Ruminations - Rehearsal Demo (2011)

Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 2011

1. Leafs
2. Emptiness Departured
3. Luminescent Twilight Re-Dreamed

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 90% (1 review)
Last.fm

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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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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)

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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.

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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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.

Carcaroht - Floating Souls (1994)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1994

1. Intro/As The Gates Fall
2. I Precide To A New Existence
3. Untitled

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Here is the final release from Carcaroht, a repackaged Promo 94. This is the same thing, yet the production value is much higher. This has a very clean and clear sound, eliminating the muddiness and chaos from the promo. It's amazing how much better this sounds; they must've had a few bucks leftover.

Not entirely sure why this project didn't continue. It seemed like that with the quality of both the music and production, these guys would at least have an album in them, but I suppose they had bigger and better things to do. If you want to hear a little more about the music itself, just check out the Promo 94 post, linked above. Enjoy this one, but remember, if you want something with a little more grit, go for the promo!

Carcaroht - Promo 94 (1994)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 1994

1. Intro
2. As The Gates Fall
3. I Precide To A New Existence
4. Untitled

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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More than two years ago I promised to post this promo... haha. But hey, I'm good on my word! It's just a matter of when. Anyway, there seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding this promo. They released another demo in 1994 entitled Floating Souls that appears to be the same thing as this demo. They are actually different recordings, it's just that Floating Souls is better produced. This promo has a much fuller and heavier sound than the tinny Floating Souls, making this my release of preference. However, if you're looking for some production in your OSDM (ew), you'll want to head over to Floating Souls.

As previously mentioned, this is a very good-sounding demo, considering their relative obscurity. All members went on to participate in a fuckload of other bands, so I suppose this can be considered the guinea pig experiment that showcases their potential and skill. That's not to say you won't be blown away by this promo. It has a very full and suffocating sound, with fast and furious riffing in its most raw form. Solos are used to great effect, parting the dark stormclouds and letting in that ray of piercing light. "Untitled" holds a particularly powerful solo.

I'll post Floating Souls as well.

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

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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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.

Goregod - The Human Abstract (1994)

Genre: Avant-Garde Industrial Death Metal
Country: Russia
Year: 1994

1. Pukes by Blood
2. The Human Abstract
3. World Is Shit
4. Sex Brutal Sex
5. White Is Right

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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This... this is something a little different that some of you might not exactly enjoy. Still, I found it to be quite interesting and it's not exactly "available", so I thought it couldn't hurt to post.

The demo opens with what sounds like a dark, twisted... jaw harp. That's right. A jaw harp. If you're looking for creativity in OSDM, the Russian Goregod "fits" the bill. The guitars are borderline acoustic-sounding and have a very unique "steely" kind of sound whose strums remind me of the music in horror movies, victims running wildly at top speed down endless, poorly lit, metallic hallways. The drums drive a lot of the tempo, yet somehow feel disconnected from the rest of the music. You'll find a multitude of vocals here, ranging from sputtering snarling to spoken word to commanding PA system authoritativeness.

This'll leave you with a nice "whatthefuckdidijustlistento" feeling!

Gruel - Gruel (2005)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Year: 2005

1. Corporeal Flesh Consume
2. Awaiting the Massacre
3. Cursed Desert Sand

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives Rating: 88% (2 reviews)
Purchase
Last.fm

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Credit to FeatherOfHuginn for turning me onto this gem shrouded in... obscurity? Point is, not enough people know about this, so here's my good-natured attempt at showing you all the light (er, dark).

The first thing that struck me was the top-notch recording quality. Who are these Swedish guys? I'm convinced this has to be some sort of side project of somebody or something, since most bedroom bands have less than desirable sound quality. Speculations aside, the material presented in these short 12 minutes simply oozes potential... certainly a direction any death metal band would be proud to embark upon.

The vocals stand out particularly, alternating between your classic death gutturals and a more demonic, gnashing angry growl, both of which meld beautifully with the skillful and aggressive guitars. Very riff-oriented, so if you like your death metal thick and engaging, with a guitar tone to die for, look no further... that is, until this quick demo ends...

Funeral Revolt - Γαία Υπερφιάλων Αθεμιστών (1994)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1994

1. Γαία Υπερφιάλων Αθεμιστών

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Last.fm

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Christos from Sanctorum sent me this exquisite promo demo years ago, and I see he has now posted it on Youtube, but I figured it could do with an "official" blog release! This is the original mp3, not that compressed Youtube crap (first guy who tells me mp3s are compressed gets my foot up their ass); this track deserves it!

Mind. Blown. Quite possibly one of my favorite songs with perhaps the most infectious Hellenic riff my ears have ever had the good fortune of absorbing. As the years passed, Funeral Revolt has dropped the dark, filthy sludgy guitar tone in favor of something with a little more vitality and vigor. It all comes together in this tiny demo released at the end of the first phase of Funeral Revolt, unfortunately.

From the beginning to the all-too-soon ending (even though the song is a solid 6 minutes long), the main riff will hold you to the edge of your seat, gripping your musical palate so tightly, you'll find yourself unable to do much of anything until the song has finished. I actually had to stop listening to this song long enough to write this review, as I would keep getting lost in the music and zoning out. Ripping double bass brings out the intensity of the riff at times, while female vocals rain down beauty, with tasteful solos the glue that brings it all together into a tight little package bursting at the seams that'll leave anyone begging for more... sadly it won't come.

Enjoy this one, folks. You'll get quite some replay value from this gem. Recommended.

Funeral Revolt - Burial (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1991

1. Burial
2. Fly Beyond
3. Lamentation
4. Concealment of Truth
5. Solitude

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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I figured the best place to begin again would be precisely where I left off, so here we have another EP from the dynamic Funeral Revolt! To those who have been following this blog for the past year (ololol), you've listened to Brutality Domain. That was a very gritty, dirty-sounding demo, and Funeral Revolt have cleaned up their act rapidly (two drastically different sounding demos in one year?) with their latest offering.

The first thing that struck me was how well the first three tracks meshed together. Hell, this could have been a short and sweet EP with just those songs and you wouldn't find me complaining. I'll treat the other two as an added bonus! "Burial" starts off as an eerie, synthetic dark ambient track that I'll refer to as the "inhale". The "exhale" comes with "Lamentation", the perfect acoustic closing act to the expansive and powerful "Fly Beyond".

The entire demo is very riff-heavy, and you can begin to see the roots of Funeral Revolt's embrace of the distinct Hellenic riffing style. Synths are used much more on this release, leading to an atmospheric and ancient-sounding aura, clashing surprisingly well with the guttural destruction inherent in all Death Metal. I get the vibe of controlled chaos (if that even makes sense) throughout this release, every song flitting on the edge of pandemonium, yet somehow confined in the boundaries of order through methodical solos and pinpoint drumming.

Pleasantly surprised, considering the previous demo's style. Recommended.

Resurrected

Well, shit. I'm back. Hopefully to stay!

First things first, just wanted to apologize to all those who read and enjoy this blog, only to find that I disappeared off the face of the e-earth without any warning or notification.

Then again, I don't even really have to apologize to you fuckers, since this is the internet!

Ahem, but seriously, just had a few things to take care of, some shit to straighten out, and now I am going to make a conscious effort to continue this blog. I'm a bit out of the underground (hell, music in general) loop so forgive me until I get caught back up to speed. Studying Engineering certainly takes a toll on hobbies and entertainment, but I've really missed music and can think of no better way to get back into it than kick-starting one of my proudest internet feats. Haha, like internet fame means anything.

See you all in the warmer side of Hell.

Funeral Revolt - Brutality Domain (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1991

1. Collective Carbonization
2. Interminable Excruciation
3. Brutality Domain

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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I thought I'd post some stuff from Funeral Revolt, seeing as this stuff is quite sought after, and so I'll begin with their 1991 release Brutality Domain. Unfortunately, I don't have their first demo, Homicidal Society, and I can't find much information on it other than the link at Metal Archives, so it's hard to tell if it even exists! If anybody's got it, send it this way! Thanks!

Anyway, this is nothing like the industrial direction they've gone in of late, so if you were turned off by their recent stuff, you've no need to look any further than the next couple of posts here! Present on this demo is raw Death Metal in the utmost old-school fashion. Sometimes bordering on the doomy, slow side of things, while speeding up at other times, when combined with the longer song structures, expect some well-thought out songs. Solos are used throughout, sometimes several in a single song, but they are not overdone or wanky in any way; always done to ADD to the song, and never to take away. Yes, I have problems with solos in songs. Too much wank, not enough music! Oho! Probably why I hate Thrash... ANYWAY, back to the demo.

There's nothing special about the vocals, but they are decent gutturals that complement the songs quite nicely, meshing well with that classic Greek Hellenic riffing style. Watch out for their 1994 promo, that shit's got some crazy riffing!

Natural Fear - Beyond Eternity (1992)

Genre: Atmospheric Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1992

1. Intro/Souless Traitoration
2. Beyond Eternity

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Even more rare stuff from Greece! This is the only demo that I know of released by Natural Fear. I really like this demo. It's very short, but oh so sweet with two different styles of songs. Both start off with a far-off, distant-sounding introduction riff, leading into a mix of chunky and serene-like Death Metal with heavy use of synths. It sounds like it could go the brutal route, but then tapers off into spacey synths reminding me of the dark night sky, clear with stars spackling the heavens.

The second song sounds VERY familiar, especially the opening riff, and if any of you can pinpoint what this sounds like, I'll give you a cookie. It could just be my imagination, though! This track seems a bit darker and more foreboding than the other, and has a set, slow to mid-paced assault that doesn't let up, the drums pounding near the back, getting closer and closer and closer... Strangely enough, it's an almost calming style of Death Metal; difficult to explain.

Regardless, this one's only about six minutes long, so you could listen to this hidden gem twice in the time it takes to shower! Get it!

EDIT: Bingo! The familiarity comes from The Chasm... specifically "In Superior Torment". Interestingly enough, this demo came out years before Deathcult for Eternity: The Triumph...

Lamentations - Promo 1993 (1993)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: France
Year: 1993

1. Forbidden Unacceptable Suicide
2. Lamentations
3. Reborn for Dying
4. Infamous Death

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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This time from France, let's focus on something that hasn't seen the light of day for many years. Not much is known of this band, and everything I know comes from the inlay... I'm sure they've released more; I mean, how could they not have, considering the quality of this promo!

The first thing I noticed about this demo was the production. It's not as clear and crisp as most stuff out there, but rather subdued and "soft". Obviously, this is a huge contradiction, considering it's full-on Death Metal, but I feel that it's a little smoother, which is great!

Again with the atmospheric tinges, these guys know how to build up a song, constructing it the way songs are meant to be constructed (see: "Reborn for Dying"). I always love it when Death Metal bands extend their songs over the average 3-4 minute mark, because, more often than not, we're left with experimentation, and opportunities to slow down the fury and create a better song. The first song here is your standard Death Metal, but then the band progresses with some dynamite riffing and song structure. This is some involving and complex stuff, so don't miss out!

Dismaed - Messages From The Place of The Dead (1995)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1995

1. Bleeding
2. Erebus
3. Aeternus Dark
4. Escaping Soul

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Another forgotten Hellenic band from the bowels of Greece, we have Dismaed. Some very atmospheric stuff is present here, sometimes melodic, sometimes straight-forward Death Metal with a punch. I'm sure most of you can recognize that classic Hellenic riffing style, heavy tremolo picking with higher pitched riffs that seem to be never-ending, saturating each song. In addition, there are spouts of synthesized melody to create eerie overtones in between vocal parts. This is used to great effectiveness in giving the atmosphere on Messages From The Place of The Dead a creepy feel akin to a place where you would find dead people! Ohoho! It sounds very spiritual and fits the imagery of the dead appearing before the living.

The pacing on this demo is particularly interesting, varying from slow, breakdown styled, deliberate riffing, to full-fledged, fast paced chaos, drums pounding away, the vocalist going crazy, and quick riffs galore. A very solid release and pretty damn rare, to boot!

Gotta give this one my seal of approval. "Aeternus Dark" is a fabulous song.

Sanctorum - Crystal Tears of Silence (1994)

Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
Country: Greece
Year: 1994

1. Flight of the Dragons
2. Silent and Forgotten
3. Crimson Dawn

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Holy fuck! Not quite sure how I came across this breathtaking Doom/Death band, but after seeking out this magnificent demo, I was awestruck. The kids were young at the time of this recording, the youngest being 15 years old, but displaying truly mind-boggling talent and incredible metallian prowess. It's a crying shame that Greece's military policies forced this band to split up, as they show so much potential with this masterpiece.

Clocking in at 28:56, sit back and prepare yourself for a journey of monolithic proportions through the three songs presented here. I'm not calling these guys Atmospheric for nothing, and this demo just oozes aloof, spacey undertones in a very memorable fashion, leaving the melodies embedded in your mind for days after even a single listen. Some of the most inventive and well-structured riffing I've heard in a long time. Tremolo picking is key, yet the band somehow retains a doomy, crushing, overpowering sound. I feel I'm in the lone guy at the bottom of Beksinski's ominous valley, traversing this unknown territory, letting the music wash over me... a bit overproduced, further accentuating the suffocating atmosphere, wrapping the listener up in the music. Just wait until you're hit with the occasional interlude... beautiful. The way these songs are constructed just defies my preconceptions about metal in 1993. Needless to say, Sanctorum was way ahead of its time!

Bonus fun fact: the band initially had all three of these songs rehearsed for a total of 33 or so minutes, but unknowingly bought analog cassettes that only allowed for 30 minutes of recording! Whoops! So the band had to play all these songs faster.

This is Christos's (the drummer) Youtube channel if you'd like to see what he's up to, or contact him. Those of you who'd like to contact him directly via email, send me an email and I'll hook you up.

Note that the recordings here come directly from the drummer, Christos, at 320kbps, much better quality than the Youtube rip floating around now. Also, this is the correct artwork, the one with the red lettering is most likely fan made. Scans of the entire inlay are available in the .rar archive uploaded here!

Musica Eternal - De Tenebrae (1993)

Genre: Death/Black/Electronic Metal
Country: France
Year: 1993

1. Intro
2. Book Of The Dead Names
3. The Door Painted In The Sky
4. The Doom
5. Tenebrae
6. Nocturnal Eternal

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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Here's something most of you probably haven't heard... and for good reason, too! Have you seen the genre description!? Fortunately, Musica Eternal does it well with some strange synthesized, drum-programmed Black/Death Metal. There are times where it seems more Black than others, but the Death does come out to play every so often, with the two styles fusing together quite fluently, making this a great success in experimentation, especially considering the time it was recorded at. They only released this one demo (maybe another), before disappearing forever.

The synths are used to a great extent on this demo, and have an eerily calming effect, amidst the metallic chaos everywhere else. Often cross-cutting (yes, I can describe music with film terms) between the synths and cutting guitars, great contrast is present, especially on the "Tenebrae" and "Nocturna Eternal" (best on the demo) track. Hell, there's even chanting and church bells going off! Truly a find from way out of left field, this is definitely something well worth listening to after taking a break from your traditional Black and Death Metal.

Strange... and highly intriguing...

Mutant Supremecy - Corpses in Pieces (2010)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: USA
Year: 2010

1. Morbid Dismemberment
2. Epitaph
3. Vermin
4. Lady Forlorn

Download at Mediafire
Metal Archives
Last.fm

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One of the good folks over at Last.fm asked me to post this demo, so here I am, posting it! I gotta apologize, though, for the incredible lateness in not getting it posted before the album was released, but hey, I've been busy. Regardless, I am finally getting around to it, so be sure to give these new guys to the Death Metal scene a good listen as you shan't be disappointed!

Old School Death Metal, with some Black fringes, Mutant Supremacy (great name) plays a dark brand of down and dirty Death Metal, deep within the depths of hell for the lovely audience of Satan and his minions. A very good first demo, and, unlike the majority of crap I get sent to be posted, this is a high quality slab of metal, and in no way a shitty teenage garage band, so I'd recommend giving these guys a listen, paying close attention for their full-length "Infinite Suffering", which I may or may not post later.

Raw and evil, go go go!