SORORICIDE - Demo 1 (1993)

The Geyser Injection

Iceland isn’t a country I have got countless metal items from. On the contrary, discussed demo is the only Icelandic piece in my collection, what is more, this vicennial tape (!) is still in good condition. The band started its way with fantastic debut “The Entity” (released in 1991) which is an extreme rarity in my ‘must-have’ titles, just like another ones, especially Ep released in 2009 with old songs. And maybe I cannot understand fully the band’s cult status and completely exorbitant price for the debut cd, this three-piece demo is a really strong release, even after such a long time. Its power is easily perceptible in nowadays old-school flood.

Demo starts off without any pyrotechnics. The opener is just a good inviting track, kept in rather slow tempo with short speedy outburst with a clear declaration: fastness is not the main key to grind the listener’s mind. Supported by sordid and raw production, musicians propose a killing mixture of… You know, I read many comments treating this demo (and the band itself generally) as something new on European scene, but being born on Icelandic ground, the band didn’t run away from Scandinavian death metal influences. And that’s great, as its main source is Finnish scene and Amorphis mighty debut album, not only with characteristic portion of riffs but with mesmerizing melodies as well, breathing its life in every single track. It’s necessary to add some Autopsy flavor too, giving nice feelings of putridity to the whole atmosphere. Best track? Definitely the last one “Drown Your Soul”, the most varied and interesting, with romantic-like beginning that brings even some kind of mystery and clean warm vocals (such singing appears also in hypnotic “Within the Depths”), then it turns out into a real deathly crusher divided by smashing slowdowns. Summing the things up: this material takes a run somnolently, but the last two strikes make mind’s mass destruction.  

Changing fortunes caused Sororicide didn’t achieve spectacular success. I mean, contract and a chance to record another albums. And I don’t know if there is a possibility to hear something new from the band, because they are buried now deeply in Icelandic ground. But believe me, this demo is worth the trouble. I know, it clocks in 17 minutes barely, yet it delivers me everything I want to listen to such genre from. It makes I listen to these sounds quite often praising good old times.   

80/100

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(written in December, 2015)