Description
2023 remastered press on gray marbled vinyl
This album features the three classic death metal demos that were released before the first Dismember album came out in 1991. This is how death metal should sound… heavy as fuck with lots of riffs. There aren’t any stupid attempts at being brutal through annoying drum patterns, this is total riff-oriented death metal in the vein of Possessed, though definitely a bit more chaotic, and production wise more distorted.
‘Last Blasphemies’ is the second demo effort from Dismember, although all three of the songs here would later appear in re-recorded versions on the ‘Dark Recollections’ album from Carnage. Because of this, it’s hard to think of it as an actual Dismember release. In any case, this tape is definitely an improvement over their original ‘Dismembered’ demo from a year prior. For one, the musicianship, especially the drumming is much better and pretty close to the level later achieved on the LP. The production has taken a step forward as well, allowing the thick guitars to step out further in addition to toning down the vocal levels. Speaking of the vocals, gone are the tasteless, delayed, black metal-type rasps from last time. Robert Senneback uses no effects on his voice for this demo, and his vocals actually sound quite intense. I would compare them to what Martin van Drunen was doing on the second Pestilence LP – violent, agonizing screams.
‘Reborn In Blasphemy’ was one of those jaw-dropping demos when it was released. No more Carnage songs here. ‘Reborn in Blasphemy’ is indeed the reborn face of Dismember and the beginnings of the band that we all came to love. This is where Matti Karki enters the picture, and he has taking the band to the highest tier of death metal. Most of the music from this tape was later re-recorded for the ‘Like An Ever Flowing Stream’ LP. You’d think that these earlier versions of the songs would pale in comparison, but that’s definitely not the case here. The songs are played with just as much heart and conviction as on the album, and in some cases the demo versions actually sound better! One element that’s definitely better on this demo is the production – it’s simply perfect. This is one of the best demo tapes to ever grace the death metal genre. If you’ve never heard it, put it on the list of things to do before you die.
If you like death metal that is firmly grounded in its proper thrash ideals and doesn’t have any core bullshit, then this is the album for you.
Track listing:
1. Deathevokation-from Dismembered demo 1988
2. Substantually Dead-from Dismembered demo 1988
3. Defective Decay-from Dismembered demo 1988
4. Deranged From Blood-from Last Blasphemies demo 1989
5. Blasphemies Of The Flesh-from Last Blasphemies demo 1989
6. Selfdissection-from Last Blasphemies demo 1989
7. Intro-from Reborn In Blasphemy demo 1990
8. Dismembered-from Reborn In Blasphemy demo 1990
9. Sickening Art-from Reborn In Blasphemy demo 1990
10. Defective Decay-from Reborn In Blasphemy demo 1990