![Abstruse - Souls of Darkness [Full Demo - 1997] @RareMetalRarities](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vz1JSY2PO6Y/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Abstruse were a German death metal band and "Souls of Darkness" was their only output.
This demo opens with a couple of synth-heavy tracks that mislead the listener on where they will take their songwriting as the demo goes on. Abstruse use the synths to their full potential on those tracks and then quickly ditch them for some quality Rottrevore/Wombbath style of riffs with that typically German touch plus lower but less reverb-y vocals and a lot of playing around with tempos. Oh yeah and the synths make a cool ass comeback on the last track - which is pretty much every cool thing they did throughout the demo put together in a single song.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Intro
01:20 - Devil in Snow
06:52 - To Hell and Back
10:32 - Satanic Strengthes
13:43 - Mask of Lies
18:28 - Souls of Darkness
21:34 - Day of Retaliation
Discogs: discogs.com/release/11980765-Abstruse-Souls-Of-Darkness
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Abstruse were a German death metal band and "Souls of Darkness" was their only output.
This demo opens with a couple of synth-heavy tracks that mislead the listener on where they will take their songwriting as the demo goes on. Abstruse use the synths to their full potential on those tracks and then quickly ditch them for some quality Rottrevore/Wombbath style of riffs with that typically German touch plus lower but less reverb-y vocals and a lot of playing around with tempos. Oh yeah and the synths make a cool ass comeback on the last track - which is pretty much every cool thing they did throughout the demo put together in a single song.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Intro
01:20 - Devil in Snow
06:52 - To Hell and Back
10:32 - Satanic Strengthes
13:43 - Mask of Lies
18:28 - Souls of Darkness
21:34 - Day of Retaliation
Discogs: discogs.com/release/11980765-Abstruse-Souls-Of-Darkness
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
![Abstruse - Souls of Darkness [Full Demo - 1997]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vz1JSY2PO6Y/mqdefault.jpg "Abstruse - Souls of Darkness [Full Demo - 1997]
Abstruse were a German death metal band and Souls of Darkness was their only output.
This demo opens with a couple of synth-heavy tracks that mislead the listener on where they will take their songwriting as the demo goes on. Abstruse use the synths to their full potential on those tracks and then quickly ditch them for some quality Rottrevore/Wombbath style of riffs with that typically German touch plus lower but less reverb-y vocals and a lot of playing around with tempos. Oh yeah and the synths make a cool ass comeback on the last track - which is pretty much every cool thing they did throughout the demo put together in a single song.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Intro
01:20 - Devil in Snow
06:52 - To Hell and Back
10:32 - Satanic Strengthes
13:43 - Mask of Lies
18:28 - Souls of Darkness
21:34 - Day of Retaliation
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/11980765-Abstruse-Souls-Of-Darkness
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Infaustus - Re-Creation [Full Demo - 1993]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W1XemoVBEXA/mqdefault.jpg "Infaustus - Re-Creation [Full Demo - 1993]
Infaustus were an American death/doom metal band. Formed in 1992, the Re-Creation demo was the only material ever released by the band.
Its hard to pin-point an exact influence for Infaustus, which is odd because they dont really do anything new to the genre. Its literally meat n potatoes death/doom with vocals that have layered effects. Either way, it is still super enjoyable, this band knows where to stop the dooming to release the deathing and vice-versa.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Ipsisma Verba/Aborted Holiness
05:06 - Failed Existence
09:56 - Summoning
13:16 - Re-Creation
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/Infaustus-Re-Creation/release/13300676
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Psychomancer - Amid the Smell of Rotting Corpses [Full Demo - 1999]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WSHbFyBOeBQ/mqdefault.jpg "Psychomancer - Amid the Smell of Rotting Corpses [Full Demo - 1999]
Psychomancer are an American death metal band. Formed in 1997, they had an original run of 14 years, having their first break in 2011. However, 2 years later, in 2013, they got back together and started playing around with some more experimental veins of death metal.
This demo is groovy as fuck, mostly mid-paced riffs with punchy skanks and a super jangly bass. Its nothing that will blow your brain up, but damn time spent listening to this is time damn well spent. Its an undeniably fun listen, being 15 minutes long only also works in the bands favour, pretty much prevents it from ever getting stale.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Amid the Smell of Rotting Corpses
03:04 - Midnight We Rise
06:46 - Inferno
11:40 - Exhumed from the Grave
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/8136896-Psychomancer-Amid-The-Smell-Of-Rotting-Corpses
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Deathspawned Destroyer - The First Bestial Butchery [Full Album - 2003]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wp2WZox6YYo/mqdefault.jpg "Deathspawned Destroyer - The First Bestial Butchery [Full Album - 2003]
Deathspawned Destroyer are a Finnish death metal band. They formed in 2001 as Bloodthirst and since 2002 have released music as Deathspawned Destroyer.
I came across these guys, and this album specially, when I found Circle of Blood and Guts on youtube... but ONLY that track! I really liked it so I searched around for the album and hell yeah it meets expectations. Really shows the 90s in their sound, a sound that bands were starting to lose around the beginning of the new millennium. A little bit of Incantation, a little bit of that Finnish Pestigore/Sentenced style but less melodic. Really cool, very old school....
Tracklist:
00:00 - The First Bestial Butchery (Intro)
00:40 - Death United
02:48 - Strangled and Slaughtered
06:13 - Ultimate Violence
10:21 - Kill to Create
15:07 - Need to Kill
19:22 - Hanged and Left to Bleed
24:26 - Circle of Blood and Guts
27:45 - Dawn of Massacre
29:07 - Crypt of Rotting Flesh
32:32 - Autopsy Romance
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/2072075-Deathspawned-Destroyer-The-First-Bestial-Butchery
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Apocalyptic - Belfegor [Full Demo - 1993]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WqBANaesi_8/mqdefault.jpg "Apocalyptic - Belfegor [Full Demo - 1993]
Apocalyptic were a Polish death metal band. They formed in 1992 and this demo was their only release.
Very raw mid-tempo death metal. Could this be called death doom? Maybe, actually... Ive heard faster things being called death doom! The guitar in this demo is always up to some melodic riffing whenever they want to bridge sections together, maybe reminds me of the melodic passages in Ceremoniums debut Into the Autumn Shade (really good album btw, check it out if you havent)? But of course, with a paper thin production and never going above 40bpm.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Belfegor
01:24 - Im Dead
05:11 - Starvation
08:08 - Promised Land
10:52 - The Evil One
15:30 - In Tears
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/33403760-Apocalyptic-Belfegor
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Destructive Aggression - Sacred Path of Hate [Full Demo - 1997]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X7CRjbt1w9M/mqdefault.jpg "Destructive Aggression - Sacred Path of Hate [Full Demo - 1997]
Destructive Aggression were a Greek thrash metal band. They were active from 1993 to 1999 and released 3 demos, Sacred Path of Hate being their second one.
Although Greek, Destructive Aggression sound super German, theres so much influence from Teutonic thrash on their riffs. Even if it never really gets violent enough to be considered death/thrash, Sacred Path of Hate is one aggressive demo (they werent lying when they named their band). I dont hear much influence from the 80s classics, but there is no doubt that this band rooted on early 90s big hits we all know, reminding me also of Sadus, Sacrifice or Holy Moses.
This demo is a death cry of the last good thrash albums of the 90s.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Dependence
03:41 - Perfect Holocaust
05:56 - Sacred Path of Hate
09:37 - Immortal Blasphemer
12:49 - Object of Animation
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/13382531-Destructive-Aggression-Sacred-Path-Of-Hate
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![D.H. - Human Deformation [Full Album - 1994]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XJSvedaAuG0/mqdefault.jpg "D.H. - Human Deformation [Full Album - 1994]
D.H., short for Deformação Humana (translating to Human Deformation) are a death/thrash band from Brazil. In their debut album, they offer a pretty thrashy vein of deathrash, very akin to their Brazilian peers. Towards the end of the album they start playing with slower tempos and their agression tones down a lil bit, but the first half is pretty much non-stop.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Psychotic
03:36 - Envy
06:26 - Forgoten Peoples
08:54 - Illusions
12:13 - A.Z.T.
16:28 - Human Deformation
20:01 - Hypnotic Death (Instrumental)
22:26 - Cerebral Wash
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/master/3369028-DH-Human-Deformation
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Captor - Memento Mori [Full Demo - 1992]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xyzlsd6UE98/mqdefault.jpg "Captor - Memento Mori [Full Demo - 1992]
Captor were a death/thrash metal band (up tp their Refuse to Die EP, when they changed to groove metal) from Sweden. The band formed in 87, having released 2 demos, 1 EP and 4 full-lengths. As far as I know, they are no longer active.
Musically they sound like a mix between early Death, a bit of the German Deathrow and a tinge of Slayer - but all with a super European deathrash approach. Their technicality is off the charts sometimes, its impressive how they can introduce so many details without losing any of their punch and off-trailing into tech thrash territory.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Possessed
05:10 - Vision of Fear
11:10 - Metamorphosis
15:35 - Fundamental Influence
23:28 - Memento Mori
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/2288105-Captor-Captor
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Sardonial - Shadows Beyond the Solstice [Full Demo - 1994]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YMIan0uKNDA/mqdefault.jpg "Sardonial - Shadows Beyond the Solstice [Full Demo - 1994]
Sardonial were a Canadian death metal band, formed in 1993. They released only 2 demos, this one, being their debut, and a 2nd one in 1996.
Sardonial have clear influences from death/doom a lá Cianide, but mostly go for mid/fast-tempo riffs, closer to Deicide, Sinister or Morbid Angels mid-tempo tremolos. It sounds very similar to the Ossuary - Fallen to the Pits demo, if you guys have ever heard that one.
Tracklist:
00:00 - Reve dune Enfance Perturbée (Intro)
01:22 - Beyond the Solstice
06:18 - Aberration
07:19 - Winter
10:52 - The Eclipse
11:52 - Alien Solitude
16:40 - Inner Dimensional Being
21:40 - Obscure Seclusion
22:42 - Apparition dun Ciel Vide (Outro)
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/Sardonial-Shadows-Beyond-The-Solstice/release/6371366
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Exploding Zombies - Devour the Village [Full Album - 1996]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ym2WkDMd0ik/mqdefault.jpg "Exploding Zombies - Devour the Village [Full Album - 1996]
Ive been looking for this one for a while now and its as as cool as it looks! Exploding Zombies, a brutal death metal band from Michigan, USA, debut album is a great piece of true underground brutal death metal!
Its a 96 brutal release, its hard for it to do anything that hasnt done before, if youve heard any popular 90s brutal death you know what to expect here. Super solid, constant low register cruelty for your ears! For fans of Dying Fetus, Gorelust or Embalmed!
Tracklist:
00:00 - Thorn... the Blasting Circle
06:19 - Undying End
10:28 - Devour the Village
13:30 - Strange Abrasion
17:50 - Time to Live/Time to Be Eaten
22:07 - Submission to the Dead
25:51 - Dragged Back to the Woods
28:51 - Swampinstein
32:13 - Pile of Oozing Brainsauce
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/4296071-Exploding-Zombies-Devour-The-Village
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
![Soulless - Valley of Unrest [Full Demo - 2002]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZA-q8LrI0Lc/mqdefault.jpg "Soulless - Valley of Unrest [Full Demo - 2002]
Soulless are a Greek death metal band. Formed in 96, the band has released 4 demos, this one being their 3rd. The band is supposedly still active, but havent released anything new since 2009.
Very chunky, high tempo deafening metal. For a demo from the early 2000s, which for my tastes in death metal doesnt have much good music, Valley of Unrest is a damn good find!
Tracklist:
00:00 - In Cold Blood
05:44 - Children of Chaos
11:30 - Dominion Conquest
16:28 - Valley of Unrest
21:00 - Graving Impacts
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/6454926-Soulless-Valley-Of-Unrest
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.")
