From what I've been told this band had a boring and "thrown together" first demo. This must be true because the band states the first demo was "very bad" in the insert of this demo. The frustration may be why this demo smokes! Well, maybe it has something to do with the fact that Oliver Tesch (guit.) is the only remaining member, duh?
"Paupers grave" steps directly into the flames. Expounding death, guttural spews, and grind speed, indeed very welcomed. Mario Henning is very notable on percussion for this being a demo. He not only mixes it up well, but fully abuses the crash and high-hats. I must say the drum production was great at producing a clean and listenable sound even during the fast tempos. This definitely sounded like Floridian death (true American style) even to the rapidly strummed scales similar to material from MONSTROSITY and MALEVOLENT CREATION. "In your eyes" starts with an acoustical segment with female vocals, but then breaks off into some nice mid-paced death. This was slowed down from the opening track, but retains some complexity. "Psalm of the unborn" lashes out more American style death and again I notice heavy MALEVOLENT CREATION riff-style similarities. I can never get enough of this style so no gripes here. The middle of the track slows down to melodic death very much like some material from LAMENT'S Tears of a Leper LP. I could call this doom, but the music picks up so often that it would be unfair to label it just that.
"Paupers grave" is by far the track of choice. If the band capitalizes on music such as this I see no reason why they would not be standing amongst the death masters in notability. If you are into demos please get this. If you usually only go for EP or LP length releases I can almost assure you whatever comes next from this band will be ruling.
Reveal to me your majestic vision, even if it turns out for me to suffer/
I will rather choose the paupers grave in the shadow of your glorious throne, than the place of the idle/
Beneath your crushing feet.
8/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #79Reviewed by Doug Van PeltWow! These Germans know how to create a brutal onslaught of death metal. The sonics + the musicianship are nice + crisp, and tight + clear. The tape starts off with some profanity, and one of the guys thanks Jesus as "the only solution in this (bleep) world." This disappoints an otherwise killer tape.
