Emerging from the decaying catacombs of Heavy Metal's exalted history is "Demise" by DEATH COURIER. This is actually an album that was released in 1992 that has been reissued by Nuclear War Now! Productions. Was the effort worth it? Does DEATH COURIER deliver? Should they be an overnight sensation? Is this the ultimate package? Will reading one more mail pun make you go postal? Ok, I'll stop; let's begin the grisly dissection of "Demise."

The striking album cover really drew me in, as if to say "'ey, feast dem-eyes on dis!" (Sorry, couldn't help it.) On a serious note, the first impression you get visually is a nighttime view of piles of bones. It's a bleak and foreboding landscape that hints at this being a Black Metal release. With that aesthetic set as a precedent the sound of the band actually follows through by having a very raw production value. While the music itself leans more heavily towards Death Metal (It reminds me of old THE CROWN), there are a few Black Metal elements in the music. The first song and title track "Demise" as well as the fourth song "Interior Crushfield" both have sections of keyboard-y choir singing. Despite my dimwitted way of putting the sound, it actually adds atmosphere to the songs and I welcomed it as an added touch.

DEATH COURIER is clearly a band that cares about their music. There are a lot of changes in riffs and structure to songs as well as some great guitar work. For what seems like it will be straight death metal, it's deceptively complex. This is an album that rewards a listener who gives it multiple plays. What I personally dug the most was the thundering meaty bass. It's an aggressive thumping force that really adds a thickness to the sound. Each rumbling note hits like a pugilist. The drumming is on point but is overtaken by the bass. The riffs are solid and the guitars are plenty distorted. This is metal as it was enjoyed in the pre-digital-robot-precision production era (I'm no historian).

Another thing I would like to note is the thematic concepts of the lyrics. While I couldn't find an entire transcript of the album, there were some titles that immediately grabbed my attention - "Copkiller" and "Bioartificial Lusts" for example. I found the lyrics for the song "Infected" and to my surprise they were about militarism and the toxic hazard that mankind creates. While I personally enjoy lyrics of all types from conscientious to the absurd and grisly, I can understand people having mixed feelings about the commentary. I found the lyrics to the song "The Haunter of the Dark" to be more straight forward horror-themed. The range in topic is something to be appreciated. Let's be honest here, a lot of Heavy Metal fans don't even pay attention to the lyrics. It's loud, controlled chaos channeled via musical instruments aimed at a specific few that can handle the aural onslaught.

Ultimately DEATH COURIER's release was well received by me. You could say it was certified. Sure it has its ups and downs, but I was enveloped by the wave of sheer heaviness. Ok sorry, I'll stop again. This is authentic old school Death Metal with influences of early Black Metal and even some Thrash thrown in. "Demise" is a rampaging incursion on the ears that ravages the listener with ten tracks of mayhem. It's a glimpse into the past that's worth experiencing. Though this album was originally released a quarter of a century ago, it holds up even today as a solid Death Metal album. It has my stamp of approval.