Thoughts on a few demo releases that have been circling around my domain of listening.
Artwork by Neheroth
Черновство – Наследие
This is the fourth release from this black metal act out of the cold Russian wastes, a surprising release coming towards the end of 2022 and very much a continuation of what came before. Raw, harsh, and filled with a somber hatred that permeates through the band’s sound. There’s something more uplifting about this release, having almost like a sense of triumphant glory with each riff, but still moving you in a somber and melancholic way, yearning for the past. I still find their second demo to be their strongest release, but this is a good second best for me personally. Well worth a listen if you’re a fan of Hate Forest or other similar nihilistically cold black metal. Check out my thoughts on their previous demos, and give them a listen in sequence, well worth the experience.
Howitzer – Demo I: Phosgene Ambience
Hailing from the frozen northern regions of Minnesota comes Howitzer a militant raw techno project of somewhat mysterious origins. This is their debut demo, and a strong one at that. Laid back, but still full of intense energy, the constant beat almost mimicking the rhythm of a marching army. The synths are rather raw, having this analog feel to it that brings back memories of underground 90s techno. Surely a blast from the past in terms of sound and pace. I could certainly see some even labeling this as a sort of IDM release too with just how subtle the production style is and yet still having this unique mental bounce you can’t shake off. Had this on repeat for a good long while after I heard it, solid stuff and well worth checking out if you’re into subdued dark techno.
Apostata – Demo I
Hailing from Tampere, Finland comes Apostata’s debut demo. A short, yet punchy 3 track melodic black metal attack. It’s just straight forward textbook black metal that doesn’t get tiring. There’s that iconic Finnish style with its punk influenced drumming that gets the headbanging, and the melodic and catchy riffs that ring out in an icy assault. The vocals are harsh and echo in a ghastly effect, which adds a nice touch to the overall dark atmosphere. What you see is what you get with this kind of release, but that doesn’t mean this is just a straight copy and paste. There’s some originality here, but certainly wear their influences on their sleeves. Which certainly isn’t a bad thing at times. Check this out for any fan of old-school melodic black metal.