Apostate (Fin) - Flight Of The Halcyon (1999)

Genre: (Melodic) Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1999

1. Bewitched by thy Flame
2. Hunger for Blood
3. Flight of the Halcyon
4. Pakkasukko

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Here's another band I don't see much around the nets. Started off as Apostate and is now Godskill and still hasn't produced much in the past years, so who knows where this project is right now. So this is me keeping it alive!

As hinted in the genre descriptor, this one's got a melodic fringe to it. It's trying to be death metal, it really is, but what we're left with in the end is Death Metal Lite^TM. That's not to say it's bad, of course!

Not sure the best way to describe the vocals beyond that it sounds as if he's straining like he is going to blow a blood vessel or something. We've also got some mediocre clean vocals thrown in, but it's the guitar work that makes the demo.

"Hunger For Blood" has some incredible tremolo riffing throughout and for the most part, the riffs are pretty damn catchy. It's a shame they're set so far back in the mix, though.

Comment Captchas

Just a heads up, but it seems like the spammers have gotten out of control and are flooding my email with useless shit, so I'm enabling word verification on comments from here on out.

If that is still a problem, then I might restrict comments to only those with a Google account (which most of you should have).

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Indulgence (Nzl) - Enigmatic Thought

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: New Zealand
Year: 1995

1. Question
2. Pleasure
3. Threnody

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I'm uploading this because it seems to be a bit of rarity, and with all the recent Mediafire takedowns across the internet, it can't hurt to have a few more links of obscure material out there.

The demo opens with a bit of a cheery flute intro, almost in a folk metal vein. Happy times to come, right? WRONG. Complete and utter doom and gloom follows. Hell, I'd go as far as to call this funeral doom metal. Very slow and deliberate, like trudging through impossibly dark caverns unknown. Hopeless grief and death surround you, but the music plods on.

The production is stiff and stuffy; quite fitting with this style of music, fortunately. A lone guitar lead drones on, accompanied by an eerie echo of a double bass. The cover art is that of Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker", and again, very fitting as this is the kind of music you sit still in a dark room and listen to as you ponder life's unknowns.

Infinifixion - Eternal Crucifixion (1996)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1996

1. Bound Up In Blasphemy
2. Beyond Blood
3. Phantom Of The Opera
4. Last Rites - Unholy Sacrament
5. Eternal Crucifixion

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Last.fm

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I've had this on rotation quite a bit recently, so please allow me to share the wealth! It's always good to see old bands close to home-- I can almost reach out and touch these guys! Well, if my arms were 200 miles long, but hey, close enough.

The first song starts out with some tribal chanting/didgeridoo-sounding atmospherics (gee, never thought I'd be able to mention a didgeridoo in metal!) and slowly transitions into rhythmic pounding, keyboards, and finally guitars. But even then it's not done! Once that first riff shattered through at around 3 minutes, my jaw dropped at the raw emotion and melody on display. This is not your typical death metal.

The composition on this demo is great. Every instrument and vocal matches and complements each other, leading to a well thought-out structure that perfectly suits the music being played.

The demo centers around a rough-around-the-edges production with gritty harsh vocals keeping up with the harsh guitar tuning, and even the melodic solos retain that raspy sound. Keyboards add that melodic tinge that clashes in the best way possible with the scratchy sounds of the other instruments for a unique sound. Well done and recommended.

Plus a bonus Iron Maiden cover! New spin on "Phantom Of The Opera" that almost sounds like original material!

Funereum - Re-Velatio (1996)

Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal
Country: Italy
Year: 1996

1. Great Silver Eye
2. Re-Velatio
3. Moonless Night
4. Black Silence
5. Of an Endless Farewell
6. Time Will Cure Me
7. Dreaming of Eternal Sadness

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Italy seems to do that whole melody thing quite well and Funereum are no exception. Here we have a moody and darkly melodic piece of gloomy doom/death. The first song starts out with the rhythmic chime of a bell followed by spastic guitars exploding into melodic keyboards. Right off the bat you know you can expect something a bit different from the norm.

As melody ensues, female vocals burst through the foggy production complemented by violins and just when you though it couldn't get any more varied, the usual harsh male vocals change to clean! Not entirely sure what to make of these, but they're used sparingly.

All of that in the first song!

The rest of the demo follows suit, hinting at an urgent sense of impending doom. Ominous synths permeate the atmosphere as much as cheery keyboards add light to the darkness. And I haven't even touched upon the guitars! Quality riffs meld wonderfully with the other instruments showing just how beautiful something called death metal can be.

The back half of this demo emphasizes the doom n' gloom with some catchy rhythms and more female vocal showcasing. Hell, "Of An Endless Farewell" is 100% woman! Some truly unique metal and quite a refreshment from trudging through the veil of darkness surrounding traditional doom/death metal. Recommended.

Back... again.

I know I said the same thing last year, but cut me some slack, Mediafire ruined all that within a month.

Call it a new year's resolution (really I just have a few weeks off), but I've gotten off my ass and finally gotten around to re-uploading every last dead link.

I suppose I can blame all of you for drawing Mediafire's attention to my account, but really, that's exactly what I want. I was surprised to find relatively consistent visitor statistics even with all this inactivity. So thank you all!

The overarching goal here is to keep this shit alive and I will continue posting and diligently re-uploading broken links to ensure that. If something is amiss, please shoot me an email!

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Not much has changed.

I've added the band's country directly to the post in an effort to make each entry more of a resource of sorts and all links have been re-uploaded to Mediafire, since despite the shit they've put me through, they're still by and far the best provider.

Mediafire is kind enough to notify me of a copyrighted file before sacking my entire account, so I've gone through and rooted out all the links that have slipped through the cracks and uploaded them to 4shared. There aren't many, but I expect the list to grow almost randomly. I mean come on, Beyond Dawn is copyrighted material? Are you kidding me?

So please, give me a heads up if a link is acting funny so I can delete it and draw as little unwanted attention as possible.

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Happy Holidays!

Discrucior - Mundus Subterraneus (1994)

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: Estonia
Year: 1994

1. When The Day'll Come
2. Mundus Subterraneus
3. Doom
4. Isn't For Me
5. 13 Candles (Bathory Cover)

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Last.fm

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Here's an interesting piece of Doom/Death from way out in Estonia! I've always had a strange fascination with Estonia (awesome country name) and the fact that very little Death metal has come out of the place. You can imagine my excitement when I found something that doesn't suck!

As previously mentioned, this is... interesting. Mostly because of the high range of vocal styles, starting out with a high-pitched, black metal-esque shriek that'll light your ears right up. Up next are the low, growled vocals, more in the doom fashion, followed by these agonized, moaning, semi-clean vocals. Fantastic contrast between all the different types of vocals, and they're used in such a way that make the long songs attention-grabbing.

Some serious song structure going on here, alternating all over the place from furious death metal, to chugging doom, with fringes of heavy metal. The riffing style is engaging, with sorrowful, melodic hooks, and aloof riffing with a purpose. Most of the more melodic riffs almost seem like solos, but get this... solos with direction! This was obviously a highly premeditated demo of high quality. The production unfortunately suffers slightly with the outstanding vocals a little high in the mix, and the production a bit thin, but if you can look beyond that (and I'm sure you can, considering the blog you're reading), you won't be disappointed. Recommended.

Garden Of Silence - Demo 92 (1992)

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: France
Year: 1992

1. Sovereign of Sorrow
2. Through Infinity
3. At the End
4. The Farewell (At the End, Part 2)

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Last.fm

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Even with all the genre descriptors to describe metal, Doom/Death still doesn't quite do the trick. There can be your dark and stormy doom/death, or the more bright and vibrant variety, if that makes sense. Garden Of Silence falls under the latter category; more uplifting than most. Obviously influenced heavily by traditional doom, I'm detecting subtle hints of Candlemass, especially in the clean vocals. So where's the Death? Well, we have harsh vocals, too! Mouthy rasps complement the clean vocals quite well, and are interlaced quite nicely with the rest of the music.

This is doom, but much more of a melodic type, without being melodeath. Filled with lively riffs and smooth melodies, this certainly feels more like a doom demo with some death metal elements.

Oh, almost forgot. These guys were previously known as Cemetery, who released a demo back in '91. I'll get around to posting that demo at some point as well.

Fun fact: Stephanie and Jerome later went on to form Horrors Of The Black Museum, which is a phenomenal doom project. I suggest you all check it out.

Cryptophobism - Demo '98 (1998)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: Bulgaria
Year: 1998

1. People That No-One Will Miss
2. Accidental Suicide
3. Cave
4. Madhouse (Rehearsal '93)

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Last.fm

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100% crushing. I haven't used the "Heavy as Fuck" label in a while, but I think this decimating demo is deserving of such. Opening with a morbid, destruction-laced intro, the tone is set for the rest of this demo. Expect only the darkest and grimmest doom from here on out.

Perfect production value here; the mix sounds just as it should for this type of music: very full and overwhelming, with touches of austerity-- this is DOOM with the force and power to back it up. Dark and hopeless, there is nothing but steep, tenebrous walls all around you, stretching for miles. Trapped. No escape. Doom/Death done right.

The entire demo is bleak. Occasionally we'll have the rare lifting solo, shedding light on the darkness, but even then, forlorn despondency clouds the senses, slowly churning about with desolate melodies and echoing growls deep from the depths of oblivion.

Short and sweet, the demo wraps up with a glimpse of Cryptophobism's past: a rehearsal from 1993. They still managed to retain their sound over all these years, but unfortunately didn't have the deep, booming production that suits their doom so well. Still, the longest track of the bunch and perhaps a little more simplistic, but it works. This one's yet another gem; you'd be crazy not to give it a listen. Recommended.

Sceptical Schizo - Demo #1 (1989)

Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Finland
Year: 1989

1. Intro
2. Holy War
3. Disguised Insanity
4. Forbidden Games
5. The Nightmare
6. I Was Made for Killing You (Bonus)

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Last.fm

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Mega thanks to Drowned for surfacing what many thought to be lost forever or never to have existed in the first place! Here we have the very first offering from Sceptical Schizo. Thought I'd post it to complete the collection since everything else by Sceptical Schizo has been posted on this blog.

This one boils down to basic Thrash Metal, with some deathy undertones, hardly hinting at the future for this band. As time went on, these guys slowly got more and more doomy and depressive, and this 1989 demo provides an interesting look to where they started. A very chunky, thrashy start, to be exact. There's not much in the way of song structure. Underproduced, simplistic riffs with some deathy vocals and a gritty bassline.

Somewhere along the line, these guys were met with inspiration, and I sure as hell am glad they did.

Maelstrom (Ita) - Sospiria, Lacrima: Tenebra (1996)

Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
Country: Italy
Year: 1996

1. ...And Sorrow
2. Useless Tears
3. Abyss of Hypocrisy
4. In My Last Letter

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Last.fm

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Wow. Now this is a demo. I didn't expect this sort of quality to come out of Italy, especially of such a unique style. This is Doom/Death with heavy emphasis on a more sorrowful doom. Almost droning with its entrancing melodies and depressive soundscapes, I'm drifting along in a sea of melancholy. And then the soft female vocals burst out from the doom n' gloom, but slowly settling back in as the male harsh rasping vocals slide in. High amount of distortion, this only adds to the doom, creating confusion (but not chaos).

Probably the most redeeming feature of this astounding demo is the brilliant acoustic style. Scattered about every song lie beautiful acoustic interludes, often accompanied by pianos. Very original, especially in Death Metal, and they complement the female vocals oh so well. Adding to the atmosphere are the pounding, echoing drums, reverberating all throughout, almost sounding like the demo was recorded in some vast open expanse.

I don't know who Maelstrom were, or why they split so soon, but this is most certainly a hidden gem in every sense of the word. Recommended.

Phlebotomy - Voluptuous... (1994)

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

1. Voluptuous Simplicity of the Line
2. One Thousand Times
3. A Dreamer Can Touch the Sky

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What. Is this still Phlebotomy? I'll admit, I had to do a double take, and check out On Thorns I Lay to see if this was still the same band... Sure enough, a few of these songs were used on their first full-length. With the name change most certainly came a drastic change in style. I sort of knew this was coming after their EP, but hey, what can you do, especially since this all went down in the mid 90s.

This would be a good demo, had it been a different band playing different music. I was almost shocked to hear this, so naturally, it didn't sit too well. The production value has been cranked way up; these guys must've started getting serious about the music they were playing and the direction they wanted to take. A lot has changed, most notably the vocals. My ears may be deceiving me, but it looks as if all male vocals were scrapped in favor of a variety of female vocals ranging from singing to harsh whispering (haha), to the occasional shriek.

The goth was turned up as well; however, still retaining the atmosphere from the previous releases, if not chippered up a bit with extravagant use of synths and flutes and other instruments. A lot of that spacey atmosphere has been lost in return for production. It was probably a good idea that they changed name, because what they do now just isn't Paralysis/Phlebotomy.

Phlebotomy - Dawn of Grief (1993)

Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1993

1. Born To Suffer
2. As the Sky Turns Black

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Much better production; about time these guys got signed to a label! Two songs here and the first is an old favorite from their promo tape, "Born to Suffer". The cheesy intro and exit bits that I pointed out in the Promo Tape review are removed to allow focus to fall on the song itself without any distractions or wtf moments. Not so sure if I'm a fan of the production... it is better, but it also gives the EP a "tinny" feel, especially with the scratchy guitars and glowering synths. Everything is better balanced, though; vocals and drums are further up front and this EP certainly sounds more complete.

New song! Looks like this marks the point where Phlebotomy are turning away from their doomy sound, and onto something a little more intense. Synths galore are still present all over the place, but female vocals are kicked up a few more notches, seemingly going even with the harsh vocals. Everything is faster-paced and almost industrial. This song marks the band's transition to a new style that you will see in "Voluptuous..."

Phlebotomy - Promo Tape (1993)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1993

1. Intro
2. Our Golgotha Before The Beauty Of Our Death
3. Born To Suffer
4. Stories Of The Internal Of My Grave (Parts I and II)

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Last.fm

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A classical intro... that's more like it! Immediately, I know I can expect the same style Paralysis got me hooked on, and I can't be more excited. In the same vein as the previous demo: occult synthesizers saturating the air, accompanied by subtle melodic fringes keep this music fresh and engaging. Clean vocals are introduced here and there, serving to add more to the arcane atmosphere. Melodic, acoustic interludes are spackled throughout to break up the lengthy songs.

Gloomy, dark, and highly atmospheric, the tracks on this demo are oddly entrancing, especially on "Born to Suffer" with the inclusion of mystical flowing female vocals. This is great music to reflect on pretty much anything you want. "Born to Suffer" brings us back to reality with a grim intro assailing the listener with machine gun fire and an old school Hellenic riff, yet takes us away again above the clouds, only to yank us back down with that key riff and marching drums. Not too clear how exactly those effects tie in, but it does add to the variety to make things interesting.

The synthesizers are used to great extend, with myriad sound effects such as the aforementioned, but also some new ones like fire crackling and wind blowing. They were going for atmosphere with this one, and Phlebotomy certainly hit the nail on the head! Deep, booming production presides, collapsing the very atmosphere above down on us. Recommended.

Paralysis (Grc) - Beyond The Chaos (1992)

Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1992

1. Your Life... My Death
2. Born to Suffer
3. Dark Reality

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Last.fm

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Multiple name changes here. These guys started out at Paralysis, changed to Phlebotomy in 1993, and finally to the well-known On Thorns I Lay in 1995. This is their first demo, and it really sets the stage for the successful career they've sculpted.

Right out of the box, the mood is set with the eerily disturbing intro. A monologue of sorts, littered with creepy, spacy synths. "Please let me go; I don't want to die..." The same feel is translated through the rest of the demo. I'm hesitant to call it "epic", but it does have a very mysterious and foreboding tone to it all. I feel like The Outsider in Lovecraft's famous early work. Not knowing where I'm going or what I'm going to find, I just keep climbing... the future will reveal itself to me. What will I discover beyond the chaos?

Melody abounds and heavy use of synthesizers aids in the atmosphere surrounding the chaos. Very deep and mystical-sounding, this is like an adventure through your mind. Eerie flute-sounding instruments are used, sprinkled with dangerously-close guitars make this a unique and fascinating listen. Recommended!

Simply Death - Crucification (1996)

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1996

1. Crusade To Eden
2. Born In Black Blood
3. We Survive
4. Crucification
5. Claustrophobia
6. The Blessing

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Silly name, I know. Regardless, this is still worth a listen! Opening with a simple organ intro and leading into slow, churning, doomy goodness, this demo takes its time getting started. These guys are in no hurry to get things rolling, and it works well with the sound of this demo. The pace does pick up, though, as the doom wears off and the death kicks in. This is a very short demo, and I feel like it's not quite "whole". Had the band not split up so soon, I could see some more depth coming out of their music.

Very similar in sound to Morbid Angel, it's pretty obvious where inspiration was sound. Rasping vocals and that same soft and flowing musical style. Nothing too abrasive on the ears... about as pleasant as death metal gets! Most songs are fairly short, which leaves a lot to be desired, but hey, this is a demo! A "demonstration"! Keep an ear out for the last track, "The Blessing", as it boasts too quick of a catchy intro/exit riff.

Eroded (Jpn) - IN (1994)

Genre: Doom/Death Metal/Grindcore
Country: Japan
Year: 1994

1. Blind Line
2. Eternal Corridor
3. Existence
4. Digital
5. IN
6. Monotone
7. Spiral-Staircase
8. Behind
9. Freestanding
10. Turning Time

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Last.fm

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A MUST LISTEN! I posted Eroded's first demo some time ago, and expressed my shock at the brilliance from what was an entirely obscure band, and now we all finally have the privilege of listening to what promises to be the outstanding culmination of all the effort and potential oozing from their first release. You're in for a treat, that's for sure.

I'm noticing that this is far beyond a simple music album. This is a story. This is life. This goes to show how deep death metal can be. Demo 92 was highly intense death metal/grindcore showing no mercy, and that's exactly how this album starts off, with several fast-paced, brutal songs kicking it into overdrive, saturating the listener's perception of everything around them, and unrelentingly grasps a hold of his attention. My guess is that these were older songs written back in the Demo 92 days.

"Existence" is where we start to see a change of direction. It's subtle, and you have to be listening closely to pick up on it, but a touch of melody shines through, buried under the grinding guitars and snarling vocals. Clean vocals make an appearance in the background and some atmosphere is quietly laced around the edges. Incredibly well-done. "Digital" continues this transition... but to what? Eroded starts to shy away from the Grindcore right about now with the integration of Doom elements. If you didn't pick up on what those two tracks were trying to tell you, "IN" breaks it all loose with a gorgeous instrumental tune bursting with melody, yet somehow still retaining the essence of Eroded.

A very segmented album, and I'll try to wrap this up soon, but damn, there is so much going on in this profound release. Doom becomes the travelled path for the next few tracks until, you guessed it, another segment is hit! Tracks 8 and 9 pick up the pace a little more and actually take on what sounds to me like Hardcore fringes, especially noted in the screaming/yelling vocal style.

The last song is the perfect representation of Eroded and the distance they've come. Elements from the entire album are brought together here in this 7 minute song, concluding IN quite nicely. Eroded has definitely changed since their beginnings, taking a more melodic and progressive route, but at the same time, creating astounding musical brilliance that will not only appeal to the die-hard fans of their demo, but to anybody interested in metal at all.

So highly recommended.

Condolence - Pernicious Segregation (1990)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1990

1. Untitled I
2. Untitled II
3. Untitled III
4. Untitled IV
5. Untitled V
6. Untitled VI

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Last.fm

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I honestly wish I knew a little more about these guys. Somehow, a rip of Pernicious Segregation surfaced on the internet (I believe we have Drowned to blame), but no song titles, demo art, or anything. It's a shame, because this is a surprisingly well-produced demo. There's a lot going on here and I'm shocked to see them go nowhere. Perhaps it was other projects that drove their attention from Condolence...

I'm hesitant to call this Doom/Death Metal, because, while it does ring with doomy elements, there are a fair amount of straight-up pounding OSDM sections, allowing for a lot of freedom with what they want to do. The production is crystal clear-sounding; almost TOO clear... there has to be more to this band that we don't know. Alternating between the furious drumming/riffing/soloing and slower-paced segments, this demo is mixed very well. Opening and closing with an eerie demonic voiceover, and track three is a nice acoustic interlude thrown in there to break things up a bit. Not a dull moment here; an enjoyable listen.

Chamber of Dismay - Dark Clouds (1993)

Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1993

1. Intro
2. Forgotten Woods
3. Simerion Winter

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From the obscure depths of Finland (and where it's likely to remain) is Chamber of Dismay. Not much is known about this band; not even the names of the band members! It's too difficult to discern their names from the only tiny scan on the internet... so please, if anybody has any information regarding this band, come forward! Just wanna give credit where credit is due. :)

On to the music. A relatively quick demo here; hardly a sampler of this low-key, melodic Doom/Death Metal. This is the only demo from these guys, and it was likely a side project of some sort that never got off the ground. Two songs and a demo, and unfortunately they suffer from poor production; way too much bass in the background and everything seems far back in the mix. I occasionally describe music as "suffocating", but I suppose this is the true definition of the word. Could definitely use a remaster and re-release!

As previously mentioned, there is a fair amount of melody here, similar to Cauteror. A single, lonely guitar breaks loose from the filth and grime, making this an almost sorrowful demo. Not terribly much in the way of song structure, and the songs can get a little long without variation, but the riffs are pleasant, and I'd go as far as to classify this under the "easy listening" category of Doom/Death Metal. It's quick, it's simple.

Ruminations - Rehearsal Demo (2011)

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 2011

1. Leafs
2. Emptiness Departured
3. Luminescent Twilight Re-Dreamed

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I suppose this is an OSDM blog, and I rarely post newer music, but this is just too good to go unnoticed. Plus, it has a very old school sound, and if I didn't know any better, I'd have thought this was from the mid-90s!

This is a rehearsal, so the production isn't the best, but it actually works in the band's favor. Underproduced and raw, this is a full-on assault on the ears is the very best way possible. The first song, "Leafs" is short and to the point, and more straight-up death metal oriented than the following tracks; it serves quite nicely to snap the listener's attention completely on this absorbing music.

The vocals are deep, growled gutturals set far back in the mix, to the point where they're nothing but a dull roar occasionally peaking out beyond the murk and filth that are the guitars. Monstrous and full-sounding, the suffocating guitars cast an unforgiving darkness out, enveloping anything and everything in their path, creating some of the most engaging and occult-sounding gloomy DOOOOM. My ears are also detecting traces of The Chasm, notably in the second track, sorrow abounding. Very visceral in its dark reflections of esoterica and affliction. Recommended.

For those interested, Carlos from Ruminations is offering free copies of this demo tape. Shoot him an email at ruminations@mail.com with an address if you'd like one.

Ruminations at Facebook (and here)

Withering Divinity - Tragical Endings (1994)

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1994

1. Into the Darkness
2. Devil's Watching Me
3. Chaos Curse
4. Innocence
5. Pretend in Vain

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Dark Millennium. I'm sorry, but upon first listen to this obscure demo, only one thought rang out inside my head and that was Dark Millennium. The musical style is a little rawer and less produced, but the vocalist sounds exactly like Christian Mertens. I had to do a double take at the vocalist and look him up on Metal Archives to see if it was the same guy. Holy shit, the similarity is uncanny. I rather liked the higher Dark Millennium vocals (liked Torsten's, too), so I instantly took a fond liking to this demo.

Opening with a subduded, haunting intro, we then move onto "Devil's Watching Me", starting off with a catchy bass tune that sets the riffing style of the rest of the song. As the guitar's kick in, Christi- er, Scott's harsh vocals unleash, very pained and agonized. Hell, I would be, too, if the Devil was watching me. The rest of the demo follows suit, alternating pounding Death Metal parts, but throwing in some doom n' gloom here and there, coupled with creepy clean vocals.

"Innocence" is an oddly uplifting, mesmerizing instrumental tune, unlike the previous two songs, probably preparing you for the final and longest song, "Pretend in Vain". This one's a trip. A sort of culmination of this release, there's a bit of everything here. Opening with eerie spoken words outlined by a similarly subdued bass line like the intro, the sun slowly begins to peer through the clouds, yet not fully committing, probably due to the (anti)religious lyrical content. Sounds like a different band at this point until the metal kicks in. Overall a great concluding track, except for maybe the mariachi bit at the end, but hey. Seriously, what the fuck.

Recommended.

Caarcrinolas - The Egg (1994)

Genre: Experimental Death Metal
Country: Germany
Year: 1994

1. ?
2. Anal Feast
3. Milted
4. Mucus

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Okay, sit down, you're gonna need something to support yourself for this wacked out demo. "Experimental" only begins to graze the surface of the music found in Caarcrinolas's "The Egg". An obscure release from the depths of France; not much is known about these guys aside from their sole, enigmatic demo presented in the most bizarre and otherworldly manner manner possible, while still retaining the elements of Death Metal.

"?" opens up with, well, what you'd expect. Confusion? Uncertainty? Suffice to say a soulless, unforgiving ominous, almost creepy sound perturbs all who listen. Setting the scene with an eerie atmosphere, this song sets the precedent for the rest of the demo. Oddly enough, the guitars come out in full force, with meticulous and clean riffing, albeit done in a wonky, unusual way riddled with strange time changes and huge leaps in creative genius that some might see as mere noise. It'll take a dedicated and open-minded ear to fully enjoy this demo.

Synthesizers are used heavily, as to be expected in anything labeled "experimental". It's almost like Caarcrinolas grabbed an electronic keyboard and just started randomly pushing the sound effect buttons to see what worked at what didn't. I'm hearing hints of mandolins, accordions, organs and other weird noises scattered throughout. However, it's all done in moderation, letting the guitars and vocals do their Death Metal thing. I wouldn't quite call this Avant-Garde, as they really do make an effort to stick to their DM guns, but it's definitely going to be something you haven't heard before. And for that, I gotta go ahead and recommend this.

Gothic Castle - Closer to Roots (1996)

Gothic Castle circa 1996

Genre: Doom Metal
Country: Russia
Year: 1996

1. Snakes Under Flowers
2. Moonlace
3. Estrangement
4. In the Heart of the Ruins

Download at Mediafire
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I've been unable to locate Gothic Castle's "The Odd" demo, but this is their third release and displays what appears to be an about face in their music style. I've always thought of this demo as Death/Doom in instrumentation, but Traditional Doom in vocal style. Some might say these elements clash and while I do agree with them, it still makes for a very engaging listen that should not go ignored.

This is a very different release from "In The Chared Cradle". You'll notice an increase in pacing, with a wider variety of up-beat and lively riffing, as well as much shorter song lengths. Hell, this entire four-song demo is just a minute or two longer than their first demo, which was only one song. They've opted to do this, I presume, to make the demo more accessible than the first and easier to listen to. That's not to say the first is bad; it's an excellent release in its own right.

So, what about the vocals? I'm not sure if they got a new vocalist, or if the growler decided to try his hand at melodic clean vocals (probably the former), but it definitely makes for an interesting listen. It's basically your classic trad doom vocal style, wavering in that operatic way. One thing I found curious is that the vocals seem to be sung at a much quicker rate than the music being played. This doesn't sound like it should work, but I found the songs oddly catchy and invigorating. Certainly worth your time! Look out for the last song; great riff! Recommended.

Unknown Band - Unknown Track (????)

No artwork

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: Unknown
Year: Unknown

1. Unknown Track

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NOTE: This was previously mislabeled as Gothic Castle's "In The Chared Cradle" demo. This is incorrect and it has been confirmed that this is NOT even Gothic Castle at all.

If anybody has any information regarding this track, leave a comment!

Whoever the fuck this band is, they were going for pure DOOM. Very dark and gritty-sounding, the production suffers slightly with scratchy guitars, but it works oh so well for this style of music. One word to describe this demo is "deliberate". Very slow-paced and controlled, this one song demo starts off with an almost march beat, slowly but surely plodding on, making sure everything stays together in one place. A sharp, purposeful riffs breaks out a minute or so in and holds for the rest of the song, steadily building off its solid foundation. Things start picking up at about the six minute mark and we're soon hit with another core riff; yet another piece to this concrete puzzle. Alternating between soulful riffing and frigid drilling, we also have a few doomy solos thrown into the mix sounding of cries of desperation and anguish.

The vocals are dirty and harsh to the max. Cold as winter, there is no respite in these words as they match the sound of the guitars in their unforgiveness. Ocassional clean vocals break out in traditional Russian (?) style, well-placed to bridge the 13 minute song.

This demo sounds like it was recorded in the early 90s, but again, that's just speculation.

Threnodist - The Vomitous Demo (1991)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1991

1. Launched into Eternity
2. Lamentation of the Dead
3. Infernal Diatribe
4. Pukus
5. Tyrannicide

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Last.fm

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Fans of Infester and their absolutely cult album To the Depths... In Degradation will jump at this demo, recorded by who Infester used to be... Threnodist.

Crunchy and forward in its production and presentation, this demo is host to a slew of infectious riffs that doesn't let up until the end. I wouldn't call this all that thrashy, as their are some slower-paced almost doomy sections, but the piercing nature of the guitars ingrains every riff into your head, sawing your brain into pieces. Not quite chainsaws, but more like chopsaws. Almost rigid in the style of Death Metal, The Vomitous Demo is a very enforcing release. Combined with the extended riffing sessions without vocals, you'll be left hypnotized and captivated.

Vocals are pretty standard deep, throaty gutturals that are used minimally and set back into the mix to allow the guitars to step up. The growls aren't all that fast, and more drawn out, drifting in and out of the music, meshing unbroken with the guitars to great effect. Fast and furious at times, this is a full on Death Metal release, paving the way for Infester's brilliance. Recommended.