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Forgotten demos from a forgotten age.
by Al Kikuras
As you may or may not know (or care), I started running Unchain the Underground as a print zine back in 1988. Glorious times, those days. I acquired quite the massive collection of demos from
bands, some of which went on to bigger things (Emperor, Biohazard, Life of Agony, Hades (Nor), Deceased, Cynic, Brutality, etc.) and a whole lot more that didn't. Some of the demos that
were little more than a fart in the wind of metal were and are still GREAT releases that are all-but forgotten by everyone except myself.
So, to share the wealth a bit, I ripped some MP3s, in most cases from the original cassettes, of what I call "Lost Classics." Demos from bands that stood out then and still stand out now. The
sound quality on some is bad because the tapes are old and, as tapes do, have lost a lot of clarity over the years, but each track has substantial merit in my opinion, and I am going to give a little
insight into the bands and why I like 'em. By the way, if you are a member of any of the bands listed here and we aren't already in touch, please do email and let me know what you're up to.
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 Corpse God
- The Holocaustic Rage of Asmodeus from Beyond the Blackened Void demo (1990)
Some of the nastiest death/grind I have ever heard. Horrendous production, but the music is so gloriously putrid that the production actually adds to the sickness. Mysterious release, this one. It was
put out by Psychoslaughter Records with horrible cover art. No info on the band members and I haven’t heard anything from or about the band aside from this release.I have
tried writing to the address listed in the demo recently (according to the phone records, the guy in the band still lives at that address) but it came back undeliverable. Still love this one. Put
the entire thing on CD and even made my own inlay and tray card. What a dork.
Embrionic Death - Dissected from Regurgitate the Dead demo (1992)
Always loved this demo (the band’s second). The first time I really remember hearing completely “gurgled” death metal vocals. Some young bucks put this one out. I am including a review of their first
demo, Dead Rotten Corpse, review, just as it appeared in the second issue of Unchain (we used typewriters and white out in those days).
Embrionic Death - Savoir Faire from Stream of Solidarity demo (1993)
This is from the third Embrionic Death release, which saw a RADICAL change from the band, foraying into CYNIC and latter-day DEATH territory of uber-technical death metal. Real bizarre,
quirky... cool stuff that still sounds different to this day.
 Exmortis - Lords of Abomination from Descent Into Chaos demo (1988)
From the first Exmortis demo. This is a death metal band that was in the right place at the right time...
right when death metal was really catching on, but for some reason they didn’t blow up. Shame as they were as good as the bands that are now considered to be legendary. Their second demo, Immortality’s
End (see below) is widely considered to be there best work, but I actually prefer Descent Into Chaos, with the higher-pitched vocals. I really wish someone would do an “official” release of the Exmortis stuff on CD.
Exmortis - Resurrection from Immortality’s End demo (1989)
From the aforementioned second demo. Great, dark death metal.
Fester - Culture in Shambles from The Plot Sickens demo (1990?)
Technical/weird thrash from Florida featuring members (current and former) of NASTY SAVAGE. Drummer Kurt was even in DEATH for a while during the Human period and played, uncredited, on
part of the album. The Plot Sickens is still one of my all-time favorite recordings.
Killpower - Hostile Assailant from Blood Will Bring Blood demo (1988?)
The cassette is in bad shape, so the sound reflects this, but the material is great. This was a local band from my high school. Really catchy tunes. Very raw thrash that borders on death metal. I
would kill someone for a clean version of this demo on CD. Sadly, I am willing to bet the copy I have is as good as it sounds anywhere these days. I am just glad I put it on CD so it isn’t lost forever.
Killpower - Vivisected from Cataclyptic World demo (1990?)
From their second demo, which was more death metal and less thrash. I prefer the first, but this is still good stuff. Likewise, the cassette is in bad shape, though I don’t remember the sound
being that good to begin with.
 Pax Mortis - Betrayed from Fear ‘92 demo (1992)
PAX MORTIS are like the predecessor to FEAR FACTORY. This was the first time I had heard clean vocals and death metal vocals used
back to back. The demo has great raw energy. They released a split CD with some other band that actually sounded like FEAR FACTORY and was way too polished and not nearly as exciting.
Lesch Nyhan - Fetal Brain Deterioration from Fetal Brain Deterioration demo (1991)
To date, some of the most primitive and brutal death metal I have ever heard. INSANE vocals. Another band that is not nearly as infamous as they should be. I’ve heard in the wind that Metal War Productions is releasing a retrospective CD of their stuff. I can only hope...
Lethal Fury - Blasphemy from Crionic State demo
Straight up metal. The first demo was excellent, I think. No
bullshit. Clean vocals... just heavy, cheesy, and catchy. The second demo (The Right To Remain Violent) wasn’t nearly as good. LETHAL FURY were interviewed in the second issue of Unchain the Underground.
Mangled Corpse - Metamorphose Corporeality from Advance of 2-song Demo (1990)
Most primitive death metal ever. You’ve heard of “advance” recordings (unmastered, etc.) but this was just ridiculous. Just bass (Chris Free from ROTTREVORE) and vocals (Sean Panek of
Psychoslaughter Records). Note the Deliverance-style piggy oinking and squeals about 55 seconds in. Hilarious!
 Morta Skuld - Feast From Within from Prolong the Agony demo (1992)
Same death metal band that released some decent and some
boring albums, though nothing great, on a few labels in the 1990s. The Prolong the Agony demo was insane. They toned it down for the albums I heard, which was a shame, as Prolong the Agony and the
predecessor, Gory Departure, are both excellent.
Premonition - So Heavenly Bound (No Earthly Good) from So Heavenly Bound (No Earthly Good) demo (1991?)
Psychotic thrash metal from Texas. Fast, frenzied, tight with some of the most off-the-wall vocals this side of WATCHTOWER.
The Horde of Torment - As I Lay Dying from Product of a Sick Mind demo
Bay Area thrash metal akin to Dark Angel. Marco Barbieri (now one of the heads of Century Media Records) used to be their manager. Guitarist/vocalist Ahrue Luster went on to join Machine Head.
They were almost signed a few times, but held out for a better deal and didn’t get it. BLONSK. Love this demo. Subsequent material wasn’t nearly as good.
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