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.

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.

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.

Delirium - Amputation (1989)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1989

1. The Warrior
2. Menace The Unseen
3. Floods Of Intricate
4. Amputation

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Ah... the true colors of Delirium shine through with their second demo, Amputation. Finally they've settled into their sound, similar to early Celtic Frost and Asphyx. The production is miles better, but for me, the most notable difference between the first and this second demo was the vocals. Sure, it's the same guy, but he's obviously done some work (or maybe it's just the better production), but either way, these vocals sound much more... disgusting. Old school to the core, and absolutely fitting with the style of music presented here. Very energetic and full of life... delirious almost? Hah.

Most traces of Thrash have pretty much been thrown out the door, and all that's left is sludgy, dreary, plodding doom with an occasional solo. A much more evil sound is also found on Amputation, mainly due to the vocals, and the breakdowns are full of mouth-watering riffs, menacing and morbid in their omnipresent sound. Scratch what I said in the review of the first demo... THIS is Delirium!

Delirium - Delirium (1988)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1988

1. Delirium
2. Desert Wings
3. Beyond The Gates Of Afterdeath

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Exploring the beginnings of Death/Doom Metal are always fun, but it's rare to come across an early band that actually does it right. These delirious death/doomers from the Netherlands sure as hell do it right. There's still a bit of Thrash influence here and there, most notably in the soloing and not-quite-growling vocal style, but the sludgy guitars are there, and for the most part, the overall pacing spells out D-O-O-M.

The very first demo from these guys, and it sets the way for their even-better Amputation demo, and then for the ungodly Zzooouhh album. Primitive stuff is focused on their self-titled demo, still finding their style, but the crunchy evilness of it all is still present. Heavy on the high-tuned riffing, and low-tuned chugging, this demo isn't quite sure if it's Death/Thrash or Death/Doom! Regardless, quality stuff for the most part, with the highlight track being the last, longest, and most involved: "(Beyond) The Gates Of Afterdeath". Starting off with your classic Death/Doom, ominous riffing, and destructive slow-pacing... this is DELIRIUM!

Cauteror - They Fell... (1993)

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

1. Before I End My Breathing
2. They Fell
3. Night Has Ceased
4. On Wings Of Blasphemy

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I mentioned these guys in my last post, and so a bright idea dawned on me... why not post them on this blog? BRILLIANT. I know. And what's even better, is that the front man behind this genius band is none other than Mories from Gnaw Their Tongues! Expect great things from this four-song demo...

Probably the most overwhelming genre descriptor for They Fell... is DOOM. The Death Metal pops up in the vocal style, with sprinkles of melody scattered throughout. Very slow paced and deliberate, the crunchy, muffled guitars slowly plod along, with lightning bolts of melodic riffing striking down on the musical caravan every step of the way. The atmosphere invoked here is otherworldly... not quite sure how to describe it, but suffice to say that it is the sound of somber sorrow. Very slow-paced, it's an almost sad sound. Especially notable is the title track. When the chorus singing "they fell" breaks out, it's overwhelming, to say the least. The kind of music that you just submit yourself to, accepting that it is better than you, and allowing yourself to fuse with it on a visceral level.

This demo strikes many a chord within me, and regardless of how cliche that sounds, this is something that simply cannot be ignored. Highly recommended.

Korsakov - Hangover Heroes (1989)

Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1989

1. Criptic Sin
2. Hangover Heroes
3. Disgustor
4. Ripping Silence
5. Korsakov
6. Before Beer
7. Doomsday Messiah

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I had been meaning to post these demos for some time now, but since they were brought up in the shoutbox, may as well do it now! However, I only have the first two demos...

Korsakov embody what it means to play Death/Thrash. Hell, in their official logo, the word "DEATHRASH" is imprinted in the corner, and they certainly do it well! Very heavy and dirty with the production, this is some furious music. Often keeping up the pace, even during the times where it seems like the song should be slower, you can be sure that the assault on your ears coming from this band will not disappoint. Very thrashy riffs, these guys are having fun playing this awesome music, and that make the demo that much more enjoyable. The vocals fit very well with the music; they're not growls or yells, but in between. A very slobbery-sounding style that complements the gritty production.

Korsakov - Radiation Exposure (1991)

Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1991

1. Merryscary (Intro)
2. Worldwar Thirdteen
3. Burning Corpses
4. Sanctified Mears
5. City At War
6. Procreate Doom
7. Charred Remains (Cover Gods Autopsy)

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The second demo from the Holland deathrashers is slightly different in style when compared to their debut. It's largely more tame and seems to be slowed down a little, especially on "Burning Corpse". It actually gets to be a little doomy at parts! Still, the quick riffs are there and the general evil vibe is still present. Oh, they keep it fun as well. Just listen to the intro and you'll see that these guys are all laughs, out there to make awesome music for awesome people (you and me).

Production is bumped up a few notches, and doesn't sound as dirty. Actually leans more towards a thrash album than anything. The vocal craft has been perfected as well, and the vocalist sounds just like Autopsy! There's a reason to grab this!

If anybody can hook me up with their third demo "Prolong the Agony", it would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: I have acquired the third demo; will post soon.

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

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Metal Archives Rating: 90% (1 review)
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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

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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.

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

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Metal Archives Rating: 95% (1 review)
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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.

Mystic Charm - Lost Empire EP (1993)

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

1. Lost Empire
2. Endless Sickness

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Metal Archives Rating: 93% (1 review)
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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!

Sepulchral Death - Praising Death (1986)

Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1986

1. Schizophrenic Doom
2. Praising Death
3. Sepulchral Death
4. Capitol Punishment
5. Exaltation Of The Cross
6. Mutual Repugnance

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All credits for the upload of this rare demo go to dea7hrash!

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Now here's an oldie! From the heyday of Death Metal, Sepulchral Death (changed name to Usurper) released their only demo, entitled "Praising Death" in 1986. Like most DM back then, this was highly influenced by thrash, and we can see that in the shorter song lengths and quick, furious riffing. The whole demo, consisting of 17 minutes, is set on high-speed through and through, ready to rip you to shreds along the way. The vocals are far back in the mix and more thrashy, but you can hear the death overtones. That "sickening" sort of style. Gives this demo a very dirty/old school feel. The riffing itself is also quite excellent and probably the best riff comes in the last song, "Mutual Repugnance". Absolutely mesmerizing and definitely the best track on the album. So for all fans of Usurper or old old school in general, nab this!

Antropomorphia - Bowel Mutilation (1992)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1992

1. Intro
2. Bowel Mutilation
3. Splattered Remains
4. Rotted Flesh
5. The Carnal Pit

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Antropomorphia were an old school DM band from way back in the day, having formed in 1989. They only released a couple of recordings, two of which I'm going to post here. The first up is Bowel Mutilation, their debut demo. The Intro track opens up with a full-out band playing some epic, symphonic music. Right off the bat, you know this is going to be something interesting. Sure enough, these guys deliver with crushing mid to fast-paced Death Metal. Stuff is fairly heavy and the vocals are deep, inaudible gutturals. The occasional solo breaks out, and I mean breaks out. It's almost as if the music is struggling to contain the solo until it just blows everything wide open. Makes for an interesting effect. The production is a bit iffy here, and I often notice slight changes in sound, sometimes with the music shifting in intensity from one ear to the other. A minor issue, this is still a great start.

Antropomorphia - Necromantic Love Songs (1993)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1993

1. Crack The Casket
2. The Carnal Pit
3. Birth Through Dead
4. Chunks Of Meat
5. Rotted Flesh
6. Outro

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Metal Archives Rating: 82% (1 review)
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Ah... necrophilia... gotta love it, and this band is chock full of lyrics about it! Slightly amusing tidbit aside, this is actually a very well-done EP from Antropomorphia. This is quite the unique release because, and I never thought I'd say this, but the bass is the highlight! Usually, bass is barely audible in most Death Metal, but Antropomorphia obviously know that they have a very talented bassist, so they put him to work. To accentuate this, the bass is much higher in the mix and often very technical, not the plodding bassline we normally think of. It might even rival the bass on Autopsy's Severed Survival! Very impressive.

The production is also much much better and much clearer. The riffs are morbid and dooming and the drumming is superb. It seems like this band pulled out all the stops in the production of this EP in terms of musical talent and ability. A very enjoyable listen. Deathevocation even covered "Chunks of Meat"!

And don't forget to listen (and not skip) the outro! An entire haunting minute of bass soloing! Recommended.

Creepmime - Shadows (1993)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1993

1. The Fruits of Ill Virtue
2. A Serenade for the Tragic
3. Suffer the Shadows
4. The Way of All Flesh
5. Chinese Whispers
6. Soon Ripe, Soon Rotten
7. Gather the Shattered
8. My Soul Flayed Bare

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This is really cool! In a lot of ways this sorta reminds me of Bloobath. But way better. Probably the most outstanding aspect of Creepmime is the vocalist's ability to growl and grunt, but also make it sound like he's singing. There's a lot of melody in how he sings and it's always very interesting to hear growls sound melodic (not like melodeath). This is especially present in the first track. Also, the riffs are quite good and seemingly inventive, probably because this band demonstrates hints of technicality in their music. Neat, but their other album is even better!

Judgement Day - Cir-Cum-Cis-Ion Of The Mar-Tyr (1995)

Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Netherlands
Year: 1995

1. Horror Pain
2. Daily Rituals
3. The Old Tree
4. Sexual Intercourse
5. Invincible Downfall
6. Clouds of Mordor
7. Pathology of Crowding

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I was just going to upload this to get it out there, but upon listening, I found that this is actually a surprisingly good hunk of Death/Thrash! Sheer aggression is what Judgement Day is all about, and they do it well. There are numerous blast beats and sharp, penetrating riffs all throughout this record. The drums are a highlight; they seem to be louder in the mix, and that's not a bad thing, considering how masterfully played they are. Tremolo picking is another staple, and some of the razor riffs almost seem like tame guitar solos. Intricate stuff. Also, out of nowhere came these female clean vocals. I was stunned, but also pleasantly surprised. They fit well and made for a nice break in the aggression. Great album, recommended!

Also, this album seems to slow down as it progresses, and the second half is way better than the first. Brilliant riffing. The last few songs are utterly mind-blowing. This is fantastic metal.

Mystic Charm - Shadows of the Unknown (1994)

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

1. Shadows of the Unknown
2. Mystic Charms
3. Window of Reality
4. Deadly Embrace
5. Saved Soul
6. Lost Empire
7. Beyond Darkness
8. Crushed Virginity
9. Endless Sickness

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Metal Archives Rating: 93% (2 reviews)
Last.fm

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This one's up there in my list of favorite Death/Doom albums. I love this release for the fact that it's uncompromising old school style Death Metal, alternating with Doom. There is great contrast on this album, with some morbidly slow songs like "Mystic Charms" and "Lost Empire", while faster-paced gems like Window of Reality really embody the heart and soul needed for Death Metal.

Incredibly crushing, the vocal style melds perfectly with the instrumentation. Like the demo, the guitars are tuned very low, but also with a crunchy, crispy sound, as to not sound suffocating like Incantation. You know something good's coming the moment you hear that first riff. Then the vocals set it. I should clarify from my demo review, these vocals are nothing like that operatic bullshit in Gothic Metal or anything. These are growled with a demonic lust that send shivers up your spine. I can really feel the evil emanating from this piece, what with the apocalyptic guitars and throat-slitting demon vocals tearing out of the darkness. A very dark-sounding album and a must have for any Death/Doom fan. Recommended.