One Tail, One Head

This tape is a collection of four rather good, though not very well produced, songs that deliver some solid old school black metal. Now I say not very well produced in that it's not all clean, shiny and whatnot which is the way folks seem to like it nowadays. I like my demos sounding just like this (see below for details). Almost like rehearsals in fact, all rough round the edges.

Now contrary to what has been stated in another review this is not overly raw. Bands like Misanthropy are raw, proper raw, this is slightly lo-fi with fast paced riffing reminiscent of any one of Norway's ancient finest. It's almost like they’re going for an old school feel. Good for them, it’s a great sound. I’m mental for this kind of thing and shall be listening to it for as long as I have ears. The mixing is pretty good for a 4-track, if they used one (when did they fall out of fashion???), and I can make out everything quite well. Bass is clearly audible, though maybe I’m at an unfair advantage as this is fairly easy listening for me. Drums likewise sit well in the mix, bit low but clearly there with the added bonus of the cymbals not drowning everything out, a common pit fall with this type of production.

As can be imagined the riffs on the songs aren’t particularly groundbreaking or extremely experimental but they are by no means boring or contrived. They are a very good example of the underground ferocity that still lives, breathes and hates within black metal. There is a good display of variety over the 4 tracks on offer, and though it’s the usual blasting here, and slower mid paced parts there, it all serves to build a great demo. Luctus’ vox are more than adequate and fit the sound rather well. They sit at a reasonable level in the mix and do not overpower the music they accompany. He sings at the lower end of the black metal vocal spectrum which is infinitely better than the higher pitched shrieks some others continually propagate. Being of the old school persuasion they are of course all reverbed up.

All in all this is for me exactly what a good demo tape should be. Low end production is a great sound that I can’t get enough of and this tape firmly delivers. I really don’t understand why people have such a problem with rehearsal room black metal. Is it the new hate figure in place of its bedroom cousin? Regardless, I really don’t care what way that particular hate wind is blowing. Where it’s recorded is, after all, not the point of the exercise.

This is an excellent demo tape and one I thoroughly recommend, that is providing rehearsal ‘sound’ tapes, or lack of song titles don’t piss on your fire.

One for the underground maniacs then.