The Suicide Chamber

«The Suicide Chamber» is the second demo of the Finnish black metal band Fornicatus. When it comes to describing their art properly the title already gives some reference to the way the music is actually performed; but to sort this band amongst those 'depressive ones' would be an injustice. There is more to it on this release, even though these two artists find it difficult to entirely unleash the potential of what they had in mind.

Furthermost it is necessary to emphasise the good quality of the compositions and the good performance in terms of the musicianship. Unlike a lot of early demos that are distributed these days, this one sounds like having been crafted over a longer period of time and such seem to have been spend on the arrangement of ideas. «The Suicide Chamber» opens with a calm play of bass and guitar, which is later joined by the drums and progresses into black metal after a bit more than two minutes. This track, «Into the blackness» by name, is quite representative when it comes to describe the music as it offers a lot of the characteristics of the band's facets. On the one hand we have the depressive basis, on which everything is founded, then there are the faster parts that have been woven into the song and finally there are the breaks with small solo parts and other types of interludes. Actually, the compositions are really well done as they are interesting and good to listen to. They are often quite catchy and well balanced in terms of repetition and arrangement of ideas.

What annoys though is the way everything has been brought into existence. There is the drum-computer for instance and the programming leaves, like expected, much to be desired. It is often too monotonous and some ideas appear exactly alike on another track; which sounds odd and obscure. A real drummer would really help this band progress, because the music would gain in dynamic through this; beyond the aspect of a better sound in terms of the bass-drum, whose endless pondering is nothing but boring. Such is especially the case when there is constant double-bass play in the background. While listening to such a part, the question arouses if the plainness stems from the bad programming of the drums or if there is more to it, which is only fostered by this 'instrument', but hardly perceivable as the mix has moved the bass-drum in the foreground. It is the often referred to 'hen and egg' problem.

Would it not be for the aforementioned short-coming(s), then this release could be enjoyed thoroughly. The compositions are well crafted, neatly arranged, catchy and little annoying facets can be found. Fornicatus is certainly on the right track with this demo and would they be able to meliorate or even overcome the flaws on this release, then their next demo could certainly be of a kind to look forward to.