The notion that heavy metal is a corrupting influence, coupled with demonic forces, has become strange.
Old reels of late 80s news specials “Satanic Panic” and the anti-obscenity crusade led by Tipper Gore and the Parents’ Music Resource Center survive on YouTube as nostalgic jokes.
But for Demiser, South Carolina’s blackened thrash metal quintet, it’s no joke.
“We are a demon worshiping band,” said the band’s vocalist, publicly known as Demiser the Demiser. “If you read the lyrics and everything, you will see it there. There is conjuration. There is evocation. We call demons by name. It is a part of heavy metal that has always been there. We are just trying to take this to the next level. “
With his debut album, “Through the Gate Eternal”, Demiser, in his own words, set out to be “the dirtiest, [most] evil satanic speed metal band from the United States. “
Musically, at least, they might as well have been successful. Echoes of ancestors from the extreme metal of Venom and Bathory to Slayer and Motörhead provide a solid foundation for Demiser’s quick and brutal attacks. But, more insidiously, they never sacrifice convincing riffs and hooks in the name of brutality or technical skill.
In the book “Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal”, by Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman, Motörhead leader Lemmy Kilmister described his band as “primitive brutality” and highlighted his roots in rock ‘n’ roll. “People always like rock ‘n’ roll,” said the icon. “You can hit him if it’s too fast.”
Demiser echoes this approach in his own music. Demiser the Demiser puts this clearly:
“Obviously we play fast and memorable riffs, and it’s not an easy task, but keeping the construction more rock ‘n’ roll. You get too technical and you lose that. We want it to be captivating, but we want to keep that s #! Raw, dirty, fast, evil and satanic tee. “
In fact, very fast bops abound in “Through The Gate Eternal”. The anthem “Demiser the Demiser” – a remnant of the 2018 “Surrender to Sin” demo – peaks with a call and response chorus driven by violent guitars and intense bass driven by a relentless double kick attack. “Unholy Sacrifices” delivers melodic guitars that evoke the atmospheric mix of black metal, thrash and post-rock that has won praise from names like Behemoth and Skeletonwitch.
But don’t be fooled by the earworms that pump your fists and begin to mosh packaged in the 34-minute LP. As drummer Infestor said, “Many bands look scary, but it is very different when you have a band that lives in that s #! T. ”
There is no way to bury the leader here either. Opening the album with the title track, Demiser runs through precise and precise riffs while his vocalist cries out a sinister curse turned into
shout over the hook: “Satan takes your soul / Pray to your false gods that you will never know.” Even in
his most apparently serene, the delicate acoustic interlude “Song of Byleth”, Demiser pays homage to a king of Hell and commander of 85 legions of demons.
On its nine tracks, “Through the Gate Eternal” runs and launches through a catalog of heavy metal techniques, from explosive death metal beats to shrill black metal riffs and a relative comfort zone of vicious thrash. It is an extremely efficient LP, powerful in its conciseness and precision.
With their five pseudonym members – vocalist Demiser the Demiser, drummer Infestor, bassist Defiler and guitarists Gravepisser and Phallomancer – spread across South Carolina, from Upstate to Charleston, time for the full band to rehearse together is scarce, so no idea comes to the group unless it’s a good one.
“We just write guardians,” said Infestor.
With the restrictions brought about by the pandemic COVID-19 added to the band’s existing logistical obstacles, the recording of “Through the Gate Eterna” was made over six weekends, in separate sessions at the Seaboard Recording Studio in Columbia, under the supervision of the guitarist Gravepisser each of them. Damian Herring, from the death metal band Horrendous, dominated the album.
But, as Infestor notes, “Even without the impact of COVID, it probably would still have taken a long time because we were practically limited on weekends.”
Ultimately, this patient approach to recording was worth it. Although the album is produced clearly, with each frantic note sounding clearly, there is no lack of urgency or intensity. Where many smaller bands hide behind the lo-fi darkness to create a sense of mystery, Demiser puts his cards on the table. And it is a powerful move for the upside band.
With “Through the Gate Eternal,” Demiser effectively makes heavy metal look exciting – and perhaps even dangerous – again. Just don’t tell Tipper.
“Through the Gate Eternal” by Demiser
Available on March 12 via Boris Records. demiser.bandcamp.com.