Drawing up a top six list of excellent demo releases from the past year was tough. A rundown from 1-6 seemed a little unfair as the bands hard work and dedication is unparalleled throughout all of these demos. So, here’s the top six demos I’ve personally heard this year that are cool are totally worth checking out in a completely fair and alphabetised order. Awesome.
Handily, anything that can be legit downloaded/purchased/streamed is linked. Fancy eh? Get to it after the jump.
Bell Witch – Bell Witch Demo 2011
Bass and drum driven doom. Bleak.
Blackened d-beat crust. UGH.
doctorshopper – pax pharma demo
Pharmaceutically aided and terrifyingly real.
Absolutely crushing doom.
Brooklyn based black metal. Intense.
Mysteriously atmospheric black metal.
Clinton
December 17, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Tight List.
Sean Socco
December 17, 2011 at 12:03 pm
What makes something a demo these days? Obviously in these cases they’re not something half done to be redone later or just samplers to give to labels or anything like that.
DoomRooster
December 16, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Agreed, the Bell Witch, Mutilation Rites and Lycus demos are great! Also, that Black Monolith one isn’t a slouch, it’s pummeling!
Cheryl
December 16, 2011 at 12:21 am
I heard the Mutilation Rites demo quite late in year, so glad I got round it. Amazing stuff! The Lycus one might be my all round “favourite” though. Damn.
These bands can only get better from here, these demos are such an indication of where they’re headed. cannot wait.
matt
December 15, 2011 at 4:23 pm
lycus and bell witch both had amazing demos. some of the best music released this year, demo or not.
Andy O
December 15, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Mutilation Rites is my favorite release overall this year. Amazing stuff.
R.
December 15, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Excellent list.