DEMONIC RESURRECTION is a Symphonic/Death/Prog/Black Metal quartet from Mumbai, India, formed in the year 2000. The band has had four previous full-length releases, and "Dashavatar" is their fifth. Containing ten tracks, there is an obvious conceptual theme on the album, as the track titles indicate. "Dashavatar" the word refers to the ten avatars of Vishnu, The Hindu God of Preservation, who is said to descend in the form of an avatar to restore cosmic order. The song titles are indeed the ten avatars.

Following some spoken word in the opening of "Matsya - The Fish," the song bursts open, with technical prowess, insane drumming, intense Death vocals, and a sitar melody that would be indicative of the region. Stylistically this is difficult to pigeon hole. It's Death Metal at its core, but they really work in a lot more into this track...time changes, riff changes, intelligence, background Symphonic elements, and more. "Kurma - The Tortoise" has some lovely melodies to go along with the deep, heavy Death Metal sound, including some clean singing which really adds some dynamic touches to their songwriting. The twin guitar harmonies are lovely as well. Very well-done track.

"Varaha - The Boar" sparkles with keys, and a main riff that is just brilliant. I don't believe I have ever heard a Death Metal band with this much sophistication, expertise and attention to mechanics. This is some high level songwriting for sure. "Vamana - The Drawf" is a mid-tempo number with some doomy elements. The vocals are heavy with lamentation and emotions are peaked. They call him "The Great Deceiver" in the chorus. In "Narasimha - The Lion," it's all about the technical rhythms and meters used. It's an intense affair for the most part, especially from the timekeeper, who employs various methods with the skins like an absolute veteran. "Parashurma" has some horns that accent the fast-paced attack, with a hasty and ominous sound, invoking images of "The Axe Wielder" earning his namesake. Blood flies from freshly opened wounds, coloring the landscape red and without regard.

"Rama - The Prince" is reflected in the music with a regal tone as it should be. The chorus is expansive and demonstrative, seemingly announcing his royal highness as the inheritor of the world. "Krishna -The Cowherd" is rooted in the NWOBHM sound, with a lead riff that sounds like something Adrian Smith would have written, and the clean vocals further this feeling. When the Death vocals do come around it really accents the song. As it comes to a close, the crescendo is the stuff of goosebumps. "Buddha - The Teacher" begins with some chants that echo, as if from the walls of a sacred temple. The slower pace allows you to take in the fullness of the varied instrumentation. Just over halfway through, the track drops down to some spoken words and soft guitar harmonies and more chanting, as if foreshadowing the coming of the master.

"Kalki - The Destroyer of Filth," is the final song in this epic journey. It starts like a child's nursery rhyme, innocuous at first, but soon turns dark, with a marching rhythm, and the tools to restore the cosmic order. This ambitious concept effort was met head on by this seasoned band, and they did a superb job crafting this tale. I have not heard a Death Metal album in quite a while that has this much sophistication, intelligence, and diversity. "Dashavatar" has dared into directions that few Death Metal bands would venture, or would be capable of venturing, proving that they can push boundaries while remaining brutal at their core.