Just so you know, my expectations for this one were absolutely sky high. I consider the first two Demiurg albums to be absolute masterpieces and Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Ribspreader etc) to be the king of Swedish death metal. Right, now we all know where we stand, has Rogga managed to create three Demiurg classics in a row? Read on...
Demiurg has always been the vehicle for Rogga to stretch his musical muscles a bit and explore more sophisticated territories that he would with the savage Paganizer, Ribspreader, Bone Gnawer or any one of his other thousand bands. With this third Demiurg release, Slakthus Gamleby (Slaughterhouse Gamleby in case you were wondering), the progressive elements of the band have been indulged further than ever before. Marjan Welman of Dutch band Autumn has added a few tasteful moments of melodic, female vocals to proceedings (‘Life Is A Coma’, ‘From Laughter To Retching’ and at the album’s conclusion) and drummer extraordinaire Ed Warby has contributed some clean, atmospheric vocals in places (‘Travellers Of The Vortex’). Of course Rogga’s incredible, perfect death metal roar – just check out his voice on the awesome title track for proof of that statement – is still in an overwhelming majority but those additional elements have become more than just a one track wonder as they were on previous album The Hate Chamber. Dan Swanö has also helped to bring more colours to the band’s palette, adding some melodious keyboards and lead guitar touches throughout.
Of course this isn’t Yes or King Crimson or something, Slakthus Gamleby is still built upon a formidable bedrock of traditional Swedish death metal. Awesome riffs abound with frightening frequency – ‘The Cold Hand Of Death’ has the weight and power to steamroller any doubters into submission, ‘Cold Skin’ combines unstoppable thunder with its incredible atmosphere and closer ‘World Burial’ is an absolute feast of rampant destruction. This is death metal with something more; something special. What an album...what a band.
If you liked Demiurg before then Slakthus Gamleby will become another beloved treasure in your collection. If Demiurg has thus far avoided your radar then wake up now and do something about it! Old school Swedish death metal with imagination, depth and ambition – you can’t beat it.
And in case you hadn’t figured it out, yes, Rogga has managed to create three Demiurg classics in a row. I’m already looking forward to number four.
http://www.myspace.com/demiurgofficial
http://www.voodoojohnson.com
