Demo 2011

I was fortunate enough to discover this band live, when they opened for Ash Borer. Sometimes it take a few listens for me to get into a new band, but I remember immediately being blown away by Ruin Lust's performance that night. I had pretty much given up on death metal at this point, but when I witnessed this set, I had to seriously reconsider that conclusion. You're probably wondering, does this kind of obscure demo deserve such a high rating?

Regardless of the music genre, this is what every band desires to accomplish on a demo - a showcase of them at their most creative and passionate. The style of music certainly helps convey the energy. The 19 minute ritual of riff-driven death/black metal is a furious achievement by these then-underground musicians (the drummer has gone on to enjoy some more recognition in other acts). The recording is raw, it is best to listen on headphones, as car stereos tend to have too much bass for this kind of music, making it sound muffled at first listen. At the time I thought this band sounded a lot like Incantation, but as I have since delved deeper into suffocating death/black metal, I've realized this band was a bit more developed than those older bands. A more appropriate comparison would be Vasaeleth, or Teitanblood.

What sets this apart from other bands is the songwriting, and goddamn dynamics, man! Ruin Lust manage to pack a surprising amount of variety in 19 measly minutes. Each song is well crafted and highlights different aspects that make this music so great - the fast parts are highly atmospheric, the vocals are barked / vomited effectively, and the drumming is furious by not overly flashy. The demo culminates with the final track, which was also played last in their live set for maximum effect. This song is anchored by an absolutely monstrous riff that gets taken through different tempos before finally leaving your brain a battered mess.

As I'm writing this I wish these guys came out with more material. Their full length is excellent, but this demo really captured something special.