Demos: 1993-1996

Demos are demos - they are merely infantile version of songs. Even with that in mind, sometimes it's frustrating to listen to a half-baked demo track that a band sometimes releases. In fact it's really annoying when an established band expects us consumers to whip out some cash for the novelty of it, when in fact the demos are shit. They might as well sell their stinking underwear that's drenched in testicle sweat and hasn't been washed.

Fortunately, this is not the case here... Acid Bath's demos aren't "shitty." Sure, a collection of 13 demo songs isn't all that attractive for a purchase when it's released without any bonuses, live tracks, and other stuff like that. But these demo tunes are still worth your time, if you love their studio albums.

These 13 demos were drawn from two or three previously released (but very rare) demo albums and put together for a singular, more widely distributed release. Each tracks are different enough from the studio versions to make them a worthy listen. The said difference can be minimal at times but nonetheless there, whether it be lyrics ("Scream of the Butterfly"), vocal style and editing ("What Color Is Death?" and "Jezebel," among others), or guitar and/or drum ornamentation (like little fillings on "Finger Paintings of the Insane"). The song choices favor the band's first album, When the Kite String Pops, from which 10 songs are featured. Meanwhile the second album Paegan Terrorist Tactics only gets 3. All Acid Bath songs feel really raw in general, but oh my, the demos are even rawer! To my amazement though, the demos are rawer without sounding like it got transferred from a beaten and worn cassette tape. Basically this album sounds better than full-length albums from bands like Anal Cunt or Christ Inversion, ha ha.

A highlight for me is the very retro, bone-dry, and spooky "Bones of Baby Dolls" that may remind a listener of 1960s or 70s horror movies. This is definitely the demo that could have been included on either of Acid Bath's studio albums just the way it is, no doubt. It is about a minute shorter than the final cut, because it doesn't have the last riff that fades out on the WTKSP version, where Dax sings "everything's gone dry," but that doesn't lessen the quality of this song. I also prefer "Venus Blue" demo over the finished version on PTT, because I feel like the demo version sounds more full and dynamic (the one on PTT feels kinda flat to me). I also dig the echo effect on the guitarist Sammy Duet's background vocals on "Bleed Me an Ocean," particular at around 3 minute mark. Other standouts include "Dr. Seuss is Dead," "What Color Is Death?," and "Jezebel." Curiously, all three tracks that was in demo album by Golgotha (pre-Acid Bath band) - "Finger Paintings of the Insane," "Mortician's Flame," and "What Color Is Death" are present here. A little cheap perhaps, but if you have the chance to listen to Golgotha versions, it would shine some light on how far the band has evolved over time.

It may be only a matter of taste but it had a couple low points for me. My least favorite track here is, without a doubt, "Scream of the Butterfly." The opening sounds like a fucking Christmas tune, vocals and the tone of the instruments aren't creepy at all, and the song is performed a little faster than the one on WTKSP. That makes the song quite boring and a bit soulless. I must say, kudos to the band though - they brilliantly transformed this demo into a beautiful and demonic tune when they recorded it in the studio. I wasn't impressed with "God Machine" or "The Mortician's Flame" either.

In the end this demo collection would easily please the fans. Like with any other release of this kind, this is not intended for the newcomers to the world of Acid Bath, but still a fun and valuable release worth owning. The legacy of Acid Bath lives on like a powerful ghost, and a fan like me will continue to be haunted.