Cracen - The Legend demo 1992

Cracen - The Legend demo 1992
1) Intro
2) Cracen
3) The Ancient Legend of Doom
4) Evilyn
5) Threnody of the Dead
6) Outro

Reuploaded

We continue the Mediterranean cruise from Italy to Greece and to the obscure black metal band Cracen who are best known for releasing a split 7" with Legion Of Doom on Molon Lave in 1993 as Bestial Wrath. This here is their 1992 demo. Alas, this is a rip of an unknown generation dub but the quality is good even if I say it myself. You notice the track listing above has Threnody of the Dead and Outro separate, but they really blend into each other and should really be a single track so I've added a link to that option too. Other explanation would be that my dub simply is missing an additional outro, but as far as I know it's complete. Feel free to correct me if the assumption is wrong and preferably provide a link if it's so. I would also love a scan of the covers if one can be found!

Thanks to the person who gave me the correct cover art. Jolly good.

UPDATE: Most of the blabbering in the first paragraph is now obsolete as brother Y.Deadness has sent me a rip of his original demo, which also includes scan of the original cover. The tape I ripped was indeed missing the outro so that version was fucked up. Sorry 'bout that. Download this version right now!

Musically this reminds me of other early Greek black metal bands but manages to sound quite unique despite that. There are touches of death metal and other metal genres in the music, but it can be clearly categorized as black metal. One thing that sticks out is the clearly audible bass. Personally I think this is a great demo and recommendable to all old school maniacs and Greek metal connoisseurs.

From Depths - The Burning Ice (1995)

From Depths - The Burning Ice 12"MLP 1995
1) Intro
2) Silence of Victory
3) Shelter of the Dark
4) Outro

Reuploaded

More Italian black metal for this week, now a vinyl for change, even though it is a cassette rip. This is the first EP, or MLP, of the Italian black metal band From Depths and it was released in 1000 copies by a never-heard label in 1995. Seems to be quite uncommon item. I got my dub from a Polish tape trader and don't know how many generation it might be, but the sound is ok. The intro has minor blemish but it's really nothing. I was more annoyed by the way the outro starts seamlessly and overlapping the end of the 3rd song "Shelter of the Dark". However, I still chose to divide them into two separate tracks as they were so listed (well, since I only have a cassette dub I can't really be sure).

I guess something more than it's black metal and from Italy ought to be mentioned of the music. Well, it takes quite a lot of influence from the Norwegian (and Nordic) black metal bands, is melodic but still satisfyingly raw and has synth. Very little resemblence to other better known Italians this time. I'm enjoying it and am considering to rip & upload their 1997 album as well (which was also released in mere 1000 copies and by another obscure label). The band has (like so many others) restarted their activities so check out their MySpace. I'm also interested to hear the two tapes the band released prior to this 12" so let me know if you have them or find a link!

De Occulta Philosophia - Obscura Simphonia

De Occulta Philosophia - Obscura Simphonia demo 1995
1) Seventh Poseidon's Siren
2) Shadows Dancer in the Night of Plenilune
3) Marsh of Agony
4) Mortiferous
5) Frosty Breath Rides Under Mystic Moon (of Midnight)

Reuploaded

Italian symphonic black metal influenced by (in their own words) Cradle Of Filth plus Slayer and Rotting Christ might sound more controversial than nsbm in today's standards but do not worry, it is actually quite listenable and even while the main influence is old COF I'd say second comparison would be the fellow Italians they greet on the covers; Necromass, Opera IX, Mortuary Drape & Vladimir. Especially the two in the middle are an influence I welcome heartily. This is as far as I know the only release by this band.

My copy was dubbed (from an original I guess) for me by one of my traders, but it has a very good and clear sound. I have a xerox of the cover which I decided not to scan as M.A. had a decent scan of it so that's enclosed. Recommended if you enjoy old Cradle of Filth, Italian black metal or symphonic/melodic bm in general.

Absent Silence - Demo I 1995

Absent Silence - Demo I 1995
1) By My Own Hand
2) Matkani Yllä Muiden
3) The Trees & Ravens

Reuploaded

I've seemed to make it a nasty habit to post first a band's second demo and then the first one. But I just recently found the tape this one was recorded on so that ought to be a pretty good excuse. If you are familiar with the demo II I posted earlier you know what to expect from Absent Silence's debut recording, though this one is much rougher and blacker than the later ones. The vocals here are the same whispering sort as on demo II which I think is cool.

My copy of the demo is a dub received from some trader contact of old so this reflects a little on the sound but fear not, it's not overtly necro or whatever. I'm hungry so I'll finish typing and start frying, download this if you like Absent Silence, Finnish dark/black metal, collect religiously demos etc.

Satariel - Hellfuck demo 1995

Satariel - Hellfuck demo II 1995
1) Four Moons Till Rising
2) Hellfuck
3) Violent Dance
4) Yet to Be
5) Into the Void...

Reuploaded

Like was the case with these guys' other band Belsemar, I start with the second demo. Swedish Satariel plays on their albums melodic death metal, with the distinct Swedish sound & feeling. Or at least on those albums I've heard. Anyways, on their demo days they were still black metal, though not as purely as Belsemar was. Besides songwriting, another difference is the vocals, done here by two vocalists of which the other one does a decent black metal snarl while the "support" vocal is a death metallish roar. Actually reminds me of Impaled Nazarene debut, though the music is very far from that. The band's turn to melodeath is quite clearly foreshadowed on these tracks. Some clean vocals are scattered here and there and the 5th song is kind of an outro with female voice joining the clean male singing.

This is not my cassette rip, I've acquired this from a trader at a later date burned on a CDR which I then ripped. The rip quality is good and so is the sound of the demo itself. Naturally I don't have the tape cover either so Metal Archives image is used. Good stuff even if I prefer Belsemar, recommendable for both black metal people and Swedish melodeath fans.

Sacrilegeous - I.O.T. 666th K (1995)

Sacrilegeous - I.O.T. 666th K demo 1995
1) Strange Objects in the Nocturnal Horizon
2) Mystery of the Intermediary Life
3) Fullmoon Over Darkened Seascape
4) ...About Silence
5) I.O.T. 666th K

Reuploaded

Sacrilegeous is a name probably not very familiar to people who didn't follow the Finnish UG scene in the early mid-90's closely. More often mentioned in various 'zines than actually heard by people, Sacrilegeous was involved in various antics and apparently aligned with Azazel, I.C.F.D. & co in the so-called conflict that was almost going on circa 1994/1995. But let's not forget the music, that's why we're here right? Sacrilegeous released a bunch of tapes and a CDEP of which best known ones are listed here on their M.A. entry. This doesn't seem to be one of them.

I got this one from a trader contact in 1997 I think and it is quite unusual recording. If you have heard Sacrilegeous' CDEP "Nordic Landscapes of Hessdalen" you might know what to expect. It is music influenced and based on raw black metal but with an unique take on it. I'm having hard time describing it accurately. If you became curious go ahead and download it.

Lord Of Pagathorn - The Chaos Spirit Among Us promo - demo 94

Lord Of Pagathorn - The Chaos Spirit Among Us promo-demo 1994
1) The Chaos Spirit Among Us I
2) The Chaos Spirit Among Us II
3) The Chaos Spirit Among Us III

Reuploaded!

This is among the true "cult" demos uploaded onto this site, the so-far sole official release of the Northern heroes Lord Of Pagathorn. Ever evasive of publicity, they gave very few interviews to (mostly) Finnish fanzines and sort of vanished from the scene, to the dismay of the ones who had heard this excellent demo. You might be justly wondering why I didn't upload this sooner, well simply because I had separated the demo cover from the tape and it took me some effort to find! Dumb old piece of s***t.

Definitely recommended, easily among the best blackened metal demos spawned by Finland! Notice that all the three songs are untitled but as due personal preference I named them "The Chaos Spirit Among Us I - III" instead of I - III, but feel free to adjust! Oh yeah I forgot to mention that they're active again and hopefully will be releasing something sooner or later.