This 4-track demo will be released as a very limited tape version (166 copies) so if you want the physical article you will need to get in quick as most are sold out via pre-order. But have no fear; this is also available as a digital download if you like that unfortunate soulless format. So what is all the fuss about you may ask? This is old school death metal there is nothing too dissimilar to anything that has gone before but it is very bloody brutal and very bloody good. Ok, the Dismember, the Entombed influences are rife amongst these Germans, but in terms of song dynamics, I hear more Vomitory in their style, especially some of the melodic riffs that appear from time to time and noticeably during the title track ‘Cosmic Horror’. In fact if you are feeling the pain of the aforementioned Swedes hanging up their guitars then Slaughterday would be a perfect replacement.
The production has a lot of weight to it, it is very organic and it has lots of soul. There are no clinical drum beats or standard Swanö production values (although Swanö produces and mixes some amazing albums, they do sound very similar to each other). ‘Crawling In Secrecy’ has very much an Asphyx-ism about it that mixes with a pure tone made famous by that glorious boss hm2 pedal. Although, fewer effects are audible, I simply love this tone; there is a touch of honesty about it all. ‘Abyss of Nameless Fear’ is a brutal introduction to this band and I have to point out that this is a demo recording; it really does not sound like it. It sounds as good as the current Asphyx release actually; this is what makes these songs more pleasing I think. If you had a weak sound then I don’t think these tracks would do anything for you, thankfully that little gremlin doesn’t feature here.
If you want a new band to worship some classic old school death sounds with, then once again look to Germany, because along with this duo and the likes of Lifeless and Revel in Flesh, Germany is certainly giving Sweden a run for their money of late.
(8/10 Paul Maddison)
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