CHAOS
“Demo 98”
Double B Records
rating: 3, 5 of 6
It’s not the kind of music I listen to every day, although this demo is not bad, even in my ears, e.g. in the ears of the one who never was a fan of suchlike bands. It’s something ‘alternative’ with few hardcorish elements and influences from such bands as MARYLIN MANSON… Musically, it’s most close to PRIMUS; this effort also features quite complicated stuff with very similar vocals… Those who like aforementioned bands should get this CD now, others may pass it by…
Email: chaos@skynet.be
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

DEMIMONDE
«The Warrior’s Poets»
Sorrow Art Productions
rating: 5, 5 of 6
Czechian bands always stood out of the world-wide metal scene due to their originality, and DEMIMONDE is not an exception. Their style appears as something really hard to describe… you see, this band definitely doesn’t fear of experiments. “The Warrior’s Poets” mixes many genres into one – be it black or doom metal, dark wave, industrial or folklore… Bestial atmosphere, pure sadness and, in the same time, evilness, tremendous guitar work, harsh BM screaming together with growling parts, female voice and almost opera-alike male vocals, weird symphonic and pseudo-industrial elements, majestic keyboards and plenty of programming… - this tape combines everything you can ever imagine. When certain band  tries to mix a lot of diverse stuff into one, it often happens that their creations sound utterly incomprehensible and even delirious, but there’s nothing like that on “Warrior’s Poets”! Fuck, it seems like I didn’t tell you ANYTHING regarding DEMIMONDE! The easiest way for you to get familiar with this genius band is to purchase a tape from them – and you have to do it right now!
Email: mcermak@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

DONAR’S KRIEG
«Hymnen Aan Het Teutoons Kruis»
rating: 4 of 6
Well, this demo is neither better nor worse in comparison to the former tape from Belgium’s DONAR’S KRIEG. All music is still performed by one man only, namely Donarssen, and it’s still raw, fast and hateful «Aryan heathen metal» as written in the flyers. This time production is better, in the same time being more ‘dry’ and ‘polished’, the fact which makes the music sound less attractive, at least for me. Some keyboards are here, as well as acoustic guitar passages and sfx’s (bomb attacks, skirmish, painful screams, etc.) forcing the atmosphere of supreme hatred and warcraft. If I’m not mistaken, intro and outro were borrowed from Wagner and seem to be rather appropriate here. All lyrics are written in Belgian and deal with racial purity and suchlike things, which should be appreciated by self-esteeming White People. Order this demo from: pb 18, 9470, Denderleeuw, Vlaanderen - Belgium
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

DREAMING SOUL
“Children Of Night Flowers”
rating: 4 of 6
Finally, after the long wait, I got this tape, which appears as the second demo from one of the most talented and promising, as well as one of the most old Moscow’s bands. I guess, DREAMING SOUL’s style is best described as dark metal, while some moments on this demo heavily remind me of OPETH. It also features plenty of acoustics and “clean” male vocals (very pleasant ones, I should say); “The Children Of Night Flowers” even shows some influences from art rock here and there… In the whole, this tape brings fresh (although a bit boring sometimes) music combining the elements of doom and black metal, dark wave and progressive rock… Despite the obvious attractiveness of “Children…” I couldn’t give this tape a highest mark due to a lot of shortcomings and drawbacks, such as very mediocre (and sometimes even somehow disgusting) female vocals, sound which is too ‘dry’ and also rather mediocre (fuck T.E.F. Studio!). Also, Alexander (vocals, bass and keyboards) commits mistakes in his “clean” singing at times, besides, as I already said, “Children Of Night Flowers” lasts for almost an hour and it becomes boring from time to time… However, in general, DREAMING SOUL leaves very good impression. Let’s wait and see what the future will bring for this band.
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

ENFORCE
“Premonition”
rating: 3, 5 of 6
This is the first demo from the Australian band I review in my mag, and I must admit that ENFORCE is the worthy one, though it’s a bit not my cup of tea. This beautifully packed and brilliantly recorded tape includes tracks of very technical and powerful death metal with shouting vocals a-la DISMEMBER. As to the best sides of “Premonition”, these are genius guitar solos, thoughtout compositions, top-notch production and performance, however ENFORCE unfortunately couldn’t escape some some drawbacks like those ‘shouting’ vocals (I just hate this type of singing!) and the songs’ duration. If they were a bit shorter, perhaps I would like this demo more than I did… However, I bet that ENFORCE sound more than just great when playing live…
Email: dominion@iinet.net.au
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

HURUSOMA
“This Beautiful Silence…”
rating: 4, 5 of 6
Does someone of you remember GORGOROTH’s “Pentagram” and BALTAK’s debut CD? Yes? Then mix the aforementioned albums into one, add even more bestiality, even more maniacal shrieking and programmed drumset and you’ll get what this Japanese (!) band is all about. It’s pure evil and nothing else. Grinding anger and hatred geared towards humanity and the Kingdom of Light… I don’t know if this band is true or not (song-titles like “From The Black Forest”, “I See The Lonely January Sun Arise” and “In The Cold Winds” make me doubt Woods’ (the only guy in the band) sincerity), however in spite of this, “This Beautiful Silence…” is one of my favorite demos this month…
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

IGNORABIMUS
“Hinc Illae Lacrimae”
rating: 5 of 6
After POSTMORTEM’s “Bloody Justice Comes…”, “Hinc Illae Lacrimae” is the second tape I ever got from Estonia. And while POSTMORTEM didn’t do anything for me (musically, I mean), IGNORABIMUS is truly an interesting and promising band. Firstly, this demo looks great design-wise – and after looking at the professionally done layout, I thought that both, music and sound, should be as great. And fortunately, I wasn’t wrong! The production is clear, while the music rules, no doubts! It’s a bit old-fashioned (though played in a modern way) doom / death metal with ‘good old’ growling voice (however some “clean” voices also can be discovered here), lack of keyboards and killer guitar work featuring few jazz-inspired structures… Extremely pleasant and memorable stuff! Read the interview placed somewhere in this issue…
Email: ignorabimus@mindless.com
       raino@hotline.ee
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

RAKOTH
«Superstatic Equilibrium» (promo)
rating: 5 of 6
“Superstatic Equilibrium” is the second release from this Obninsk-based band. The first one was “Dark Ages Chronicle” demo, which brought us outstanding music which suffered a lot from almost non-existent production. In contrast to “Dark Ages…”, the sound on this tape is much more pleasant due to the better recording studio (and more time, I believe). Moreover, “Superstatic Equilibrium” looks more like an album – at least, it lasts almost for an hour which is quite rare thing for only a demo or promo tape. Talking about the music – it obviously portrays this band’s unquestionable development and that concerns everything. In fact, RAKOTH didn’t change anything, but this effort is more ‘finished’, you know. The same atmospheric blackish doom metal with lots of keyboards and inimitable sound of their own, but this time with bigger amount of Black’s “clean” vocals and flute parts incorporated. By the way, regarding vocals… I just can’t leave unnoticed that Black’s voice is one of the most impressive ones I’ve ever heard when it comes to Russian metal scene. He sings very skillfully, possessing highly pleasant timbre… As a conclusion: in my view, RAKOTH is the kind of a band which is definitely worth our attention. Why? Well, due to their originality, professional approach to music and sincerity… Speaking plainer – “Superstatic Equilibrium” is A MUST.
Email: rust8@hotmail.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

RUNES OF DIANCEHT
«Eternal Call Of Darkness»
rating: 2 of 6
Damn it, does anyone know when will I get worthy demo from Ukrainian BM band?! I guess, not too soon. And while now I have to review such worthless tapes as this one, performed and released by comrades of LUCIFUGUM (whose last demo also sucks really bad) and NOKTURNAL MORTUM. «Black Demons Ritual», «Only Satan», «Eternal Call Of Darkness» - aren’t you guys tired of playing typical, clichesque music with incredibly hackneyed lyrics? As to me, I AM TIRED of such kind of crap; and the worst thing is that this sort of bands grow in number day by day, hour by hour. Who needs this, except few brainless kids pretending to be «true black metallers»??? RUNES OF DIANCEHT can handle their instruments properly and their music is quite ‘competent’ if you get what I mean, but it’s so fucking trite and soulless...! I can’t stand this anymore! When will this BM trend be over...??
Contact: c/o Termit, Tarasovsky viezd 12-36, 310068 Kharkov, Ukraine
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

VIA DOLOROSA
“Everything”
Moon Records
rating: 2 of 6
This is something I can’t get into. Their cover says that it’s “new nuclear metal wave: death / doom / industrial”, although most likely I would disagree with this statement. I couldn’t find any industrial elements in VIA DOLOROSA’s sound; “Everything” features only very average and unmemorable stuff, appearing as incomprehensible and boring mix of doom and death metal… Too much muddle and confusion here… seems like these guys didn’t know exactly what they want. This tape totally lacks emotions and atmosphere, making you to switch off your stereo and take a couple of aspirins…
Contact: c/o Maxim Dutsyak, P.O. Box 10204, Lviv, 290011, Ukraine
Tel: +38 (0322) 76-31-62
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

WALHALLA
“War Over Nordland”
rating: 3 of 6
WALHALLA is a project of Lord J. Heikkinen from SOULGRIND, Ceasar from GLOOMY GRIM and Agathon of THY SERPENT, and “War Over Nordland” is their first recording. Despite that I deeply respect all of aforementioned individuals, and despite their ‘big names’, to my deep regret I have to rate this tape with quite average mark. The reason is that it simply didn’t impress me the way it had to. “War Over Nordland” is too unmemorable effort, which may be reckoned to “pass-by” tapes. The music itself is well done – it’s kinda straight-forward true black metal without any trace of keyboards, female voices and… variety. Maybe their next demo (or album) will be more thrilling?
Email: darkshiv@sci.fi
       agathon@sci.fi
(review by Herr Stalhammar)