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.

Sthygma - Act 2: Khalimäa (1997)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: France
Year: 1997

1. Mean Serenity
2. A Breath In the Night
3. Soulfragment
4. Sir Misery
5. The Split
6. Sthygma

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Act 2 is Sthygma's second and final offering, this time a full-length. Well, sorta. Turns out the last song, which is over 15 minutes long, is just the EP all mashed together in one song. So consider this a second EP. On this record, it seems a bit heavier, and the vocals are also a little deeper and more what you'd expect from Death Metal. The same chanting backing vocals are here, as well, making this practically a continuation from Act 1, which makes sense, considering they're called Act 1 and Act 2. Although it is odd how they tacked Act 1 on the end of this, Act 2, going in reverse order, signifying regression? I dunno, and now I'm just rambling, so enough of my mindless babble, go get this!

Embalmed Souls - Journey Through Bizarre (1997)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Brazil
Year: 1997

1. Inheritance Of The False Image
2. The Future Of Thousand Years
3. Dimension of Torment
4. Torturing The Minds
5. The Tale Of Sacred Ignorance
6. Cry Before Die

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Embalmed Souls were another band who, unfortunately, were unable to make it past the demo process, for whatever reason. In fact, their existence spans from 1990 until the present. Who knows why they couldn't find the time to record a proper release, but, frankly, I don't care, seeing as how the three demos I'm posting are solid, top-notch old school Death Metal. It's a fucking crime that these guys aren't more well-known and I'm amazed at how such an obscure band, garnering ZERO attention over almost 20 years stays motivated and continues to churn out such impressive work! It should also be worth noting that these demos aren't just one or two short songs, but quite long and all above 20 minutes, with this one exceeding 38 minutes in length!

This particular demo has a very omnious sound. They do the whole "dark" thing quite well and I feel like I'm hurriedly roaming endless corridors in a dungeon, while something is hunting me down. Can't quite put my finger on it, but that's the beauty of this demo; it's dark and enigmatic. A sense of impending doom is ever-looming. Riffing is done very well to help with this atmosphere and the vocals are (while lost in the mix a bit) what you'd expect when walking in on a demon with his head bowed, and a smile slowly creeping across his face, his eyes hidden in darkness...

Come, let darkness devour your soul...