Violent Assault "The Flag of the Inverted Cross" I believe this demo, that is available on cassette only, will please many Thrash fans. This 6 track demo, with "Teutonic Furor" being an instant favourite of mine, portray a band that is conscious about where they want to go with their music. This is traditional Thrash, no crossover, bringing back the sound and style of the 80s with ease. Andreas Richwien from the German band Minotaur contribute with guest vocals on this demo too. And the link is clear, this is not American style Thrash, this belongs in the central European regions, and could very well have been German, yes. This is a good start, now let´s hope they manage to continue this flow and even come up with something ultimate and twisted. Scum
Demongoat "True Satanic Warmageddon" Promotion EP This German band isn´t doing anything to tone down their presence, nor trying to be any part withdrawn, as you can see from the band name, title of this EP and the cover itself, there´s almost like an overdose. Musically they are pretty harsh and in your face Black Metal with no contrasts or nothing new, so to speak. They keep the foot on the traditional gas pedal, leaving no room for delicate details. The stripped down sound and the straight forward primitive music is almost an obstacle for them. First of all, this has been done much better plenty of times before. Secondly, the material they present isn´t all that convincing. It´s almost like an overdose, like they want this too much, while the skills aren´t keeping track of their whereabouts. The vocals are way out raw, and the music somehow fall out of sync, but that´s just how it should be. Only for the not so picky underground maniacs, I would say, as Demongoat is a band that need to go their own ways if they want to go anywhere at all. Unholy
Jormundgand "Satanic Attack" It would be easy to place this Swedish band in the Black Metal genre if you look at their song titles, or the title of this demo too, for that matter. But Jormundgand have a lot more in common with the Heavy Metal genre, and should I be forced to label their music something like Occult Heavy Metal with an original twist would score high on my list. This four track demo opens with a decent intro, before moving into a melodic and nice tune. Their rather simple melodies work well. They make it feel natural and with a decent compositional style, it´s not bad. This one also lead my mind back to the old Greek genre at the early parts of the 90´s, somehow. The title track is simple and with a repetitive chorus; simply repeating "Satanik Attack" plenty of times. Musically it´s not that strong. The guitars are searching for something but all they produce are predictable tones and riffs. The drums are nice and basically the only instrument that hold this song properly together. The vocals are getting grimmer for each minute the song last, and at around 4 minutes the guitars go way out melodic, almost like a Hard Rock band… Jormundgand are searching for something in the dark, but it´s obvious they need to turn on the light to really find the path they want to take. This one goes in a variety of directions that aren´t melted together well enough. But there´s plenty of potential here. J. Loon
Det Vidaapne Gap "The Temple of the Mind" This Norwegian one-man band have managed to come up with something that is both peculiar and good. I´ve not heard anything quite like it, the guitar sound is awesome and almost a little eerie sounding. The variation is good and the music is of a level that attract curiosity. A very unusual and off the wall sounding Black Metal related demo, where the material goes in a variety of directions, yet it all fits together somehow. The guitar sound is distinctly adding a rather weird feeling to the material, not unlike Negative Plane, if I have to come up with a comparison. "The Temple of the Mind" consist of two songs and one short tune at the end. Andre P.
Dark Covenant "Dark Covenant" Canadian Doom unfurls itself on this 20 minute demo. This is a rather soft kind of Doom with some resemblance to the latest My Dying Bride album, and “…Gods of the Sun”. The band have composed acceptable music if one consider that this is their debut. Still, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. No surprising twists in the songs, almost no memorable parts, nothing extraordinary anywhere. The demo opens ordinary, continues ordinary, and ends exactly as expected: ordinary. The songs are not bad, but lack the extra touch, the melodies and riffs that continues in the mind when the music’s ended. The four songs are composed in a rather traditional way and performed with little variation. The music lacks heaviness and the ultra-doom feeling created by, for example, Draconian. Dark Covenant have a very soft approach to their songs, veiling them in an almost silken production, a typical example of the beloved and timeless genre: Femi Metal. While ordinary Doom is music of ruins and cemeteries, this demo would properly sound much better at some darkened gay bar with red wine and candlelight. That’s not the main problem here, softness in itself does not limit atmosphere and greatness, but the songs falls short of creating emotions, atmosphere and mindpictures. The mindpictures which does pop up are all of the wrong kind, relating to that gay bar again. The skeleton lacks the necessary strength to keep the music alive for long, the songs runs out of blood before they’re finished. The band doesn’t compensate with punch or heaviness either. One minute sounds like the last, one after the other, never taking on a life of its own. When the engine of the music is so uncomplicated, then the fuel needs to be of higher quality to lift the music above the ordinary. This demo is like a plane which just runs down the runway without ever taking off. The band should also strive still more to create an identity and a sound of their own. This bands needs improvement, but their debut can be criticised only up to a point. It never reach greatness, but stays above the boring, and as said, as a debut it’s good. Dark Covenant does have the potential: The instrumental part in the middle and end of “Forever Amongst the Ruins”, and the end of “Black Raven”, are memorable, and the only moments which really stands out and creates the feeling of “beautiful sorrow” which should be the goal of all such bands. The structure and flow of the songs are competent enough in itself, and if the band continues to develop much stronger work may come. If not, Dark Covenant might end up PLAYING at gay bars -“And now we’ll play a love song! “Black Hearts United”, which we’ve made especially for tonight’s couple Henrik and Harald!” ThomasF
Lia Fail "Leipzig (demo 2007)" This Italian neo-Folk band have based this demo on a concept about the German city Leipzig. Presented acoustically, adding both male and female vocals with drums, guitars and flute. It´s mainly downtuned music, moving slowly, not too eager to add energy to the music. Fairly nice but without a clear melody in the songs it kind of feels a bit too neutral. I´ve listened to it and I´ve had it as background music. I prefer this as background music, but you can check out some tunes if you think neo-folk is somewhere near your taste in music. Lilly
the Konsortium If you don´t really care too much about originality and enjoy listening to a band that play well, have some good ideas and sound like a mix of new Satyricon, Dhg and perhaps a splash of fluid Thorns, yeah. This is a band like that. I miss some more unique musical personality in these 4 songs. It feels extremely much like this band is over the top inspired by other bands rather than setting their own standards, and that in my ears is a massive drawback. I can´t really enter the music fully and end up thinking about the other bands mentioned earlier. The Konsortium is not bad, but in desperate need of originality. Fast, because they´ve signed a deal and are expected to release their debut album later this year. (u)
Nethervoid "Sirens of the blistering light" Starts off really nicely, this 8 song CD from this four piece from Iowa. Killer groove, cool riffing and a pace that is excellent. The material can for the most part be labelled as Black Metal. Nethervoid are doing a good work at delivering some varied and interesting material, especially their faster parts are nice. They give me as a listener the feeling they have a lot more up their sleeve than what they let me hear on these tracks. Especially the opening part of the first track is good, some really well done guitar details, for instance half way through "Southern Convex", that make me convinced this is something to check for the future. A couple of important things about this CD that I am not that comfortable with is the synth in the background, which doesn´t do much for the music. And I would say almost all their songs have good parts in them, but they need a sharpened eye and mind to lift it and make it more unique. It´s when we take the music apart and look at all their good ideas and material that a certain hope for the future materialise. But I´ve enjoyed listening to this one, and are hopeful that quality over quantity will go hand in hand with Nethervoid for possible future releases. (u)
Muspelheim "Muspelheim" When listening to a demo, as oppose to an album, I look for potential when a band is perhaps a long way from a possible goal. This band is a long way from a possible goal with their music. And to be honest, I have seldom come across a band that is as bad as this. Not only is the playing skills bad, but the ability to compose interesting music is totally absent. (w)
Hat "Livet Ebber Ut" First of all. The band-name is Norwegian and means hatred. Not the other way around, i.e. something to put on your head…Well, to the point. Hat delivers here a three-track demo with old school Black Metal. Nice atmosphere with that necro-nineties sound. Burzum spring to mind. Which I believe the band has nothing against. But again, as with so many other new bands, the music gets too anonymous and will never get any more attention than this. Hopefully, they will release an album with more content. (l)
Pretty hopeless Reverie "Isolation" For the most part this is a really hopeless demo. I´ve listened to it at least 15 times and are left with nothing but being a bit frustrated. A few parts here and there that could give a little impression of something for the future, but really...this is definitely bad stuff. Track three have a riff that sounds a lot like an old Satyricon riff, and this just goes in a lot of different directions. The guitars sound extremely simple, and the material is put together in a way that doesn´t exactly make the music better. But the main problem is that this is not good, the vocals are nothing special, and the guitars are really dull for the most part. Sounds like a really young and naive band, let´s hope for some improvement next time around. (s)
Hell´s Infinite VI "Out of the cave...into the storm" Experienced musicians formed this band back in 2002, after two members left December Wolves and shaping this as their new musical outlet. Based in Boston, Hell´s Infinite VI´s debut demo is filled with well over half an hour of intense and complex Metal that has hints of something special, but fails to leave a definite impression. They have a lot of things going on in their compositions, but in my ears it doesn´t lead anywhere, expect being intense and complex. I don´t find it good, I don´t find it bad, it´s more showcasing a potential rather than creating a feeling or making me dig this. I am also unable to follow their musical path, as I find myself almost annoyed at times, much to the fact that the song´s complexity offer nothing, apart from the complexity itself. No awesome parts that let loose energy, no riffs that create a break or a highlight. Well, but it´s complex. I guarantee that. (s)
Ars Diavoli "The Absence of Light" Debemur Morti Productions Ars Diavoli deliver some very well composed floating Black Metal with vocals that really suit the music fine. Nicely melodic in a controlled way, dreamlike in its expression. And with a touch of melancholy. Very well done, with a good feeling and tasteful compositions where it all really goes hand in hand. Four tracks lasting 22 minutes, this is released in a limited edition of 300 cassettes. (s)
Rebirth of Nefast "Only Death" Debemur Morti Productions A debut release is what we have in our hands. A release of Black Metal with monotonous undertones, yet varied and well played. 3 tracks passing the half hour mark, with the longest track clocking in at well over 14 minutes. This one man band have some details here that would mean sticking to the traditional but daring to do a little more within those borders. I think "Only Death" shows an interesting band that are doing "their" thing. (s)
Slidhr "Demo 2006" Debemur Morti Productions The intense start of "The Serpent´s Hold" kick out of the loudspeakers, setting the pace. Black Metal with a good drive, quite nice riffing and good vocals, it´s a nice experience to hear Slidhr´s debut offering. I would however like to hear something more bizarre, especially when it comes to the riffs, as the whole feeling here is a bit awkward. The riffs are very traditional, but by all means, it works out fine. 3 tracks of infernal Black Metal from this band hailing from Ireland. Cassette is limited to 300 copies. (u)
Whip "Primitive Slaughter" This is killer! Lots of energy in the music, cool riffs, good vocals and likewise the drumming is raging with aggression. They do it all with a style of their own, tastefully adding these sick killer riffs that just portray a band that is on a voyage of their own. "Hunger" is so magnificently diverse, aggressive, groovy and straight out a obligatory repeat on the player. Delicate aggressive metal adorned with great Thrash and originalty. Can´t wait to hear more from this act! (u)
Acessive Sound "In the Shadow of God" Three track demo from this band I have no information about, except that they are from Norway. First impression is not very good. Sort of tiring Metal with a very uninspiring vocalist. After several listens I can´t say it manages to improve in my ears. I am left with a feeling that they are trying something they haven´t got the musical possibilities to achieve. It feels like they have a lot of rehearsals left before we should hear something more from them. Normal style human vocals, music composed with unoriginal ideas. (s)
Kommandant "Iron Hands on Scandinavia" Three intense tracks from Jim Bresnahan, formerly with Cianide and Novembers Doom, among others. It´s straight forward intense metal that I would say is interesting and could end up as something good with a lot more work on the riffs. All in all a very traditional style of raw metal, yet again with uninspiring riffs that in no way catch your attention. (w)