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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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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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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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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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

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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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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.

Asphyxia (Irl) - Conflagration (1990)

Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Ireland
Year: 1990

1. D.P.O.S. (Intro)
2. The Craving
3. Conflagration
4. Symptoms of Suffering

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A lot of you have probably heard of of the Irish Morphosis; well, this is what Morphosis used to be. A rather early Death Metal release from 1990 with some Thrash tendencies, it is a very impressive demo for the time.

Song lengths average a jaw-dropping eight minutes, which was unheard of for a thrashy-type band at the time, so you can expect the song structures here to be well-thought out and carefully pieced together. I know I've mentioned thrash a few times, but this demo leans more toward the Death Metal side of the spectrum with gritty, deathy production and rasping Kreator-esque vocals. Expect myriad long, plodding riffing sections, giving some of the songs, especially "The Craving" a sort of entrancing feel, very easy to get sucked into. This style works quite well for the demo as a whole, and it feels hearty and full. There are a fair amount of solos to break up the songs, drawing on its thrash influences, as well as quick-paced, energetic riffing to keep things lively, despite its long-winded nature. A few production issues sprinkle throughout, like on "Conflagration" where the sound dips in and out, but for the most part, it's produced well for a 90s demo, certainly listenable.

Makrothumia - The Rit of Individuation (1997)

Genre: Progressive Doom/Death Metal
Country: Romania
Year: 1997

1. A Sense-Alization of Your Own-Not-Owned (Your Own Interior Own)
2. Conquering the Lack of Relations... the Vague... to Unify
3. An Interior Autonom Structurality (To Protect... to Deceive... Protecting?)
4. The Need (Appearing Yourself Through into the Other)
5. The Archetypes (Patterns of Behaveor)
6. The Spirituality of the Prostitution (Masculin Domination Against Alterity)
7. Celebrating Thee (A Drowing Down the Sun Ritual)
8. Sinagogic Curse

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The first thing you'll notice is the absurdly long and complex song names a la Demilich, but let me promise you, you're in for a fantastic treat with this Romanian gem. Makrothumia has gained some attention in the past few years, and for damn good reason. Who ever heard of Romania producing good music?

Progressive is the defining genre descriptor here. There is so much shit going on, and it is orchestrated to perfection. The song structures are byproducts of creative brilliance and musical genius. The music--nay, ART here knows no bounds and the band members took every liberty in pushing the limits of metal to cultivate a seamless blend of doom, death, and technicality. Thick, luscious bass, in both guitars and percussion, saturate throughout, giving The Rit of Individuation a beautifully flowing sound. On paper, the album should be jagged rapids, but somehow culminates in a smooth, flawless estuary, opening its waters into a massive, expanding ocean of intricate, meticulous elegance.

Truly a release for the ages... monstrous in its presentation, fastidious in its attention to detail. Resonant and epic in every sense of the word, with tight riffs and inspired melodies to complement the omnipresent, mellifluent vocals. If you can't tell by now, this comes very highly recommended.

Internal Putrefaction - What Prophets Foretold (1997)

Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1997

1. The Rudiments In Dm (Intro)
2. When Trepedation Turns Into A Qualm
3. Public Ceremony
4. Metaphisical Awaiting
5. Lacerated Stigmatization
6. Aqua Tofana
7. The Age Of Enlightenment (Outro)

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Beginning with an eerie, foreboding, and almost majestic intro (could this be what the prophets foretold?), we're quickly lead into fast and furious riffing that doesn't let up until the exact midpoint of the second track with a desperate call out to the heavens. From this stage on, a more melodic direction is taken with impressive riffing and enveloping song structure.

Not too sure if this is a concept demo or what, but I certainly like it. Church bells ring, surrounded by confused religious cries with atmospheric melodies scattered throughout. What Prophets Foretold has a unique sad sound, separating itself from the rest of the pack for a refreshing and intoxicating listen.

With a name like Internal Putrefaction, this is the absolute last type of music I expected... but it works exceedingly well. I haven't been able to track down their 1991 demo (somebody hook me up!), but I'd take a gander that it's down and dirty Death Metal, more deserving of its name. However, this 1997 effort has a very mature sound, deeper and more meaningful than any ol' DM band. Not sure where these guys went wrong after this demo, but I'm sad they did, because they've got talent. Recommended.