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This has the
makings of what could be considered a cult demo by some but
everything is poorly recorded and a lot of the better riffs are
lost. This is however a rehearsal demo so too much can't be
expected. On top of the sound quality there is a lot of guitar
noodling and even a drum solo which when coupled with the length of
this thing (which seems way too long) really starts to bore me. Wait
for the official demo.
28 Dufferin St -
St Albert, Alberta - T8N 4Z3, CANADA Band Email = bsymic@powersurfr.com
- JeffreyKusbel
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Our friends from
the Czech Republic, Pandemia play intense bastardized death/grind
mayhem. Only three songs here (“Created Again”, “Free Strokes”, “Slavemind”).
A nice mix of American style brutality and rhythm with Euro
precision and execution.
Pandemia, c/o
Tom Marek, Lesni 7, 350 02 Cheb, CZECH REPUBLIC |
This is good and
a little different than than usual. P.O.P. play deathrash and I know
this sounds weird but they have a doom feel and style without really
playing slow. The lyrics are a concept story about a sexually abused
child who sees his mother murdered by his father. He later becomes a
priest and carries on in his father’s footsteps and starts molesting
altar boys. Unable to deal with what he has done satan beacons and
the priest kills himself (as the cover illustrates). All set to some
pretty cool music. Get this 9 song CD for $7.50 US / $10.50 World
to:
P.O.P., 14402
Hawthorne Blvd. # 319, Lawndale, CA. 90260, USA Web = http://home.pacbell.net/poet666 |
Crushing,
rhythmic and heavy death metal from Texas. This is really old I know
but it was just sent in for review. Primeval have a talent for
writing involved songs that walk the line of mainstream death metal
and underground guttural brutality. Expect a new MCD out from the
band in late 1999 and until then send $13 US/$15 World to:
The Texas Death
Syndicate, P.O. Box 30615, Houston, TX. 77249, USA Web =
www.primeval.simplenet.com
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This was sent to
me by the cult label Damnation records as they will release two
songs off here on a seven inch. R.O.O. like many Australian bands
are heavy and chaotic warring metal. However R.O.O. do not sound
too much like the known bands D666 or Bestial Warlust. They have
their own sound of raucous metal with some cool obscure sounding
vocals. Which vocally sound like a cross between Order From Chaos
and early Bathory. Keep your eyes on these bastards!
Razor Of Occam,
P.O. Box 101, Prospect SA 5082, AUSTRALIA Email = Razor_of_Occam@yahoo.com
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With Paulus
(drummer) having parted ways with Sacramentary Abolishment (see
interview in issue # 1) he has landed on his feet and has erected
his one man band. Rites Of The Degringolade is a cold act with
memorable songs but holding true to his bestial nature musically.
Hellish black metal with pure venom and hatred incarnate. It
definitely has a dark aura and cryptic atmosphere permeating through
it. I suggest you order this tape immediately for $5 US to:
R.O.T.D., c/o
Paulus, P.O. Box 52112, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G-2T5, CANADA |
Hmmm…the band
sent me this demo and also their ’97 demo. The ’99 tape shows
improvement, especially the drumming. Though I got a bit of a
darker, cryptic atmosphere from the old demo. 5 songs of brutal
death/grind blasphemy that the die-hard freaks can savor. Price is
apparently a hefty 6 I.R.C.’s (International Reply Coupons):
Sanatorio, Caixa
Postal 1303, Belo Horzonte, MG, BRAZIL |
Shit I have been
getting in some great demos this issue. Better crop then the last
issue. Sanctorum blend Euro styles such as melodic death metal,
thrash and a little black metal expertly. They are really talented
players. They keep things melodic but never sacrificing extremity
and keep that brutal and aggressive edge. I like this band a lot
and apparently they are recording their debut CD as I speak. Another
great thing about this tape is that is it is totally free so send
your name and address and get this killer tape FREE!
Sanctorum, c/o
Joe Waltz, 6376 Anita Dr., Parma Hts., Cleveland, OH. 44130, USA
Email = mdaimon@hotmail.com
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More death-core
stuff. The first 2 tracks have too much hardcore in the voice and
the groove sections. The drummer is a really talented and pretty
tasteful musician. It’s weird the production is good except the 2nd
song where it is really weak!? Different studio? The last 3 songs
display a little blasting and mostly death metal music and this is
where Scrape’s strengths lay. Obviously the more death style tunes
inspire the singer as he drops much of his hardcore style and
shines. Mixed bag but the talent is there.
Scrape, 164
Powers St., Apt. 3, Brooklyn, NY. 11211, USA Web =
www.scrapeonline.com |
Heavy and mushy
hardcore with metal influences. “NJ Hate Core” is heavy and the
songs are OK but could stand some improvement structurally with more
emphasis put on memorability. “Alone & Twisted” is a slight
betterment, mostly in the riffing which stuck with me a lot more.
Still nothing amazing but Sludge are coming into their own slowly
but steadily.
Sludge, c/o Dave
Orkin (the bug exterminator!?), 1932 Cologne Ave., Apt. # C-9, Mays
Landing, NJ. 08330, USA
|
One thing I like
about Sludge you get no preaching straight edge crap. What we get
here is more metal tinged mid-tempo hardcore. Their performance on
here seems a bit more focused then their demos. They improve with
each release and seem to have a good following. It’s just not for
me.
Web = http://members.bellatlantic.net/~sludge98 |
What I am
listening to here is a four song live recording from NC’s Society’s
Burden. Maybe it is just because I am intoxicated at the moment but
I find this release to be very plain and boring. I keep expecting
the band to break into a Down or Crowbar riff or something. No doubt
it is the whole “southern dixie” style these guys are influenced by
but they are just aimlessly puking out riffs without any
originality. Hey! I just noticed, on the bio one of the members is
wearing a Down shirt. Cool T-shirt, just work on the riffs. –
Jeffrey Kusbel
Society’s
Burden, 5312 Manson Road, Julian, NC. 27283
|
My Canadian
brothers return with a new album. The production seems a bit drier
and more focused this time which lends itself well to Solus’
bludgeoning sound. Will Korbut’s growls are deep but dense and tend
to have a slight low hiss to them from time to time. I guess I would
be remiss not to mention some bands whose influence I detect in this
killer bands sound. Those are: Athiest (2nd album), At
The Gates, C. Corpse, and Death alongside small touches of of ‘80s
bay area and German thrash scenes. Recommended.
Skinmask
Productions, P.O. Box 271, Stn. B, Toronto, Ontario, M5T-2W1, CANADA
Web = www.skinmask.com/solus |
What an
unrepresentative and useless band moniker! It certainly doesn’t
elude to the fact that this band blasts out some great heavy, thick
and semi-technical death metal. Watch out for this band but
hopefully if they come to their senses it will be under a different
name.
Spasme, c/o J.
Beaupre, 1715 Poupart # 305, Montreal, Quebec, H2K 3G9, CANADA |
|
Steeltoe kick
out some fairly catchy and intense material. They mix hardcore with
death/grind and thrash. Their attitude and feel comes off a bit
punkish though. I know that doesn’t sound good but it is. I mean
things could be tighter and I could do completely without a song
like “Snitch” or parts of it. With it’s awkward spoken word parts
and kinda cheesy lyrics. That is a small complaint and don’t let
that deter you from an otherwise cool listen.
Steeltoe, P.O.
Box 407, Salina, KS. 67402, USA Web = http://steeltoe.iuma.com |
Yet another
album from one man band Terminal Descent. More technical and
emotional deathrash outpouring. Tony is a talented metal warrior who
writes some excellent material. As I said in the past the songs
could use a little more identity from one another. Though this
release takes a step in that direction. Unlike most of his releases
only one track has vocals here but I was never bored. This 7 song
disc will only cost you $5 US to:
Terminal
Descent, c/o Tony Mikkelson, 236 N. 11th St., Forest
City, IA. 50436, USA |
Tony do you ever
sleep bro!? Now this MCD makes it 4 albums and 2 MCD’s in the last 2
years!! He expects to record another full-length by the end of ’99
too! Just in case you were thinking “oh he records them on his
stereo”, if so you are wrong as his releases have quite respectable
sound. We are treated to 6 new songs of Tony’s unique sounding
speed/thrash and death metal mayhem. A little more straight forward
this time and more aggressive. I am proud to report, with each
release his songs are taking on more of an individual identity.
Which was something I criticized in the past. At times it is easy to
tell only one man recorded this but what a talented one man! How
could you not order this release when it only costs $3 US/$5 World. |
Toxic Death
burst out with some blast filled techno death metal. The production
is disjointed and hurts the music I feel. T.D. do know how to hit
you lightning quick like a predator after it’s prey. At 10 songs
this is one lengthy demo and it only costs you $5 US. Intelligently
arranged and performed above the average death metal.
Underworld
Prod., P.O. Box 40, Kojetin 752 01, CZECH REPUBLIC
|
A beautifully
pro-packaged tape. The music however is not pretty at all, in fact
it is ugly, heavy, fast and driving. Just how I like it.
Trephination pretty much run the gamut of slow, fast, brooding tempo
death metal. The only lyrics not printed on this 6 song tape are the
ones to “Ghetto”. I guess maybe they ran out of room or so no one
will be offended but either way I could make out most of it from the
singer anyway. One cool excerpt is “I give her crack to suck my
dick, I’m so high I can’t get hard, What the fuck!…Oh it’s getting
hard now!”. Great debut demo, I am sure with a bit more maturity the
next outing is going to fucking slaughter!!
Trephination,
1130 Bleigh Ave., Philadelphia, PA. 19111, USA |
Like a quick
punch to the face, this eight song CD will drop you! From start to
finish the band go all out grind and when they slow it down you get
a crazy slam riff to pulverize your speakers. The insanely sick
vocals go from low and brutal to high pitched screams. This New
Jersey based band were a great surprise to me thanx to Jenn (bass)!
- Scott Keough
Get it for $8
US/$10 US World to: Unhallowed, c/o Jenn Carrao, 5170 Berkshire
Valley Rd., Oak Ridge, NJ. 07438, USA
|
What is it with
Italy? Nearly every demo band I have heard from there in the last
couple years. Goes from average to awful! Vow Dreams are somewhere
between the horrible and average categories. Plodding death/doom is
an apt description I think. Nothing eventful or even remotely
memorable. Did the well dry up after Bulldozer, Paul Chain, Domine,
Natron and Death SS or am I just hearing the wrong bands!?
Vow Dreams, c/o
Antonello Mura, Via Napoli n. 7 08015, Macomer (NU), ITALY |
I reviewed this
bands demo “Abolish In Thorns” in ’95 for the Canadian ‘zine The
Sepulchral Voice(RIP). I recall saying they were a good, solid and
dark death metal band with potential. So 4 years later have they
grown into my lofty predictions? The answer is no. They are pretty
much the same talented band trying to stretch their necks above the
crowd with very moderate success. This is the US release version of
their album and has 2 bonus tracks to round the number to ten. The
CD cover is the size and layout of a 7” ep which is a cool idea.
Withered Earth,
5 Beechwood Drive, Rochester, NY. 14606, USA Web =
www.witheredearth.com |
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