College

Hey guys, sorry about the inconvenience, but I'm currently in the process of moving into college at the University of Connecticut and settling in. Therefore, I will be taking a brief hiatus from posting for the moment until I am situated. Shouldn't be more than a few days, though!

Thanks for all your support.

Paroxia - Paroxia (1992-1994)

No Artwork

Genre: Old School Death Metal
Country: Bulgaria
Year: Unknown

1. Vechen Ad
2. Nenormalnost
3. Degradiral Zakon

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Credits to entity over at Pile of Remains for this hidden gem.

I am particularly fascinated with this demo, because absolutely zero information exists about this band anywhere on the internet. They are not in the Metal Archives, don't have a Myspace page, I created their Last.fm page, and their name isn't so much as even mentioned anywhere at all, except for this blog and entity's. Hell, I don't even know the title to this demo or what year it was released in. All we know is that a band named Paroxia released these three tracks, and that's it. Nothing else. Very mysterious.

Anyway, onto the music. For being so unheard of, this music is actually quite good. The main style is rather chunky with a decent amount of speed and ferocity in both the instrumentation and the vocals. The guitars are lively with solos and choppy riffs, along with what seems to be some jazz influence thrown in there for good measure. A very energetic piece of music, and I certainly hope to, at the very least, discover more information about Paroxia!

Enigmatic - Two Days of April (1993)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1993

1. The Tabular Bells Symphony
2. Fear of the Dead
3. The Master of Dreams
4. Dishonest Belief

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Some relatively obscure Death/Doom from Sweden, this band managed to release two EPs and a demo. Unfortunately, I'm only able post this, their first EP, but I should be able to procure the demo some time in the future. As for the last release, The Tranquilled Icy Water, I have no leads whatsoever. So if a reader has that EP, kindly send it to me!

On to the music. Quality Death/Doom with the occasional grinding part, illustrated by fast double bass and quick drumming, then collapsing back into slow, unwavering doomy goodness. An interesting aspect behind this album is the vocal style. It's your typical death grunt/guttural, but with a twist. This EP was obviously edited heavily, as it seems like the growls sort of overlap into each other, giving this a very fluid sound. It seems like the vocalist is pulling off some amazing feat where he growls for minutes on end. Cool stuff, and reminds me slightly of early Incantation. Killer music and definitely worth a download.

Dawn of Might - Dawn of Might (2006)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: France
Year: 2006

1. Crawling Away
2. Eternal Trip
3. Roots of our Pain

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Okay, so this might be breaking the rules a bit, as this isn't exactly OSDM but hey, this is my blog so fuck you! I actually opted to throw these guys up here because they're relatively new and seemed to have gained absolutely zero attention thus far. I'm convinced that that's because they're not trying or really half-assing it. I mean, take a look at their Myspace. Only a couple hundred views, two friends (including Tom), no photo, no bio, no other inforamation, and nothing in the music player. Last.fm: one listener (me!) and two plays. Jeepers, these guys really know how to promote their work.

Anyway, I'm here to take that task off their hands. Yay! Dawn of Might! This really isn't half bad, but pretty much nothing like the rest of the stuff on this blog. You'll notice that after the quick ambient intro, we're hit hard with... a melodeath riff. Happy, and full of life, like a giddy schoolboy skipping down the hallway. Okay, so it's not that bad, I was just feeling a creative writing spurt (which is odd, considering it's 4 in the morning here, and quite evident by the fact that I'm incoherently rambling). Ahem, I'm hoping you're all enjoying this as much as I am.

Relatively slow-paced, and seemingly sticking with the same basic riffing style all the way through, this demo sounds like it would plod on without end, but I managed to make it through in one go. An enjoyable listen, and nothing too straining on the ol' ears!

Scypozoa - Signs from the Erratic Past (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1991

1. Ceremonized
2. The Return of the Hovey
3. Darkness
4. The Path

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Scypozoa were an old band out of Sweden, forming at around the same time of other small acts in the area. Unfortunately, their fate was the same as most of those other bands: short and sweet. Having only released two demos, the members called it quits and went on to work with other bands.

The first thing that struck me was the killer vocal performance. This guy has the same messy style that vocalists like Chris Reifert, albeit much deeper and coarser. You could actually understand Reifert, but this just sounds like he's drooling all over himself, spewing classic Death Metal lyrics at the listener, and I love it! Gives the demo a very free sound. Overall a well-produced demo; everything in line here, nothing rising too far out of the mix, with the vocals, guitars, and drums all taking turns standing out throughout the songs. It has a thrashy side, and some of the quick, sharp riffs are indicative of that. A damned fine demo, and truly deserving of more attention.

Scypozoa - Diary (1992)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1992

1. Diary
2. Until The World Is Blind
3. Compensation

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Scypozoa's second effort, this time more of a promo, in the hopes of attracting a record label to sign with. It seems as though their first demo did the trick, and this was to seal the dea. However, this promo is... admittedly worse than the demo. I'm not saying it's bad, but it just seemed like all the things that were so likable about the first demo sort of disappeared, and we're left with two somewhat different releases. The vocals have changed, and seem a bit tamer, which might appeal to some, but not to me after Signs from the Erratic Past. You can still count on those riffs, though, and while they've lost some of that thrashy edge and have developed more into full-on Death Metal riffs, they definitely slay quite nicely. Some stuff is the same, some is different, but apparently wasn't enough to garner any attention! A valuable addition to any 'kvlt' collection!

Obscene - Grotesque Experience (1990)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1990

1. Shades of Nothing
2. Eternal Doom
3. Putrid Remains

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Only three fucking plays for this demo on Last.fm? You've got to be kidding me. This is one of the best demos I've ever heard. Don't believe me? Well two of the lead guys went on to play in House of Usher and Crypt of Kerberos. Yeah, holy shit. It's a crime that these guys have gone so unrecognized for so long. The band's only demo, three songs, but about 20 minutes of evil Death Metal; the best kind.

What we have here is some relatively doomy-paced Death Metal with a keen eye for dynamics. As I listen to this, I'm catching glimpses of Timeghoul for the sci-fi, spacey moments, executed to perfection to really liven up the atmosphere of this piece. This demo, in addition to its pure evilness, also has an enigmatic, creepy factor to it. For a brief moment, Impavida just flashed through my mind, as a spooky riffs eerily caressed my mind, sinking into my brain. The vocals are set back a bit in the mix, and at a comfortable rasp, they complement the musical genius perfectly. A very hypnotic and entrancing atmosphere is given off, and is accentuated by the longer song lengths, each averaging about six minutes in length. The occasional solo is thrown in, muffled in the background, giving this demo a very far-out feel, and you'll notice the rare sort of acoustic interlude, like towards the end of "Eternal Doom" that just seals the deal on this phenomenal demo.

Highly recommended.

Abnorm - Schemes of Hate and Denial (2009)

Genre: Black/Death Metal
Country: France
Year: 2009

1. Intro
2. Occularis Infernum (The Devilish Contemplations)
3. The Dead End Path Passenger
4. Schemes of Hate and Denial

Download at 4shared
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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This was released quite a while ago, back in February, but seems to have garnered absolutely zero attention. Bummer. A big, fat zero plays on Last.fm, and they really deserve more. Delving heavily in Black Metal territory, we hear many fast-paced, tremolo-picked riffs, but there's also a death/doomy side to things. The second track is a great example of this contrast; it starts a pure Black Metal ferocity, and about two thirds in, all of a sudden we're hit with some death/doom, and it sounds just like an old school Death Metal band. The vocals are very energetic and full of life, mostly death-based, and a great addition to the furious music. The riffs can be really cool at points, and are always very fast, so you know you'll never be left feeling unsatisfied after this first effort! A fantastic start for a band that I'm sure will go places rather quickly.

Preprophecy - A Tomb of Sanity (1992)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1992

1. Laugh of God
2. See the Paradise
3. Deadly Conspiracy
4. Depth of Delight

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Preprophecy are a very obscure little band coming out of Finland, which is surprising, considering the tremendous fame they went on to achieve playing melodeath as Cryhavoc. I guess nobody cares about how these great bands start out, but I certainly do, as should YOU. This is fucking Death Metal. Stuff that was designed to rip your entrails out, and most of that can be attributed to the vocalist. No pussy-footing around, this guy is intense and brutal. You know how Swedish chainsaw-like guitars ripped you apart? Yeah, well this guy's vocal style is the exact same way. To further accentuate this, the vocals are fairly high in the mix, only throwing more emphasis on this guy's killer vocals. Other than that, this is pretty standard DM, nothing too special in the riff department, but definitely worth a listen for this guy's vocals.

Preprophecy - Season of Sorrow (1994)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1994

1. The Spring of Shattered Souls
2. Lay Aside
3. Season of Sorrows

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Back two years later, Preprophecy unleashed their 1994 demo "Season of Sorrow". There are a few changes on this recording, compared to their debut. First, the production is much fuller, and everything seems more in balance. The vocals are brought back into the mix a little more, to allow for the guitars (which have really improved) to shine through. Unfortunately, the vocals aren't as destroying as they were in "A Tomb of Sanity", but they still get the job done quite nicely. In fact, this whole demo seems to be a bit more melodic, as you'll notice with some of the riffs and leads. Still fucking heavy Death Metal to the max, just expanded upon, adding progressive and experimental touches here and there. A much more developed demo and a surefire sign of great things to come. Definitely check this one out.

Sickening Gore - Destructive Reality (1994)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Switzerland
Year: 1994

1. Ancestral Hate
2. Blood For Tears
3. Obscene Existence
4. Massacre Of Innocents
5. Free Of Conscience
6. Covered In Blood
7. Psychopathic Butchery
8. Suppression Of Being

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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See that sticker on the album art? Yeah, that pretty much sums up this album. Except for the grind part. Not really grindy at all. But oh well, most people can't distinguish between black and death metal. How unfortunate. On to the review! Sickening Gore play a style of metal that is described perfectly by their band name. This is some very heavy, fast-paced, and unrelenting Death Metal, ready and willing to kick your ass any time of the day. Seems that with the name change, they decided to go a more straight-forward DM route, rather than flirting with progression and experimentation. However, they do what they do well, and it is evidenced by the 30 minutes of pure, unadulterated, bone-shattering destruction. The guitars sound much fuller, and seem to surround you while the vocals do their thing, flattening you like a pancake. It's a team effort when it comes to squashing the listener like a bug. The riffing is much more pronounced than in the demo, with some emphasis on chaotic solos. It's also interesting to note that this is a rather quick full-length, and that their Reactor demo was actually longer! Regardless, this is one for the ages, and will undoubtedly withstand the test of time. Recommended.

Reactor - The Tribunal Above (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Switzerland
Year: 1991

1. Intro/Deformed Personality
2. Near Dark
3. The Tribunal Above
4. Religious Fight
5. Circle Of Eternity [Cut Off...]

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Reactor was the previous incarnation of the great Sickening Gore. Having released only this lone demo before changing their name, they certainly pulled out all the stops. Clocking in at an incredible 34 minutes for a demo, and only five songs, you can expect some intricately performed Death Metal on this piece, and that is exactly what you get. Amazingly developed and well-performed Death Metal for a first effort, Reactor definitely grasp the whole idea of 'song structure' and utilize their creative genius to create longer-than-normal songs that take you on a complex journey. I'd even go as far as to call this Progressive Metal because of how the songs are written, with their spacey interludes and tempo changes.

This demo is host to one of my all-time favorite introductions, starting off in the distance and ambient, slowly building apocalyptic atmosphere before unleashing the beginning of "Deformed Personality". Can't get over how smooth the transition was and how goddamn well these songs were written. The production is not what you'd expect from a first demo; it's really good, and everything is in balance, although the vocals seem a bit loud in the mix at times. The drumming is fast and furious, with constant double bass and fast-paced snare hits to keep the songs moving along at a decent speed. The guitars have a great tone to them, but unfortunately don't stand out as much as the vocals and drumming. Not a problem though, as they get the job done. The vocals are awesome. Most of the time we'll hear a death grunt, but more often than not, you'll hear apocalyptic yelling in the background, like the guy's falling off a cliff and screaming "NOOOOOoooooooo" all the way down. Sounds really good, even if he's not actually saying anything. Totally rcommended.

Butchery - Necropsy Profane (1992)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1992

1. Necropsy Profane
2. Invitation To Eviseration
3. Zombification
4. To Kill For A Feast
5. Mass Grave (A Love Song)

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Butchery was an obscure little band from the backwater hick country known as Alabama, USA. Surprisingly enough, despite being in such a non-metal location, they managed to churn out a few very well-produced recordings. Here is their first demo, entitled "Necropsy Profane". Don't mind Metal Archives, they've got it backwards, listing this as their second demo. I mean, come on, how do you fuck that up? Take a wild guess as to what their second demo is called. Yeah, Demo II. I swear, bunch of monkeys... but I digress.

On this demo, we have some heavy, brutal and fairly underdeveloped Death Metal. Every single one of the five songs are about 2 minutes long each, leaving you with some fast, pummeling, hard-hitting music in very short bursts. Probably for the better, though, seeing as their style is more suited towards brutal DM or grindcore. They certainly felt that way, considering their gory lyrical content. Usually very fast-paced with some killer double bass, this demo does slow down a bit here and there, making it seem more like Death Metal. Take "Zombification" for instance. We've got some slower-paced stuff, with more emphasis on the riffs. Overall, quite an interesting release, and it seems as if the band were just experimenting to see what sort of direction they would like to head. Not to worry, though, they chose the Death Metal path. See next demo!

Butchery - Demo II (1992)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1992

1. The Last Supper
2. Scrotal Amputation
3. Blasphemous Butchery
4. Baptised In Excrement

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Butchery are back at it again, with their second demo, and definitely heading down the road of Death Metal. The songs are more developed here, and about twice as long on average, allowing for some more room to push boundaries and stuff. The first thing I noticed is that they went a little overboard with production and overproduced the demo so much that it seems like the vocals, guitars, and drums are all collapsing in on each other, mushing into one globby mess. Not a bad thing, though. It give the release a much fuller/satisfying sound, and with every breath, I can actually feel the DM in my lungs. Awesome. The vocals are similar to the previous release, but seemingly less throaty and more along the lines of yelling than inaudible growling. Still unable to hear what the guy's saying, but the vocals definitely seem much more lively and entertaining. Riffing is cool, and works well with the solos, each complementing the other and working off each other to produce neat effects, keeping the song progressing forward. Nicely done.

Dissect - Pusgush from the Vomited, Wormy Gut (1993)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Hungary
Year: 1993

1. Intro (Sympathetic Entreaty)
2. Raw Mind (Preserved Thought)
3. Lights Awaiting to be Disclosed
4. Associal Society
5. Disabled Suicide
6. Lost Subconscious
7. Catholic Priests' Sexuality (Nuns' Orgy In The Cathedral)
8. I Suffer from God
9. Negative Hopes
10. The Solve of the Thoughts Connexions... Can It Be Sold?
11. Outro (Returning Torture)

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Okay, time for some obscure shit. This is not the Brutal Death Metal band from Holland, or that punk band, but instead a very tiny straight up old school Death Metal band from Hungary. They released a couple of demos and a split, both of which are still missing in action. However, I bring you their second, and last, recording, host to quite an intriguing and oddly absorbing name.

Don't be thrown by the long tracklist; there are only like five real songs, broken up by atmospheric interludes, that sometimes seem out of place, but still well-done and great to break up the fast-paced, angry DM contained within each of the meaty tracks. This is fast, but also very heavy, and slightly on the choppy side, meaning that it seems like the music should flow faster for longer periods of time, but instead, the songs seem broken up, most likely due to the roomy, pulsating, and head-crushing production. It's not bad, just different from what I'd normally hear. However, this works amazingly well in Dissect's case. I love how dirty the songs sound, and since the vocals are in the Hungarian language, and there are some minimalistic parts with only ferocious vocals, they sound very demonic and enraged. Dual vocalists are used, and the other is higher-pitched, with a messier scream in the same vein as the guttural. They really compliment each other quite well. For some reason, I really like this demo, and either I am the only one or nobody's heard of it, considering I currently possess all of their scrobbles on Last.fm!

Really unknown and mysterious Death Metal, introduced to me by entity. Check it out.

Burial - Relinquished Souls (1993)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1993

1. The Second Coming
2. Failure of Technology
3. Traumatized
4. No Existence
5. Abhorence Within
6. Frigid Cold
7. Inner Hostility
8. Untimely Demise
9. Pitiful God

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 90% (1 review)
Last.fm

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A continuation in ferocity, Burial keep up the assault with Relinquished Souls. A slightly more polished release; and that's saying a lot, considering how fresh-sounding their demo was. Overproduced a bit to give it that suffocating feel, with all the instruments blending as one to form a giant mass of death and destruction. The riffs actually seem better on this release, in that they're just as fast, but adding a certain amount of technicality and innovation to make them truly memorable. Solos are still present in full force and used on nearly every single song to great affect. Often utilized in short bursts to back up the vocals or riffing, adding to the atmosphere. Cool stuff, and a great hidden gem. Recommended.

Burial - Frigid Cold (1992)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1992

1. Intro
2. Frigid Cold
3. Perpetual Demise
4. Traumatized
5. Pitiful God
6. Outro

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Yet another Burial, this time from Holland! This is some excellent, very well-done Death Metal of the most professional quality. You can definitely tell that these characters spent a lot of time into making this demo the best it could be, and it obviously carries onto their only album. It's a bummer they broke up so soon, but it looks like they actually reformed and released another demo. Huh.

I wouldn't call this thrash, but it's fast-paced DM with a serious punch. Very heavy drumming that beats you continuously into submission. The riffs are simplistic, but this demo has what most demos of the time didn't, a shitload of solos. The solos are very fast and dangerous, often seemingly spinning wildly out of control, destroying everything in their wake. A great demo with deep guttural vocals sure to rip you apart. Death Metal if you like it raw-sounding and dirty.

Lavra - Bluenothing (1994)

Genre: Doom/Dark/Experimental Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1994

1. Strange Lands
2. To Elide Something
3. Yesterday It Was Silent
4. From the Suction of Blue
5. E Minor
6. Never

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Fans of Sceptical Schizo will immediately leap out of their seats at the sight of Lavra's name. The once tough and robust Death/Doom band took a sharp turn with their self-titled EP, and the following Plight EP, getting rid of the harsh vocals completely, and playing a more heartfelt, melodic, and depressive form of Doom Metal. It still had that classic Schizo bite, though.

However, with the name change came a massive style change. If you were to simply listen to this music, there is no way that you could tell Sceptical Schizo and Lavra were the same band. Hell, just look at the band picture from the two eras. They look totally badass in their early days, and complete faggots as Lavra (gee, I hope the band doesn't see this!)

BUT, that's not to say this is a bad album, just different; in fact, I find Bluenothing very enjoyable. Seems the band had some sort of fixation on the color blue, most likely to depict sadness, and that's what they do, quite well, I might add. This is very melancholic, sometimes bordering on depressive rock, incorporating gothic and dark elements as well making this a very miserable sounding album; bleak and oppressive. I'm frightened to imagine another album by these guys, as I don't know how much more sad you could make it. Definitely not something to listen to after a break-up or on a sunny day. Well, if you want to completely immerse yourself in pity, dejection, despondency, anguish, etc. then go for it. The vocals are almost spoken and take on this very esoteric quality, echoing in the background, and neat little effects appear to make the vocals sound as one with the wind, like they're nonchalantly floating by, fully embracing the "grey whatever" vibe they're giving off.

All in all, phenomenal album, and highly recommended. Just don't go in expecting Sceptical Schizo!

Abysm - Demo 2007 (2007)

Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Canada
Year: 2007

1. Self Indulgence
2. Suffer
3. Reek of a Scene

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 77% (1 review)
Last.fm

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Abysm was a small trio coming out of Ottawa, Canada, and only managed to release this singular recording, limited to 10 copies, before splitting up on Christmas of '08.

They play a rather violent type of Death/Thrash with somewhat melodeathy vocals. Don't be put off by that, though, as this is some of the most furious and downright destructive deathrash out there. The riffing is through the roof completely, and in each of the three songs, we're hit with simple, but catchy hooks and leads, making for a very enjoyable demo. Short, under 10 minutes and consisting of three songs, there are plenty of blast beats to be heard, and you can tell that not a single member of this young band is slouching; they're all doing their part to make this very professional-sounding demo. The band also graciously allows for their music to be spread for free, so don't feel guilty about downloading this demo! Turns out I actually met they guy before this demo was released, and have been following him for a while, and kept pestering him about recording more, but unfortunately, shit happened, and they split up. Bummer; they were going places.

Not bad for a bunch of 16 year-olds! Not bad at all.

Endless Carnage - Black Empire (2006)

Genre: Death/Black Metal
Country: Brazil
Year: 2006

1. Black Empire
2. Warriors Of The Darkness
3. Total Devastation
4. To The Obscure Way

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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I don't even remember where I found these recordings; I was just surfing through my library the other day, came across them, and decided to throw 'em up on the ol' blog. Endless Carnage play music as their name suggests: total chaos and really hateful Death Metal with a nice Blackened tinge on the side. The production is very raw and underproduced, especially when it comes to distinguishing the drums; they are seemingly out there, separated from the rest of the music. Still, and enjoyable and entertaining listen. Not exactly the most impressive stuff out there, but they are still fairly unknown, so it can't hurt to give these guys a shot!

Plus, they're from Brazil, and Brazil is automatically awesome when it comes to Death and Black Metal!

Funeral Feast - Demo #1 (1992)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1992

1. Intro
2. Inhuman Acts of Sexual Perversion
3. Consumer of a Captious Carrion
4. Necro-Lustful Exhumanation

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 90% (1 review)
Last.fm

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When most people hear Funeral Feast, they think of the Finnish band, but today I'm featuring the lesser known Swedish act of the same name, who only managed to release a single demo, simply named "Demo #1". Starting with a reverberated intro track, the demo proceeds to erupt into some classic Death Metal with a beat. Very easy to headbang along with, these guys know how to create hypnotic song structures with catchy riffing. Songs can be repetitive at points, but that's a good thing in this band's case, as all of the material is definitely worthy of being played multiple times through. Slightly thrashy and very enjoyable for fans of early Bolt Thrower.

Carcaroht - Dragons Dawn (1993)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1993

1. Dragon's Dawn
2. Revenge
3. No Pride, No Man
4. An Odyssey Of Self Discovery
5. I Am The One

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Yet another obscure and forgotten band from the heyday of Swedish Death Metal. This isn't just any old demo, though. Some of you might be interested to know that this was recorded by Dan Swanö himself! There is some great DM here, very fast-paced and raw. The vocals stand out quite a bit and are very high in the mix, exuding a dirty, unkempt sound. Definitely fitting for the musical style. The riffing sometimes seems a bit technical at times, or that could just be me hearing the sheer speed. This is a great demo, and requires more attention. Hell, the band members went on to participate in a shitload of other bands, especially the drummer. Seems like this one was just lost in all the hubbub.

Disgrace - Beyond the Immortalized Existence (1990)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1990

1. Beyond the Immortalized Existence
2. Offering
3. Deprive My Innermost Soul
4. Ingrained Reign
5. Absurd Acension

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Weird band. They started out playing Death Metal of the rawest kind and then transitioned over to punk rock later in their career. Hm. Fear not, though, this is the very first demo from these guys, and it is death metal with balls. Probably the most interesting part of this music is the vocals. We have several different styles going on here, and it really makes this a fascinating piece of Death Metal. There are your classic death grunts, sometimes destroyed by the production, giving them an even rawer sound. In addition, we've got a higher pitched, crazed vocal style, the rare burping, some grindcore-esque vox, and even some spoken word-like vocals that have a robot hint to them, due to the production. They mix them up quite well, so you're never listening to the same style for too long, making this a varied piece that'll never bore you.

It's also notable how doomy this demo can get at some points. "Deprive my Innermost Soul" is mainly Death/Doom, and a nice break from the chaos. Great release, really.

Disgrace - Inside the Labyrinth of Depression (1990)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1990

1. The Chasm
2. Unity's Interlude Dies Blind Tomorrow
3. Transcendental Dimension
4. Waves of Hypocrisy Seas

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 99% (1 review)
Last.fm

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Disgrace's second demo, and it is a hell of a lot better than their debut, which was already awesome enough. The production was cleaned up immensely and it seems that the band decided on a vocal style. They mainly utilize the Demilich-esque burping vocals, although not quite as pronounced and mash that with a higher-pitched, hatred-filled squeal. Awesome. Much heavier in production, and the riffs are more doom-laden and gutwrenching. Everything on this demo is downtuned to the max. The guitars, and even the vocals, making this release feel like you're flung into exactly what the first track depicts, The Chasm.

Recommended.

Disgrace - Debts of God (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1991

1. Debts of Gods
2. Deprive My Innermost Soul
3. Incinerate
4. Offering

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 99% (1 review)
Last.fm

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Just based on this albums introduction song, you know this is going to be a hairy ride. Ear-splitting (literally) chaos starts us off, and doesn't relent until the EP's finished. Much more furious than previous endeavors, but the classic Disgrace is still there in the down-tuned, doomy atmosphere and morbid riffing. Seems they've changed their vocal style yet again, opting for a deep rasp, forgoing the burping. Very fitting for the music and the evil atmosphere.

Crematory - Wrath from the Unknown (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1991

1. Beneath the Crypts
2. Unconsecrated Ground
3. Wrath from the Unknown
4. Mastication

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 98% (1 review)
Last.fm

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Yeah, yeah, well-known band, I know. But this is a lesser-known release from the great Crematory, and is definitely the highlight of their career. Wrath from the Unknown was their second official demo and they were really starting to get into the swing of things. Drastically different from the first demo in terms of production, this demo simply excels. Each and every instrument can be heard clearly and individually, letting each facet of the release to shine. The drumming is fucking intense, with the right about of blasting and an all around great style. Mix that with the chaotic riffs, sometimes slowing down to dooooom like on the title track, and you've got a disturbingly dark hunk of Death Metal ready to pulverize your ears.

Krypts - Open the Crypt (2009)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 2009

1. Day of Reckoning
2. Dormant of the Ancients
3. Summoned from the Abyss
4. Open the Crypt

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Hailing from Finland and recently signed to Detest Records, Krypts have made quite a splash already with this outstanding demo. Reminiscent of the old school, Krypts play a fast, furious, and evil type of DM. Mostly heavy riffs, we occasionally here a lone melodic guitar lead to break up the darkness, letting light in on this destructive demo. This makes for a great effect and the double bass pounding away ridiculously fast in the background makes this one hell of an overwhelming release. Everything is fine-tuned for a marvelously crafted debut demo. Still can't get over that guitar, flirting with melody. Recommended.

Toxaemia - Kaleidoscopic Lunacy (1990)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1990

1. Terminated Violence
2. Dark Wisdom
3. Crematorium
4. Evil Rage

Download at 4shared
Metal Archives Rating: 80% (1 review)
Last.fm

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Another forgotten gem, this is Toxaemia's first demo of their short-lived career. It's so frustrating when bands only stick around for one or two years, release such promising stuff, then promptly disappear into thin air. Oh well, it can't be helped.

This is some very raw/muddy-sounding Death Metal of the oldest old school caliber. Very solid stuff, the production is surprisingly good and satisfyingly heavy. For some reason, I immediately thought of Cemetary's Evil Shade of Grey when listening to the first track of this album, and we all know that's definitely not a bad thing. A bit on the "nothing new here" side, but still very well-done Swedeath.

Crematorium is a great song, featuring some excellent tremolo picked riffs and by far the highlight of this demo.

Toxaemia - Beyond the Realm (1990)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1990

1. Beyond the Realm
2. Another Lie, Another Death
3. Who Dies
4. Expired Christianity

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Metal Archives Rating: 85% (1 review)
Last.fm

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The second offering from Toxaemia, and their style has changed quite a bit. The production is probably the most notable difference, and it seems a lot more tinny and even overproduced at some points. The percussion is loud and in your face, sometimes overpowering like in Rippikoulu's Musta Seremonia. There is also more aggression, so much so that the EP takes on sort of a thrashy feel, with its quick riffs and excellent solos. The vocals are raspy gutturals, the kind that I really enjoy. A great EP, and probably better then their initial demo, what with the higher quality riffing.

Toxaemia - Buried to Rot (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1991

1. World Graveyard
2. Tragedies Through Centuries
3. Hate Within
4. The Beginning of the End
5. Buried to Rot

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The third and final work from Toxaemia, and they went out with a bang. I'm not quite sure what happened to the production here, as it seems a bit flaky, but what's important is how the songs are composed, and that is just as good as ever. It seems they've honed the art of the riff over the past year, and this album is chock full of them. Very catchy riffs start out ever song and continue to satiate the entirety of each track. Solos are also very good. It's almost as if Toxaemia said "Fuck it", knowing they were going to be finished soon and busted out all their best riffs to use on this demo, making it very enjoyable. Cool stuff!

EDIT: Not sure where I came across this, but here is an "expanded" version with a few more tracks. |Mediafire|

Sceptical Schizo - Dispossessed (1990)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1990

1. Intro: The Rocker
2. Sepulchral Scene
3. Brainwash
4. Meaning of Existence
5. Victim of Perversity
6. Peerless Pastor

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Here we have the legendary Sceptical Schizo's second demo. The first is still nowhere to be found, so if you've got it, kindly send it to me! This demo is noticeably more thrashy in comparison to their other demos. Sure, the vocals are death all the way, but the riffing is much faster and there seems to be quite an abundance of tremolo picking. Amazing riffs, especially on "Meaning of Existence" and "Victim of Perversity", and the firm roots of a band that was to release a few more demos/EPs before changing their name to Lavra.

Sceptical Schizo - Danse Macabre (1990)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1990

1. Comfortable? (Open Your Eyes)
2. Fruits of Wrath
3. Battlefields
4. Thoughts of the Dead

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Demo number three from the Finnish Sceptical Schizo, and this is where they really start to perfect their sound. A much more polished release, you can feel the atmosphere and doomy perfection radiating from this music. It's very easy to lose yourself in the hypnotic songs. There are some pretty cool melodies, like on "Fruits of Wrath", and Sceptical Schizo really knows how to churn out some quality songs, getting creative with song structure and tempo. The riffs and solos are all still there, albeit slowed down quite a bit, really sinking into their doom/death sound. Impressive stuff!

Sceptical Schizo - The Four Seasons (1991)

Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1991

1. (Spring) Illusion of Sleep
2. (Summer) I Came to Grief
3. (Autumn) Falling Leaves (And My Fears Became to Life)
4. (Winter) Wrapped in Darkness I Grieve

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This is the demo that many consider to be Sceptical Schizo's break-out point, and probably the highlight of their short-lived career. Four lengthy and intricate songs make up this release and are a bit more aggressive than the previous demo. It seems to have a little faster pacing and is more upbeat, especially on the happy, crisp seasons like Spring and Summer. Their signature atmospheric touches are still there, often created by subtle synths, making for an 'epic' sound at points. However, they never overdo it, and what few times you do hear it, it sounds amazingly well-placed. This release, following the previous one, has a very entrancing touch and while I'm typing this, I keep finding myself staring at the computer screen, completely sucked into the music. Top-notch riffing as well, especially within the first few moments or pretty much every track, with some great, quick main riffs to complete each song perfectly. Highly recommended.

Sceptical Schizo - Into the Suction of Blue/Withdrawn (1992)

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

1. Into the Suction of Blue
2. Withdrawn

Please note that this release is actually self-titled, but in the sake of attracting search results from Metal Archives and to avoid confusion, the album is titled as such in the post.

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In case you still weren't convinced of the Atmospheric tag, then this EP is the release for you. Only two tracks here, but they are written in such an overwhelming way, these tracks will actually speak to you. What they will say depends on the person, but as for me, I get a strong air of melancholy and nostalgia from these tracks. I can't say exactly what I'm feeling, but it certainly tugs at the ol' heart strings in one way or another. Full of synths, other various instruments and sad, doomy riffing, this is definitely a very unique and powerful masterpiece. There are a lot more clean (spoken) vocals on this EP than in previous releases, but I think it goes very well with the music and helps add to the incredible imagery that is bound to bleed into your mind. Somewhat different from older Sceptical Schizo, this definitely marks their transition into the style they were going to play as Lavra.

Enough said, just listen to this and be blown away.

Sceptical Schizo - The Plight (1993)

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

1. Tightrope Ballet
2. Sixteen Gardens of Plight

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This it, Sceptical Schizo's final release under this name. It mostly follows the style of the latest EP and seems like it could have been a part of it. Slowly creeping towards that name change and also change in style. You're not going to hear classic, aggressive Schizo on this release, but instead, much more doomy/atmospheric doom/death, with a much larger focus on the instrumental aspect of music. Still an excellent release, almost on par with their s/t and once again, very emotional and heart-felt. Check this one out, as Sceptical Schizo's transition was a large and interesting one, full of excellent music on both ends of the spectrum. One of the best and most consistent (not in terms of style, but quality) bands.

Eroded - Eroded (2009)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Italy
Year: 2009

1. Inceptive Point of Vengeance
2. Sunless Jubilation
3. The Harmful Order
4. Vertex On Siege Divine
5. Reduced To One
6. Symmetric Killing Synthesis
7. Arise Through Katalepsy
8. The Ultraidol Sycophants
9. Unbounded Soulless Scene

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Credits to Grimmkvlt for the upload!

Formerly known as "Forgotten Creed", Eroded released two demos before compiling them both into this self-titled compilation released this year. Excellent production, yet it still retains that old school Swedish Death Metal quality we all know and love. The production is very clean and full and the riffs are as gravely as ever. Basically, this album can do no wrong. Everything about it is well-thought out and large amounts of attention were given to each and every song, despite them being demos. Watch out, these Italians are quickly rising the ranks of Death Metal!

Spina Bifida - Symphony of Indictment (1992)

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

1. Witchfire
2. Verdict
3. Die
4. Purest Queen

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Here is Spina Bifida's 1992 demo. Everything here was featured on the full-length, but these four songs weren't changed much and, interestingly enough, are the four best tracks on the album. Guess they got a lot of practice and had a lot of time to perfect their craft! For Death/Doom fanatics and avid collectors, this is for you!

Spina Bifida - Ziyadah (1993)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1993

1. Witchfire
2. Reverse
3. Purest Queen
4. Individual
5. Aimless
6. Götterdämmerung
7. Verdict
8. Die

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 95% (1 review)
Last.fm

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Initially recorded in 1992, this Death/Doom masterpiece was let loose on the world in 1993. Probably the first thing that ran through my mind as I was listening to this was how fluent Ziyadah is. Some Death/Doom fail it that respect, and we're left with choppy/chunky sounding albums that can be difficult to listen to unless in short bursts. This, however, is different and these guys have a great sense of melody and know how to compose DOOOOOOOOOM effectively. That's saying something, considering Doom is a slower genre and some find it difficult to pay attention to the slow, agonizing melodies. Spina Bifida is, in no way, like that at all. That said, this is still some of the slowest Death/Doom I've heard, but like Mystic Charm, I can't turn away. The riffs are haunting and dark, like in "Purest Queen".

The vocals are also done well, with a deep rasp and the rare hypnotic clean section here and there.

When it's all said and done, this is one of the best Death/Doom efforts out there. Hidden by a thick veil of obscurity, it's unfortunate that this band didn't garner much success. I suggest you make a break for it and grab this. But not too fast! Take your time. This is doooooom, after all. It's not going anywhere.

Jumpin' Jesus - Demo 1990 (1990)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Germany
Year: 1990

1. Intro
2. Out Of The Unknown
3. Brain Cramps
4. Burnt Offerings
5. Cloning The Future
6. H.U.A.L.P.

Download at Mediafire
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God-awful name. I know. But try to look past that and see this music for what it really is: a heaping helping of awesome Death Metal.

Jumpin' Jesus were a very short-lived band, lasting only two or so years, but managing to put out a demo and a full-length. This is an excellently produced demo, and actually sounds very professional for being self-produced. The sound quality/production is great and every instrument can be heard clearly without issue. Very strong and commanding vocals are present, along with a jazzy bass line in the background. The drums are solid and the double bass is often heard poking out through the chaos, with the riffs taking a back seat, leaving you to be mesmerized by the pounding. The guitarwork tself is very thrashy, with short, concise riffs. Overall a very well-done demo.

Jumpin' Jesus - The Art of Crucifying (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Germany
Year: 1991

1. Out Of The Unknown
2. Braincramps
3. The King Of Worms
4. Cloning The Future
5. Chaingang
6. Burnt Offerings
7. Important Gain
8. Rotten Flesh
9. Thru In4cers I's
10. Lost Yourself
11. The Preacher

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 83% (1 review)
Last.fm

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Yep, these Germans with the goofy name are at it again, this time on a full-length. All four (real) songs from the demo are here, re-recorded and fine-tuned to perfection. Some of the squeaky riffing has been corrected, giving this album a much more balanced feel. Still very weird, with strange synthy sound effects and spacey overtones and the very rare Avant-Garde approach. The speed is all there, as is the same with the riffs and drumming. It seems they sort of went down the technicality path on this one, and the complex song structures and riffing really shine bright. A fine release!

Burial - Loss of Life (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1991

1. Unnecessarily Executed
2. Justifiable Homicide
3. Victim of Drowning
4. Serial Killer

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 80%
Last.fm

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Here is my recommendation of the week. Or something. I don't actually do one of those, but if I did, this would be my pick. Here we have yet another demo-only band, only having released a few demos, with the other two featuring re-recorded songs from this legendary demo. But this is the one you want.

Burial play a very fast and frantic style of Death Metal not unlike early Obituary and Death. The riffs are there in full force and a bit of technicality is showing through with these razor-sharp leads and melodies. The bass is very audible at times and blends well with the music. The vocals sound a lot like early Death, if not a bit more animated. You can tell this guy is really getting into the music.

Best song, bar none, is "Victim of Drowning". This is probably one of my favorite DM tracks ever, mainly for the insane, over the top style and vocals. The vocals! Very wild and scared sounding almost, like he really is drowning. That mixed with the riffing really creates a frightening and helpless atmosphere, like you're being overwhelmed. If anything, download this demo for that song. Amazing.

Somber Blessings - The Winds of the Earth (1995)

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1995

1. Intro
2. Hollow of The Three Hills
3. The Winds of The Earth
4. Mourn The Sunrise
5. In Death's Shadow
6. The Autumn King
7. Nevermore
8. So Sleeps The Dawn
9. Shall Weep No Longer

Download at Mediafire
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Hailing from Massachusetts, my next door neighbor (well, relatively speaking, considering some of the other stuff I post here from Finland or what have you) released this magnificent demo tape in 1995. Quickly becoming one of my favorite bands, this is a beautiful combination of death, doom, melody and a variety of other things. Quite an eclectic release, it's mostly Doom/Death with an emphasis on DOOOOOOM, utilizing mainly raspy death growls, but also including a very melodic and beautiful female vocalist. Some of the riffs can be very melodic and compelling, making this one of the best releases in the Doom/Death genre.

In addition to the above, other instruments are used on occasion such as a cello/violin and keyboards. These guys had a vision in the creation of this demo and their musical talent is shining through, blindingly bright.

Pestigore - Rehearsal/Demo 1991 (1991)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1991

1. Swamp of the Holy Rot
2. The Incursion of Chaos

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Pestigore was an obscure little band coming out of Finland and never gained popularity, probably due to never making it out of the demo stages. However, they have achieved a cult following in the underground and are widely hailed as one of the finest in old school Death Metal.

Here was the very first release Pestigore ever recorded, a sort of rehearsal and a demo thrown together. First, let me clarify a few things. There is a download floating around on blogs and stuff that is supposedly the 1992 promo. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. What you all downloaded is actually this rehearsal/demo. Somebody got mixed up somewhere along the way and mislabeled their upload. For proof, look at the song lengths on MA and note how they do not match up with the download some of you may have. But fear not, I am going to post Pestigore's entire discography, correctly tagged and everything for your organizational convenience.

That said, this demo is actually quite good. Excellent riffs and muddy production that really brings out the destruction behind this music. Vocals are growled gutturals, barely understandable, if at all, but giving the demo that demonic vibe. Definitely get this.

Pestigore - Within the Dark Mist (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1991

1. Intro
2. The Eternal Era
3. Ahead Of The Law

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The second approach from the Finnish Pestigore, and it marks the beginning of the sheer speed and savagery that is to come. Their previous demo had some down time, but there's no letting up here. Even when the drumming is at a minimum, the way the song is structured insures a fast pace all the way. The riffs are also much quicker, but not necessarily thrash. Sometimes a bit repetitive, but that works for this band very well. The vocals also conform more to standard death grunts, if a bit harsher. Definitely not a release you'll get bored of!

Pestigore - Promo 1992 (1992)

Note: Artwork unavailable

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1992

1. Stream Of Corruption
2. Within Debris...

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This is the confused Promo that everybody seems to think they have, but nobody really does. Good thing I'm here! This is probably Pestigore's best release, because it features "Stream of Corruption", the greatest song Pestigore has released. Absolutely vicious riffs dominate the entire piece, cleaving through your body like a katana through a fat guy. Combined with the innovative and creative song-structure, this piece never gets boring. Awesome song. The second track follows suit with killer riffs and kickass drumming. Rare stuff. Recommended.

Pestigore - Twisted Perversions... Unbearable Delight (1992)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland
Year: 1992

1. Plaguelord
2. Sea Of Souls
3. Incur The Gods Great Disfavour
4. On The Holy Ground To Be

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The fourth and final offering from Pestigore, and it is much fiercer, with an massive emphasis on speed and chaos. It's also cleaned up a bit in terms of production, although the instruments seem to be separated from each other a little. For example, the drums seem to be pounding inside your head, while the rest of the music is on the outside looking in. Regardless, a very fast-paced and evil demo. The vocals haven't really changed and even exude a slight burping quality to them, giving them a few more points on the evil scale. Don't know how these guys managed not to be signed, because they were going places.

Mystic Charm - Lost Empire EP (1993)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1993

1. Lost Empire
2. Endless Sickness

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 93% (1 review)
Last.fm

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I know I made a few Mystic Charm posts a while back, but I just recently came across this marvelous EP. A very rare find and as of now, available exclusively HERE. Hell, so few people have this that the song lengths aren't even included on the Metal Archives!

But enough of me bragging about my rarities, let's get on with the music. These two songs are featured on the full-length, Shadows of the Unknown, but they've undergone some serious changes since this EP. For starters, the songs are all much shorter. "Lost Empire" is about 40 seconds shorter and "Endless Sickness" is a whole 3 minutes and 30 seconds shorter. So while a few aspects of these songs have yet to be implemented, this is a fantastic release to gauge the development of these masterpieces.

I have always loved Mystic Charm and this release is just as good as the others, if not more enjoyable in some cases. The production is a little worse, and much rawer, with the vocals taking a backseat in the mix. This way, it's much easier to appreciate the music and see how, even without the demonic vocals in your face, it's as dark as ever. Pure darkness and malice are present in all of Mystic Charm's work and this is no different. Recommended!

Creepmime - Anthems for a Doomed Youth... (1992)

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

1. Orgasmic Statement of Existence
2. Corpus Diseased
3. War Heads Surgery
4. Nature's Sacred Path
5. An Anthem For Doomed Youth

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You heard me right, this is not your typical Creepmime with hints of technicality and speed. This demo is drastically different from Creepmime's other offerings and we see that this band started out as Death/Doom. This is a very slow release, but we still see some of the aspects of Creepmime that defined them in their full-lengths. For example, the tortured and deranged vocals. Mostly higher-pitched, but with the occasional low, throaty growl, they sound, at times, like a depressive Black Metal vocalist. Sort of a shrill voice that sometimes seems to crack. Combined with the doomy atmosphere, this makes for a rather interesting release. Very dangerous and fans of Creepmime should definitely grab this! Very rare!

Symphony of Grief - Our Blessed Conqueror (1995)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1995

1. Toth Amon/Your Fallen Domain
2. Wars of Vengeance
3. Cast Upon Flames
4. Spectral Voice (Intro)
5. Immortal Fluids

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 90% (1 review)
Last.fm

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Spanning only two years, Symphony of Grief finally split up in 1995, but not before unleashing this hell of a going away present. It seems they actually toned the heaviness down a bit, but in return, really polished up the general sound. Much more well-written. The first song starts off dreadfully slow, but then seems to alternate between brutally fast and blasting sections to funeral doom sections, making the first song seem very disjointed. But after that, the EP only gets better. Really keying in on the "doom and gloom" this is a morbid-sounding release that simply reeks of death and misery. It seems that this truly is a symphony of grief. It's everywhere, was present on previous releases as long as this one, and the smell is overpowering. I feel sad just listening to it. Not quite Funeral Doom, but more like Depressive Death Metal. Something in between and very compelling. Highly recommended.

Sympony of Grief - Immortal Suffering 2-Tracks Promo Tape (1993)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1993

1. Cerberus
2. Ritual Disembowelment

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The very first effort from the great Symphony of Grief was this short little promo tape. The production is horrid. It really is. Thankfully, this was re-recorded and re-released later on their Regurgitated Corpses... Drowning in Sorrow EP. Aside from the rumbling, reverberated production that makes this release sound like it was recorded outside or in a cave somewhere, this promo marks the beginnings of a godly new Death/Doom band. Very heavy and suffocating with towering vocals and crushing riffs, this really pulls you down. Very impressive, and this is only the beginning...

Sympony of Grief - Infernal Creation (1993)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: USA
Year: 1993

1. Infernal Creation
2. Assimulation Of Souls
3. Cerebral Hemorage

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Released in the same year as their promo, these guys have shown tremendous improvement. The production issue is fixed and actually seems a bit overproduced. It has a very hollow atmosphere and it almost sounds as if the music is being played around you instead of next to you. Tough to explain, but cool effect that gives this demo that "towering" feel I spoke of earlier. The doom and gloom is still there, with a few adjustments to the vocal style. For the most part, we hear a droning sort of guttural that looms in the horizon, casting its evil upon you from afar. Also, there is the occasional clean vocal that's done in the same style as the guttural, but seems a little more haunting. Great effect. Mostly hanging out in doom territory, Symphony of Grief also erupt into faster-paced Death Metal sections with double bass and everything. Awesome.

Sympony of Grief - Regurgitated Corpses... Drowning in Sorrow (1994)

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

1. Cerberus
2. Ritual Disembowlment

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This is the re-release of their Immortal Suffering promo and holy shit does it sound so much better. Not much was changed within the songs themselves, they were simply cleaned up a bit. So if you want to read more about it, go here.