Cryptophobism - Demo '98 (1998)

Note: Artwork unavailable

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

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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

—————————————————————

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

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

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

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

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

—————————————————————

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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

—————————————————————

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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

—————————————————————

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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

—————————————————————

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.

Moondark - The Shadowpath (1993)

Genre: Death Metal with Doom elements
Country: Sweden
Year: 1993 (first recording), 2007 (re-release)

1. The Shadowpath
2. Inside the Crypt
3. The Dawn for Our Race
4. Dimension of Dakness
5. Trespassing Into... The Abyss
6. Concealling the Dayligtht
7. World Devastator

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 82% (2 reviews, 75% and 88%)
Last.fm

—————————————————————

Bone crushing. The first thought that popped into my head upon my first listen. This is one of those albums that's so unbearably brutal and overtly crushing, it's enough to make you cringe in your chair. The classic Swedish chainsaw riffs are there, but also downtuned ridiculously, giving "The Shadowpath" a very dark and twisted sound. Each and every riff is cold and deadly sinister, not to mention absolutely crushing (can't stress that word enough!). If I were getting ripped and torn to shreds by a meatgrinder on low speed or something, this is what would be playing as each limb were ripped off and squashed between the blades. The plodding, doom parts make this release all the more heavy and pronounced. Every riff and beat has meaning and you can feel each and every part of the song in your bones.

Enough about the instrumentation, what about the vocals? Pretty much the same deal. A very deep guttural, but once again, with that gritty, jagged sound, complementing the guitars quite nicely. One of my favorite vocal styles simply because of how much they affect me. I can really feel them, and it's impossible to glaze over and ignore them.

Carnage to the core.

Recommended.

Carnagoth - Forced to Suffering (2009)

Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Country: Venezuela
Year: 2009

1. The Carnagoth
2. Pact of Violence, Skies of Blood
3. Beheaded for Being Christian
4. Condemned Death

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

—————————————————————

A brand new demo from this new and upcoming band (not even on MA yet!), Carnagoth play a very heavy and almost brutal style of old school Death metal. Using a full guitar tone and a plethora of blastbeats and up-and-down riffs (if you don't know what I mean, just listen to it; it's like you're riding a roller coaster). Riffs are not forgotten and the vocals are solid. Reminiscent of Incantation. I have a feeling Carnagoth could be going somewhere.

Vasaeleth - Demo MMIX (2009)

Genre: Heavy Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 2009

1. Figures of Chained Spirits
2. Adorned and Iridescent

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

—————————————————————

A very short demo, at just under seven and a half minutes, Vasaeleth looks promising. Incredibly heavy a la Incantation, bone-crushing Death Metal with a Touch of Black and maybe a little Doom will suffocate you for the entire playing time. Has a sort of wall-of-noise vibe that I really enjoy and can't wait for a full-length.

Dominus Xul - The Primigeni Xul (I Condemned my Enemies) (1998)

Genre: Heavy Death Metal
Country: Chile
Year: 1998

1. The Primigeni Xul
2. Jesus the Christ (False Son of a False God)
3. Dominus (Impurity)
4. Mystical Key of the Azo Nei's Dominion
5. Hear me Satan
6. Rule with your God
7. Penetrating the Nazarene
8. Polar Son of Lucifer
9. The Voice of the Buried
10. Inferior Magicus Fluxus Luna
11. Chapel of the Bewitchers

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

—————————————————————

Holy shit. If you want hard-hitting, monstrously heavy Death Metal in the vein of Incantation's "Onward to Golgotha", look no further. Dominus Xul is monumentally bone-crushing. I never thought I'd witness something like that Incantation album, but sure enough, look hard enough, and good things come. I am immensely satisfied with this record and it is sure to satiate any craving for your bones to be crushed to dust.

For the most part, this is a slower-paced album, but at times, you get that chaotic fast part that blows you out of the water. The balance between the two styles is impeccable. Just when you think the music is chugging painfully slower, so much that it causes your heartbeat to slow down, out of nowhere, you're impaled upon savagely maddening chaos. Drums and lightning quick riffs being shoved down your throat, with wildly chaotic guitar solos in the background; it's enough to run off screaming! But, before that happens, the music slows back down. I just love how this album unfolds. A great listen - recommended.