Innsmouth: The Departure of Shub-Niggurath (2009)

It is not very often I have been able to add the demo tapes of established bands that I listen to frequently.  The only real exceptions have been Dawn of Azazel and Goatwhore, until now.  Innsmouth is definitely not on the same level as the other two bands (and in fact Dawn of Azazel is also several notches below Goatwhore), but their 2014 full-length was my Album of the Year.  Unfortunately that turned out to be the band's only full-length as they split up shortly thereafter.

This demo tape finds the band in its infancy, and yet still features my personal favorite track from the 2014 Album of the Year, "Thrice Blessed Shub-Niggurath".  It is obvious that the band members are big fans of the works of H.P. Lovecraft based on the song and album titles, and their sound reflects that as well.  Between the cavernous vocals, otherworldly riffs, and creepy atmosphere, this band definitely nails the feel of Lovecraft's stories.

I did not know quite what to expect from Innsmouth's demo, but I came away very impressed.  There is really not much difference between this release and their full-length album.  All of the elements that I enjoyed in that album are present here.  It is a shame that the band did not stick around.  I could have done without the cover though with the anatomically correct (maybe?) satyr.

Timeghoul

I was lurking around on the Encyclopedia Metallum forums a little while ago and a band called Timeghoul was mentioned.  Finding the short descriptions of the band I found to be interesting, I decided to seek them out.

Timeghoul was around for quite a long time, emerging out of Missouri in the late 1980's.  But they only have two demos to their name and one release compiling the material.  So there is not a lot of recorded material out there to seek out on this band.  There have been a few bands that have released some incredibly influential demos without much else to their name.  Slaughter Lord and Necrovore certainly come to mind, and until recently there was Von.  I have not heard Timeghoul's name mentioned in the same circles, which I think is something of a shame.  It is possible I have simply not been paying enough attention though.

All that being said, Timeghoul certainly have an interesting sound.  I would probably equate them closely with Finnish underground death metal legends Demilich.  Timeghoul have an otherworldly style with spacy, angular riffs and science fiction-inspired lyrics.  The structures of the songs themselves can certainly not be called typical either.  As such, the length of the songs themselves can be quite long.  Timeghoul brought a lot of creativity into play in their take on death metal.  Much like the aforementioned Demilich.

The vocals are perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Timeghoul's sound.  Going from a creaking grunt, to a full-out roar, to some bizarre chanting is not out of the ordinary in these songs.  In fact some moments sound very much like a barbershop quartet is performing them.  It sounds completely odd, and yet fantastic at the same time.

It is a shame that Timeghoul was only able to put out a couple of demos.  It would have been nice to see if they could have brought the same level of creativity to a full release.  At the same time, I do not think it would be worthwhile for the band to reunite at this point to try it.  It might be too late.  These are certainly impressive demos but far too much time has passed.  It may feel like a cash grab.  Just look at what happened when Von finally released a full-length album and the backlash it caused.  It would be better for Timeghoul to stay where they are.  They certainly have an impressive legacy.

Demo Review: Vomepotro

I don't listen to a lot of demos. Usually the production quality is not terribly great, or the songs are rough. However, I do find them to be an interesting look at the early stages of a band.

Here are three demos from Vomepotro, a brutal death/slam death metal band from Brazil.

PRESSED CORPSE (1996)
This is the very first recording from Vomepotro and it is clear they were not really sure what they were doing. The sound is raw and sounds a little weird because it is missing a lot of distortion. The guitar riffs just sound a little off. The band also throws in two covers of Cannibal Corpse's "I Cum Blood" and Slayer's "Angel of Death". Interesting, but the band has not fully emerged yet.

THE PUTRID ODOR (1998)
A slightly longer recording this time around, this one is more like an EP than a demo. Except the production values still are not really that good. The band has incorporated a little bit more of their later defining characteristics into the music. Slamming riffs and a heavy muddy sound have emerged. The vocals have become much more guttural as well. This is a definite step forward for Vomepotro.

NECRODEMENTED (1999)
This is the most polished demo from the group, though it was still several years before the band's first full-length. The band has really discovered their sound on this one and that sound is a mix between Devourment and Cannibal Corpse. It is a shorter demo, which is disappointing given the fact that it probably has the best production and best songs of the three I have reviewed here.