DESULTORY - Death Unfolds (1990)

When Death Unfolds

 

 

 

I don’t have this demo in my metal collection, but the material (with the third Desultory’s demo “Visions” as well) is recorded on “Forever Gone” tape released officially in Poland by Carnage Records in 1992. The next thing is the front cover which is a picture painted by Ivan Aivazovsky, widely considered as one of the greatest seascape painters. I do not know who chose this superb image, but it is done perfectly and fits to the entirety. “Death Unfolds” was recorded at Sunlight Studio in 1990 and this is the second demo coming from this year which makes a quite good score. The main essence of the matter is that the two demos (the first called “From Beyond”) really vary despite of the same line up, the same studio and very short time period between two sessions. So as “From Beyond” was a thrashing stuff with obvious Slayer influences, the second “Death Unfolds” is the first step into something uncommon. With these three songs Desultory evolved into death metal monster, music style and singing underwent well-marked changes. The band had this specific, unique Swedish sound, the songs had more power. With this demo new child of Swedish death metal was born, and for me “Death Unfolds” is like a germ of genius debut album “Into Eternity”. One thing is very important in the case of this band because they didn’t put the title track on their first album.

For me this demo is a classic stuff with stamp ‘Swedish death metal’. I worship this band since the ages, so “Death Unfolds” is a classic piece of metal in general. There are only three songs and eleven minutes, enough to find a passion and beginnings of their absolutely great skills. The first “Passed Away” reveals few tempo changes and while the band slows down, the guitars sound like a razor blade cutting the skin – there is sharpness mixed with some rawness which make the overall sound absolutely brilliant! And in this song I can be in contact (and commune as well…) with guitar solo made by Stefan Pöge. The next “The Chill Within” (by the way, very adequate title to the musical and lyrical content) is opened by hard, massive and drowsy riffs enriched with some melodic tunes, then the band shows faster moments, still attacks with simple yet thrilling guitar works as well as the successive Stefan parade is shown. The last title track is maintained in the same high level, and here I could duplicate my admiration. But as a matter of fact this song is more rooted in their previous stuff “From Beyond”. Do not get me wrong, it doesn’t differ too much when compared to the preceding songs, but some riffs (especially between stanzas) remind me of… Testament from “The New Order” era, this is really astonishing thing, but I treat it as another good point obviously. It is worthy of our attention to listen superb slow down with Klas words “…frozen to death…” and next guitar lead. The end is also praiseful: obscure slow rhythms with bell-like sounds…

Eleven minutes run very fast, any boring moments are unknown for this demo. Although “Death Unfolds” is 22 years old, it still sounds extremely good. There are very memorable melodic tunes (Swedish school of course), simple yet heart conquering riffs and thrash remains, however, I repeat, it is not a disadvantage. For sure this is one of my favourite demos ever recorded. Fans of Swedish death metal know this stuff perfectly, the youth and greenhorns leave your modern ‘best’ bands and drink from this inexhaustible chalice of real metal. “Death Unfolds”? On extra-special place in my metal collection to the end of time. 

95/100

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on May, 2012, now modified a bit)