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Deaf Dealer, Kurwen, Oskoreien & Vilarum
July 24, 2010
CHRIS
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Death Dealer - Demo 2010
Ah, more black thrash permeating my stereo system, but this homegrown effort is from the good ol’ southern region - Kentucky. Don’t let that fool you; there’s some stellar metal coming from every corner of the States these days. But…is Death Dealer one of the elite?

The demo begins with “Return from the Crypt,” an homage to early Kreator, Destruction, Hellhammer, and even lesser known bands like NME. I can say that the music has potential to be damn good, but upon first listen the one thing that stands out is the overall sloppiness of the music. In the opening track there’s actually a very haphazard guitar solo that seems so mismatched with the verse riff and throws the track off for me. The tunes are okay for run-of-the-mill thrash, but with some polishing and a lot more attention paid to the production values and learning more about the instruments the “evil” feel has potential to be, at the very least, good.

Aside from that obvious ‘black thrash’ feel, there’s a punk vibe going here as well, which was practically part-and-parcel for the original run of Venom-esque music. I wish I could grade this higher, but for a beginning demo it’s not completely terrible but also nothing great at this point. The vocals are pretty good for this type of thrash, if high in the mix, and while the guitar is sloppy for my ears the drums are really in need of serious attention. While somewhat competent (as in better than me), the drummer seems to have a hard time finding the groove in some spots, even playing catch-up for most of the demo. As for the bass, it’s practically a non-factor in the mix, which is highly disappointing.    

Death Dealer might have a better go around with a second demo that pays a little more attention to detail and not rushing into a sound that is pretty much all over the place. Even cult fans would have a hard time discerning this in one lump.
Oskoreien - Illusions
Release Date:  December 29, 2009
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING:
1.  Transcendence  2.  Illusions Perish
-    Total playing time: 24:15
Wow.

This one-man machine out of Valencia, California has put together one hell of an impressive demo of classically-influenced black/Viking metal titled Illusions. With some harsh vocals laid down by a man named Matthew Durkee, mastermind Jay Valena is certainly going to be heard from in the future.

Where Varg Vikernes set the standard of the one-man-show with Burzum, a million imitators arose with dismal and often pathetic results. Valena has little to worry of here; his music is well-produced, intricately arranged submission into the enchantment that is his music. The two songs here switch gears so evenly, yet so dramatically that you’re never lulled into a false sense of simplicity. The careful brilliance here is amazing for a demo; even the vocals, which don’t offer anything really new in way of prowess or style, are perfect for Jay’s vision. It’s atmosphere for its own sake, beautiful in its structured chaos without repetitiveness or loss of vision along the way. For the ethereal blackened metal style to be so aptly attempted by a U.S. musician is both a delight and a welcome statistic.

Fans of Galar, Nattsol or Stridsmenn might really enjoy this, but I think if you’re a black metal fan of both the chaotic realm and the nature-inspired scene then Oskoreien needs to be heard! Both songs on here are of amazing caliber and should be undertaken with a completely clear train of thought. I really hope to hear more from this young man in the future because he’s impressed me to no end thus far. 
Kurwen - Demo 2009
Release Date:  2009
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING:   
1.  Empty  2.  I am the Sun  3.  The Halls of the Blind  4.  Hungry End  5.  Modern Man  
-    Total playing time: 22:06
Spain’s black/death one-man outfit emerges back from the all-but-dead and puts forth a five-track collection of tracks that are pretty damn good. After seeing the three-piece split up for various reasons, main man Nando Thommessen takes up the mantle himself and re-energies the band.

For a one-man effort this shows some very good prowess throughout; Nando took time and love to create from ashes this music that would otherwise be forever lost. Showing a true ability to piece together a fine demo himself, Nando’s Kurwen might not stop the typical black/death fan in his or her tracks, but it is a good effort nonetheless. The music is flush with some good guitar work, reasonable keyboard backgrounds and over-adequate drum programming. If he finds a full band with which to round out the “live” sound I think the band might be even more interesting than it is now. I personally really like “Hungry End,” which captures both a progressive vibe and a slightly-black veil for measure.

I give kudos to anyone who undertakes a project like this him or herself and manages to make it both enjoyable and musically interesting. For some simple, yet very good metal music that marries a bit of progressive elements and black-death ever so slightly, I suggest you check out Nando’s demo.  
DOWNLOAD Demo 2009 FREE from the band's myspace page (click on link above).
TO THE TOP
Release Date:  2010
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING:
1.  Return From The Crypt  2.  Evil Desire  3.  Thrills In The Night  4.  Hidden Terror  5.  The Great Awakening   
-         Total playing time: 13:57
Receive a copy of Demo 2010 from the band via their myspace page (click on link above).
DOWNLOAD Illusions FREE from the band's bandcamp page: http://oskoreien.com/
Vilarum - Time Does Not Exist
Release Date:  April 10, 2010
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING:
1. Time Does Not Exist  2. Turn My Head  3. (Your Soul) is Required in Hell  4. The world is Not Enough…An American Witch Hunt        -    Total playing time: 20:22
American thrash duo Vilarum releases its first demo titled Time Does Not Exist in hopes of carving a notch in the vast tree that is the metal world.

Well, the music here is hardly what I’d call true thrash; rather it’s pretty middle-road straight metal with some quick elements throughout. I’m not sure if this was supposed to be a serious thrash attempt or not since the music borders more on a weak Impaler or Lizzy Borden. The music itself is less than stellar, seemingly contrived and pieced together haphazardly, while the vocals are reminiscent of either Schmier or Dave Mustaine after drinking some very tart lemonade and wearing underwear too tight. I certainly hear some 80’s style in them, but it’s from a sea of bands that made one demo and are now long gone in the annals of time. Next time lay off the effects on the vocals as they only make me roll my eyes and regurgitate random chuckles. That said, I’m not sure if the track “The World is Not Enough…” is a bad attempt at parodying “Sweating Bullets” or not, but that’s exactly how it sounds to me.      

There’s really nothing memorable or even close to thrash in my opinion. It’s more like systematic metal riffs galloping at semi-effectual speeds for the sake of calling itself metal. Better luck next time.   
DOWNLOAD Time Does Not Exist FREE from the band's myspace page: (click on link above).
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