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.

Godcrucifier - Jerusalem (1994)

Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal
Country: Italy
Year: 1994

1. In the Mist
2. Useless Tears
3. Genesis
4. Jerusalem

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Godcrucifier’s breakthrough release, Jerusalem! The perfect blend of doom, death, and sorrowful melody, all contained in a rough, scratchy atmosphere, ready to blow you away. The first band I thought of when listening to this was Cauteror, which probably doesn’t mean much to you all, since it’s about as obscure as this band. Oh well! Herein you’ll find alternating switches between rocking Doom/Death and bizarre, melodic interlude passages. On the first song “In the Mist” there is even some tape manipulation and it sounds as if the tape is rewinding; obviously included to help further the atmosphere and strangeness found within! Overall a great song, look out for parts like at 4:20, which just sound like the atmosphere itself is collapsing all over the place! Neat stuff, to say the least.

The rest of the demo follows suit, the two promo songs have been cleaned up and appear sharper here, with the riffs clearer and more hard-hitting. The vocal performance on all of these songs consists of a heavy male vocalist, growling menacingly in tune with the music—the kind of “creeping” vocals, where it sounds like the guy is gonna getcha! Also mixed in are some clean vocals, if not just serving the purpose to shake things up a bit.

“Jerusalem” is one hell of a track to finish it all off, and features one of the best introduction minutes I’ve ever heard in a song, slowing creeping into a withering whisper and infectious acoustic guitar..ing. The transition into the metal part of the song is seamless, and keeps the whispers, while layering the acoustic on top of the electric guitars. Really cool effect, and the subpar production actually helps with the throbbing, depressive doom of some of the main riffing parts. A liberating song, and you’ll sure as hell feel it when listening!

Overall a fantastic demo, and a great effort from these heathen bastards. It’s amazing how a band with such a blunt name can make such beautiful music. Recommended!

Godcrucifier - Promo 1993 (1993)

Note: Artwork unavailable

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

1. Useless Tears
2. Genesis

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What we have here is very riff-centric Doom/Death Metal. It has a certain grooving beat to it, often repetitive in nature, with sprouts of melody flowing throughout in the forms of guitar solos, energetic riffs, or soothing keyboard interludes. It can get rather hypnotic at times, plodding slowly into the depths of doom… doing so in style!

This is just a promo, mind you, so the production isn’t so hot, the instrumentation and vocals are often a bit muffled, but this is some quality stuff in the end. These two tracks were later rerecorded on their much better Jerusalem demo in 1994! Look out for it!

Hardware - Souls Vortex (1992)

Genre: Experimental Death Metal
Country: Mexico
Year: 1992

1. Chants of Evil
2. Further the Hills of Dreams
3. Cybernetical Illusion
4. Souls Vortex

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Ah... perfection! On the back cover is written "YOU CAN'T STOP PROGRESS". Holy shit were these guys right on the ball. This is progress in every sense of the word (only one to my knowledge, but if there were more, I'm sure it'd be embodied here).

Anyway, this single is chock full of their very own brand of "Cyber Death Metal" and it's a shame that more bands couldn't understand and comprehend the brilliance that was Hardware, or we'd have much better Death Metal nowadays. The keys and synths are back, along with what I always thought a pretty neat production quirk, reminiscent of Cemetery's An Evil Shade of Grey guitar squeaking on the tremolo picks. Definitely adds to the already quirky atmosphere to make for something truly unique.

Thrust through the veils of cyberspace, sit back and bask in the Mexican glory of Hardware! Obviously recommended.

Hardware - Hardware (Cyber Death Demo) (1990)

Genre: Experimental Death Metal
Country: Mexico
Year: 1990

1. The Unknown
2. Skatological Encounter
3. The Ultimate Solution
4. Start to Think
5. Seasons of Belief
6. Unorthodox Sight
7. Cyber Death
8. Even Death Can Die

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This is it. Some of Mexico's finest right here, and at such an early stage in Death Metal's history! Not exactly a demo, more of an album in appearances, and actually kind of a mistake in its release. Is it a rehearsal? Who cares! This is some of the most bizarre and innovative Death Metal you will ever absorb into your ears.

Highly original and atmospheric, this is full of squeaky, chaotic guitar riffing and soloing, a variety of atmospheres, neat keyboard use... this demo has it all. A few doomy songs here and there, it sounds like these guys had a blast recording this piece of art (yes, this is some goddamn art if you ask me). There are no boundaries that this band didn't cross in the recording of the Cyber Death Demo. Look out for the next post, which will contain Souls Vortex, their EP/Single with a perfected sound!

Highly recommended.