Triumph Through Spears of Sacrilege

Just when I though that no bestial black metal band could be on par with or surpass Revenge, this trio proves me wrong. Damaar originally hailed from war-torn, predominantly Muslim Lebanon but relocated to Australia due to safety concerns, among other things. They are also one of the most savage war metal bands that I've heard up to date, perhaps even my favourite.

This demo is Damaar's only release up to date. It consists of one introductory track and four tracks of bestial black metal, one of which being a Blasphemy cover, clocking in at a total of roughly twenty minutes. The intro is a sound sample of one of the daily prayers recited by an Imam (I think), which is joined in by some high-pitched tortured screaming, before the second track erupts in the listener's ears. The guitarwork is fairly similar to what Revenge or Blasphemy have done, only more chaotic and violent in my opinion. The drumming ranges from fast to faster for the most part, with liberal use of gravity blasts. The vocals are some of the most twisted and varied I've heard to date; hearing Heathen scream DO YOU WISH TO DIE in Preaching for Mass Suicide sends shivers down my spine. The lyrics deal with blasphemy, anti-Islam sentiments and war. The recording quality is rather rough, but you can still hear everything that's going on. All this adds up to a vicious release, which actually manages to be catchy in some parts.

Normally for a gem such as this, I'd be taking the stance of "let the underground keep its own", but this case is slightly different. This band needs and deserves more recognition, for the simple fact that they had the guts to stand up against Islam in a predominantly Islamic state, something that few other bands have attempted to do. Recommended for fans of Revenge, Blasphemy, Conqueror, and anyone who has a pair.