Artist: Demagogue
Title: Armageddon Structures
Type: Demo
Label: Self Released

The sad thing about MySpace is that it seems to have become a bit of a ghostland, inhabited by bands, who add bands, who add bands. The initial surge of individuals who would have their own pages seems to have dried up, somewhat – so what you get now are bands sending other bands messages along the lines of “Buy our cd now!”, to have a return message of “Our latest CD – out now!” posted in return. It's all a bit insular and circular, and I wonder just how much genuine interest the pages there now generate. Which is a shame, because Demagogue have their own MySpace page, and their music deserves to be heard by more than the other bands lurking out there.

Demagogue are a death thrash band based out of London. No, don't leave the review yet! This is actually a band with some fresh ideas! I know that we have all probably had our fill of so-so “death thrash” bands retreading the same stale old waters, but Demagogue manage to resist paddling in the foetid pond. With a sterling, almost surgically sharp thrash base, with an ear for the careful building of unsettling melancholic atmosphere, Demagogue go to town with the dizzying and progressive jazzy touches. From unforeseen and warped time signatures suddenly invading the head down charge of riffery, to the Akercocke vocal touches that can veer from the rasping, hate fuelled screech to a haunting clean refrain. The cerebral vein of the guitar and drum work in particular speaks more of subtle haunting horrors than out and out splatter fests, though the overall heaviness and spooky atmosphere definitely adds more than a soupçon of that early death metal vibe, either though the sound is much more precise than buzzing.

Though this is just three songs long, it is entirely possible to hear that Demagogue are almost obscenely talented and full of ideas. A full length album, also named Armageddon Structures, is due to be released, and so quite rightly this release has whetted the appetite admirable. Chaps – ensure you send it my way. Clever, inventive and entirely listenable extremity. Don't miss out.

http://www.myspace.com/thedemagogue