Moonlore - Demo 1993

Moonlore (nor) - Demo 1993
1) In My Kingdom
2) There Again

Reuploaded

Here is a rare (I think, at least I haven't been able to find anything but the album by them) demo from the Norwegian Moonlore, later known as Moon Lore and best known for their 1997 album "The Spheres Beneath the Heavens" which was quite unique. The demo days material is still closer to black metal, sort of. Very atmospheric music, quite eerie at times. There is hissing on the dub that I couldn't remove but it should not be a big issue, creates a more authentic demo feeling and all. As you probably guessed, I ripped a dub of the recording I got from one of my traders and I don't have the covers for this, not even a proper era logo, so I just slapped a Moon Lore logo on the post.

There are only two songs on this demo, "There Again" being re-recorded on the album and appearing on at least one or two of the rehearsal tapes too, plus a short outro. Not nearly enough material if you ask me. So, if you have any Moonlore rehearsals or if you know someone who has them, start uploading them goddammit! Also the more recent demos and material (as Moon Lore too) is welcomed with open arms. I realize this won't be everyone's shot of vodka but I still recommend to try it out with open mind - if you like old Manes or Black Crucifixion you might enjoy this.

Belsemar - Epistles Of Pain demo 1995

Belsemar - Epistles Of Pain demo II 1995
1) Slay The Believers
2) De dömdas sång
3) In Autumns Burning Reap
4) ... (Outro)

Mediafire

Uncommon if not rare Swedish black metal offered today, the second demo of Belsemar which I finally acquired recently. I don't understand why I never got around ordering this demo and the Satariel one back in 1995. Belsemar was a project by Satariel members Aemelgoth & Azazel (Pär Johansson & Magnus Alakangas), I can't remember how it was supposed to differ from the main band as early Satariel was pure black metal too, though the melodic death metal influences started to creep in around the second demo. As I don't have the Satariel demos I'm unable to compare.

Concentrating on the release at hand, this is a little more melodic than the debut "De svarta gudarnas sömn" demo and the sound is slightly better as well. It's hard to say which one I'd prefer as it was just as recently that I got the debut in mp3 format.* There are some keyboards in the background but they are by no means dominating. Sound quality is good (for a demo) and the rip is ok too if I say so myself. Recommended to all black metal fanatics, especially ones into Swedish style, demo collectors, underground fanatics etc.... fans of later (well, post demo era) Satariel might want to approach with care as this is black metal, not melodic death metal.

UPDATE: Informed by a Swedish source (these can usually be trusted to know the language) of correct spelling to track 2: sång not säng! Oops, sorry!


* I still need a physical copy of the tape so if you want to get rid of yours, let me know! Satariel tapes too.

Grand Belial's Key - Live in Manassas VA 01.10.94

Grand Belial's Key - Live in Manassas VA, USA 1st October 1994
1) In Rapture By The Fenrir Moon
2) Shemhamforash
3) Sleeping Princess Of The Arges
4) Sumerian Fairy Tale
5) When Darkness Rears Itself A Throne
6) Goat Of A Thousand Young

MediaFire

Here's another GBK live for John who asked for them. This is after the release of the second tape, which you can of course tell by having a look at the setlist. I liked that one too, not as much as the debut demo, but it was still good stuff. I'm not going to start comparing it to the later material.

This is again an audience recording with what might be politely called a rough sound. I'm afraid I couldn't tidy it up much without actually doing more harm than good, so it's pretty much left as it was. Fear not, it's still loud and relatively clear, instruments are quite balanced, volume is consistent and the setlist is great if you like old GBK, so don't be a pussy - just download it.

Suhrim - Mountain Of Skulls demo 1994

Suhrim - Mountain Of Skulls demo III 1994
1) 21st Name (Intro) / Thoughts Without An End
2) Blind Servelety
3) Mountain Of Skulls
4) Forgotten Years
5) I'll Await Your Fall

MediaFire

Death metal from Belgium, this is the third demo of Suhrim, a band I randomly picked from one of my tape traders' lists back around 1997. Doesn't probably sound too exciting but don't fret, it's not at all bad stuff! Quite brutal death metal mixed with melodic if not even atmospheric bits. Not too shabby sound quality either, though the tape hissed like a few hundred snakes in a cavern, I think I managed to fix most of it to a toleratable end. No covers so again I've borrowed a Metal Archives image. It is slightly larger than a stamp. Recommended to all Suhrim fans (I know there are such, why else they'd have a forum?), death metal collectors and 90s demo enthusiasts.

Kaamos - Demo 1995

Kaamos (fin) - Demo 1995
1) A Cry Sound Asleep
2) Lusting for the Sky

MediaFire

Here's the only demo of the Finnish Kaamos, a death/doom band from Helsinki. I have no information on what happened to the band after the release of this demo in February 1995 and unfortunately I have no covers (if any were made) as I got this from one of my tape trading contacts.

UPDATE: Grev provided me with cover scans, which I am not uploading now since I'll ask him for a better dub too and then update the whole thing!!!

There are only two songs here, but they both clock around seven minutes. The music is death/doom, songwriting decent and good demo sound so I don't see any reason not to check them out. Well, if you came here looking for the Swedish Kaamos, you might not be too excited.

Nordlys - Reisen Til Den Høyes Hall

Nordlys - Reisen til den høyes hall demo II 1996
1) Reisen til den høyes hall
2) Die Macht des Todes
3) Walkürentanz
4) Freitod
5) Walhall
6) Zeit es zu beenden

Mediafire

I was going to rip both Nordlys demos but I gave up on the first demo because of the poor cassette quality and the fact it's been posted on a few other blogs (here for example) so I wouldn't bother fiddling around any longer with how it sounds. I then decided to do this, their second demo. Then I noticed the tape was worn badly and the result was pretty awful. Luckily I had gotten a decent rip a few years ago on Soulseek, so I dug it up, dusted it a little and packed it for uploading. So, not my rip, thanks to whoever it may have been. Included scans of the covers so I could say I did something to contribute.

Nordlys, known earlier as Fjell (see also this), was a German black metal band highly influenced by both the Norse mythology and sound. Changed name after this demo to Pest and then Die Pest and finally to Schwartze Wut. A compilation of Nordlys/Pest/Die Pest material has been released but it does not include complete releases, just selected tracks. However, it has a good sound (obviously) compared to cassette rips so you might want to check it out. Nothing more to add, I recommend you to try it.

Hordes - Longing For The Kingdom Of Steel

Hordes (hol) - Longing For The Kingdom Of Steel 7"EP 1994
1) Part I
2) Part II

Mediafire

This is the second and last Hordes release, mentioned in the previous post. I didn't get this one from my comrade D.B.M.W.'s blog, though he has posted it there for sure, I've had it for a while, probably acquired from Soulseek. This is a re-recording and - arrangement of the first song on the "Songs To Hall Up High" demo and sounds quite a bit different as well as being split into two parts. The sound is different and reminds me a bit of Barathrum's "Hailstorm" or "Infernal" - it's by no means clean or polished and fits the gloomy feeling perfectly. Enough talk, get this EP.

...And if you happen to possess a copy of it, sell it to me, you don't really need it!