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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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.

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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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.

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.

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.

Misericordia (Rus) - The Microbiological Revolution (1996)

Genre: Technical Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Russia
Year: 1996

1. The Microbiological Revolution
2. Acetone
3. The Intrauterine Suicide
4. My Dream
5. Post-Alcoholic Depression
6. The Subjugation Of Reason
7. Epilogue

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Microbiological Revolution, eh? That's some pretty heavy stuff (for a death metal band!); definitely worth a look. The complex song titles also seemed a bit out of the ordinary, drawing me even closer to what is the definition of a "hidden gem". My preconceptions were spot-on; this is one hell of a damn impressive demo, far ahead of its time, displaying a technical prowess unlike the rest of whence it spawned.

It was hard to put my finger on it at first, but the more I listened, the more the music screamed at me... "DEATH". There is an uncanny similarity to later Death, specifically The Sound Of Perseverance. But hold the phone--wasn't that released after The Microbiological Revolution? Oh shit.

What really struck me was the intensity and strength of the song structures. The whole demo weaves together spectacularly, combining Thrash elements with fast-paced passages ripping with technical riffs and Death-esque guitar solos, but also slows down to a more classic OSDM plodding when appropriate. Fantastic incorporation of ambient/atmospheric overtones saturating the already deep and penetrating grip this demo has on you. Vocals are nothing special, but solid old school growls. In fact, I wouldn't ask for anything else with this style of music. They are actually set a little further back in the mix, which was a good choice to allow the instrumentation a chance to shine, accentuating the technical brilliance these Russians present.

Yet another top-notch release from Mortal Dreams Productions... Recommended.

Goregod - Apocalypse Now (1996)

Genre: Avant-Garde Industrial Death Metal
Country: Russia
Year: 1996

1. Funeral Song
2. The Darkest Side of Reality
3. Mourne Country
4. Apocalypse Now
5. Dark Is the Future
6. 10000 Maimed Corpses
7. We Must Find a Way
8. Suprised Song
9. Warchaos

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More of the same from these crazy fuckers. Somebody heard their wacko demo and thought it would be a great idea to sign them to a label (Mortal Dreams Productions). Fortunately, I know the guy responsible for this, so I'm just busting balls now. That said, this isn't a bad album! A bit on the unique side, but to the point where it's refreshing. The more I listen, the more it grows on me. Pretty sure I'm at the point where I like it!

It's a bit tamer than the demo, and with a much more holistic sound (thicker guitar tone, actual song structure, etc.). Very synth heavy and there's more of the industrial sound with some psychedelic elements, too. There is quite a range of styles all over this album. You've got your up-front, fast-paced Death Metal with the title track, a more chill and psychedelic approach with "We Must Find A Way", and probably my favorite track, "Darkest Side of Reality", which boasts an industrial, almost videogame-esque main riff. The same range of vocals is still present, and used quite well to create a thrilling listening experience that will keep you guessing what the hell will happen next.

Yurra Serov (the Mortal Dreams Productions guy of Different Seasons fame) is the reason I know about this band (and a few future posts), and he shared what I thought was one hell of a crazy story:

James A. Magda (AKA Jamz), the frontman had found himself in an interesting position at the time of this album's release. Right as Serov and Mortal Dreams Productions had made all the arrangements for the release of Apocalypse Now, and were about to print and distribute the album, Jamz's wife wrote, informing them that Jamz was dead. Killed in a fight, apparently. Get this, though... she also sent, along with the letter, the last song he recorded, entitled... "Make Me Dead". Holy shit.

Different Seasons - Bleeding Summer (1996)

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

1. Steele Machine
2. Darkside
3. Behind You Sadness
4. Wind Of The Spite
5. Bleeding Summer
6. Red Evening Moon

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Ever since discovering these guys long ago, I haven't been able to go more than a few days without giving this one a listen! I am very impressed, and the only criticism I have is the short length of this "album", clocking in at just under 19 minutes in 6 songs. Goddamnit I want more!

Starting off with an eerie, yet still somehow cheery synthesized intro, the stage is set for some melodic/symphonic doomy Death Metal, but not in the frilly, "frolic through the flowers" pansy metal. This is some dark, but wholly engaging stuff. Excellent use of female vocals is made, along with synthesized instruments like organs! The good part of the album (understatement, since it's all good) starts when the female vocals burst out of the doom and gloom with "Behind You Sadness", providing fantastic contrast, and melding exceptionally well with the atmospheric/symphonic air.

This album has it all, despite such short length. We've got a straight-up Doom/Death song in "Darkside", eerie ambient intro/outro, powerful tunes incorporating all the elements that Different Seasons employs in tracks 3 & 4, and to top it all off, a gorgeous ballad, the title track of this hidden gem.

GET IT

Absence of Dawn - And the Sun is Fading... (1996)

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

1. Nature Drops
2. Sky Pain
3. Wind Flower
4. And the Sun is Fading...

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Greece seems to have a nasty habit of restricting the creative genius of many young bands! Damn military... but that's a story for another time. Here we have a lone demo from 1996 by an unknown band that plays a slow-paced, melodic type of doomy death metal. There's not much in terms of pacing or drumming, but the atmosphere and imagery evoked is exactly that of the demo title: And the Sun is Fading... Most of the time, a simple riff is utilized throughout an entire song, and not much is varied in terms of song structure. So why am I posting this here? For some reason, this demo holds my interest. On paper, it sounds like it shouldn't, but just enough melody is used to create a depressing atmosphere and can sound like a fantastic demo if in the right mood. The production wears a bit thin at times and the vocals sometimes aren't the best, but despite all these flaws, this sounds GOOD. Nothing more to it. Would absolutely love to hear this remastered or even re-recorded with some heavier-tuned instruments.

Depression - Распятье Богов (1995) [Remastered and Original]

Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal
Country: Russia
Year: 1995

1. Де Сад
2. Зона Смерти
3. Инквизитор
4. Меланхолия
5. Предсмертный сон

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NOTE: Use 7zip when decompressing the archives. WinRAR might have trouble with the Cyrillic characters.

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HOLY SHIT

I have no idea where I came across this absolutely massive, obscure Russian demo, but I am sure as hell glad I did. One of the best demos my ears have had the pleasure of imbibing and they cannot thank me enough!

Monstrously huge, expansive Doom/Death Metal, with a heavy emphasis on the Doom. The tracks are quite lengthy, often extending past the ten minute mark, with an average of about 9 minutes each, allowing for multitudes of varying degrees of experimentation and gripping melodies. There's a little bit for everybody; often melodic, but at the same time crushingly heavy and suffocating, aided by the overpowering vocals. Evoking nostalgic and eye-opening atmosphere, I sit here stunned, mouth open, entirely at the mercy of this hypnotic and haunting obscurity. Long, winding instrumental passages saturate throughout, thick with melody and entrancement.

No other information about this band. Hell, their MA page hasn't been updated since the day this demo was submitted two years ago. Consider this a feast for the ears, a real treat to behold. Breathtaking.

EDIT 03/06/2012

Depression's classic 1995 demo has been remastered and rereleased in 2010. Link is included.

Darkseid - The Three Mothers (1996)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: France
Year: 1996

1. The Three Mothers
2. Mater Suspiriorum
3. Mater Lacrimarum
4. Mater Tenebrarum
5. I Tre Iris (Outro)

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Another extremely obscure and rare one-demo band, Darkseid released this "concept demo" in 1996, then disappeared, never to be heard from again. This is an interestingly crafted album, a bit weird at parts, and I'm not quite sure what to think of it, but I'm leaning toward "It's goood". It says so on the demo cover that all the songs are inspired by Dario Argento's Suspiria and Inferno so expect some creepy shit and weird approaches. Probably the most fascinating thing about this album is the guitar tuning. It almost sounds like something that should belong in a Black Metal band, yet plays like Death Metal. Low, guttural vocals saturate the release and create a dark, gloomy atmosphere. Pretty cool demo.

Arkana - Demoni (1996)

Genre: Dark/Death Metal
Country: Italy
Year: 1996

1. Presagio
2. Il Ritorno
3. Errtu
4. Demogorgon
5. Sangue Maledetto
6. Uomo e Bestia
7. Nuova Profezia

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Don't recognize the name? I'm not surprised; these guys are fucking obscure. Absolutely nothing is known about them, even the year they released this demo is disputed. Was it 1996 or 1998? I doubt anybody will ever know for sure. It's also interesting to note that a few websites list this demo as having four tracks, yet the copy I have distinctly has five. Huh. Oh well, this is definitely one for the ol' collection!

Mostly Dark Metal, still not quite sure what that is, but this isn't quite Death Metal. Everything about the instrumentation and vocals scream DM, but the way it's composed makes it seem a little different. The vocals are far back in the mix and sorta blend in and aren't your typical death grunt; more along the lines of a rasp. The entire demo just sounds dark in itself. We have spooky riffs and eerie organ music peeking out from the darkness and the slow to mid-paced melodies and drums help to define the brooding, doomy sound. Very cool. Recommended because it's just so cool.

Thanks, entity!

Crimson Relic - Purgatory's Reign (1996)

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

1. Thane Of Torchless Night
2. Innocence Lost
3. Crimson Relic
4. The Lust Primeval
5. In Dismal Bliss
6. The Solemn And The Wicked
7. Descent Of The Blackshroud
8. Essence Of Dawn
9. Velvet Of The Godless
10. Prince Of Midnight

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Metal Archives Rating: 97% (1 review)
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Formerly known as Divine Eve, Crimson Relic unloaded "Purgatory's Reign" on the world in 1996 and it has gone down in history as a pinnacle of not only American Death Metal, but Death Metal as a whole. This is a truly masterful album. Very heavy and crushing, morbid riffs saturate this release and fills it with an atmosphere of desolation and dooooom. Each and every song is carefully crafted into unique, individual mini-masterpieces, all coming together to form one of the greatest Death Metal albums of all time. Vocals sink back a little bit, but I'm perfectly fine with that, since I'm more concerned with the plodding music, than vocal strength, but I will say that no matter how this is mixed, it still blends together beautifully. A lost gem that will never be forgotten. The only problem is that not enough people know about this... Recommended.