Finland

Kalmankantaja – Metsänkulkija [Finland, DSBM] (2015)

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Self Released | 1-13-15

Self Released | 1-13-15

I wish I could express the level of frustration which came after learning that Kalmankantaja had four albums released in 2014. Here was a haunting depressive black metal band, whose name means “death bearer,” that released all this great material without anyone telling me. While I am slightly joking, the fact that Kalmankantaja has gone this long with out proper attention is a near tragedy since there has been an audience for atmospheric dread for decades.

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Obscure Burial – Epiphany [Finland, Black/Death] (2014)

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Self Released | 9-15-14

Self Released | 9-15-14

Okay before we begin there is a hurdle to this demo. Not surprisingly the hurdle is the sound production. It is right there. I am making mention of it right away. You are going to have to get over the fact that the demo sounds like a really good live show recording off of a VHS tape. I only make mention of this because the music which is behind this uneven mix is absolutely ground shaking.

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Devouring Star – Demo [Finland, Black / Death] (2014)

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Sarlacc Productions | 3-2-14

Sarlacc Productions | 3-2-14

Again, I feel that “dates” are sort of up in the air when it comes to demos. Finish black/death act technically self released their demo in December of 2013 but the 2014 pressing by Sarlacc productions feels like an official date. In demo-land, things are hazy and ambiguous but I have a feeling I want Devouring Star’s first demo included in discussions with 2014.

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Cemetery Fog – Shadows from the Cemetery [Finland, Black / Death / Doom] (2013)

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Iron Bonehead | 3-31-14

Iron Bonehead | 3-31-14

I usually like to focus on music from the current calendar year but then again, cassette demos are usually timeless. Back in the early days of 2013, there was this Finnish band, who couldn’t decide on whether or not they wanted to be death metal, or doom metal, or black metal. So this Finnish band, whose name is Cemetery Fog, decided to be all three. Back in 2013, the band released their third demo Shadows from the Cemetery which probably stayed in the hands of friends, family, and websites who stumbled on it by accident. Today in 2014, Iron Bonehead re releases this treasured gem for a greater audience. Who knew that while we slept, the sounds of death and doom where being played with gloomy grandeur.

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Lie in Ruins – Towards Divine Death [Finland, Death] (2014)

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Dark Descent | 2-4-14

Dark Descent | 2-4-14

This is an exercse in precision. Lie in Ruins is a Finnish death metal act with a release on Dark Descent Records. This is similar to Corpsessed, which is another Finnish death metal act also with a recent release from Dark Descent. In fact these two bands live less than an hour away from each other. If there were not so much good European death being released, then things wouldn’t become a problem. in fact if Corpsessed and Lie in Ruins released their records years apart, it would be cause for note. the fact that it came out within the same month is sending me to struggle to keep track.

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