Progression Through Deterioration

I actually happened to buy this demo after the very gig where they had announced their new record contract, so I felt kind of lucky to have been one of the people who "Listened to them before they got big, man"... Or almost, anyway... :) And a crushing gig It was - It made me sure that the cd had been a good buy.

So, how is it, then? Well, first of all, we are talking about some fine thrash/death here, perhaps only falling on the somewhat thin production. But when you start to get into the songs themselves, it becomes irrelevant.

It all starts with a tidbit for all of us who love old cult movies, in other words, we get to hear a short snippet from George Romeros Zombie cult-classic "Night of the Living Dead", and then the fury starts.
"From the Ashes" is a driving thrasher, with screamed, harsh semi-blackish vocals mixed with deep growls from Mikael Aronsson, who does an excellent job in replacing previous vocalist Ramin Farhadian. I wouldn't call the chorus "catchy", but it sure sticks in my mind enough to sit and hum it. Great opener to the album.

Number two on the album is the equally thrashy "Sheltered by Inferno", which is perhaps the weakest track, not really matching the really high points on the cd, but still manages to keep the interest up with some premium riffs.

"The Beyond" comes next, and starts off with one of the best intro-riffs I've ever heard. (It's even more incredlible live) Then it goes away into another very starightforward thrash-verse, and when the lyrics are inspired by one of the worst B-Horror-movies I've ever seen, you can't go wrong. :)

"Theme For the Dead" begins rather simple, but then goes into a more complex black-ish riff, and a brilliant verse/chorus, making this perhaps the best song on the record. Top notch!

The whole deal ends with the highly entertaining "Alcoholocaust", featuring several guest vocalists from different local bands, (Fredrik from Gravelgrinder/[Dysdain], among others) adding some very cool contrasts between the different displays of growlings. Another good song, which has an uncanny recenblance to the Obituary song "Find the Arise". Now I don't know if this is intentional or not, but when it all comes to an verdict, it doesn't really matter.
"Alcoholocaust" closes the demo in a very worthy way, and makes me confident that My Own Grave will go far with their apparent skills in songwriting and musicianship. Certainly a band to be reckoned with in the future.