which is fun, and helps describe the music inside. Also, my copy isn't color, like the MA picture I found... dunno what that's all about.

On to the music! I am particularly fond of this, considering it's just a promo. There's some damn fine quality present here, especially in the ambient interludes sprinkled throughout, helping to invoke contrast, giving the listener a break from time to time to enjoy those soundscapes.

It has that unpolished, crusty old school sound, nothing like your traditional modern Death Metal sound. Mid-paced tempo, sort of lumbering on, keeping up the assault at all costs. The vocals really stand out, ranging from the sputtering, lashing of a growling to lower gutturals, rounding out with hard-hitting riffing and an atmospheric vibe to it all. Even the solos sound eerily mystical; sorta reminds me of space or time or .

Can't wait to get my hands on their full-length!

Necropsy (Ger) - Some Dark Impressions (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Germany
Year: 1991

1. Drown In Mortal Remains
2. Choir Of Depression
3. Incarnation

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Last.fm

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So I had this brilliant idea as I was making the previous post about Necropsy's first demo... why not post the second as well!? I know, brilliant, right?

I dunno, about a minute and a half into the first song, I got this overwhelming sense that I was listening to old Sepultura! The sound is somewhat similar; not too much, but I do notice the occasional similarity with riffing effects, guitar tone, and the fading in/out vocal style. A very curious listen, I'll say that much!

Necropsy hasn't changed much since their first demo, and if anything, have slowed down their music a tad, conforming to the heavier Death Metal crowd that was starting to form at this time. Again, good stuff if you want something simple and fun to listen to, with great solos!

Necropsy (Ger) - Pay With Your Life (1990)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Germany
Year: 1990

1. True Hallucinations
2. Zombiefication
3. Pay With Your Life
4. ...About Life
5. Morbid Trauma

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Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Yeah, so I've been lazy. My profoundest apologies. But not really, since this is the internet and I'll do as I damn well please. Regardless! I feel bad, so I'm gonna start posting again, even though it's 23897598 degrees outside and I'm sweating my ass off. But enough about me...

To kick things off (again), how about we take a look at something that most of you probably haven't had the chance to listen to? Here we have Germany's Necropsy with their first ever demo, entitled Pay With Your Life. They went on to release another EP, but that was it for this short-lived band.

Very down and dirty, a gritty style of play, these guys do it straightforward, so if you're ever tired of your Avant-Garde/Experimental hipster trash, why not give Pay With Your Life a whirl? Simplistic riffs with a guitar tone to kill for and classic old school vocals, this is a rip-roaring good time. Guitar solos are featured all over the place, at a decent pace, embracing the obvious Thrash influence, but with a darker appeal.

Go on, grab it!