DEMONSTEALER is a Death / Black / Thrash Metal band from Mumbai, India. Formed in 1998, this is his second album release, and contains nine tracks. "How the Mighty have Fallen" is a seven-minute opener. It's definitely an amalgam of the aforementioned styles, but falls closer to Death/Thrash than Black Metal. The riff is straightforward and the vocals are done in the traditional method. When clean vocals join the fold the music comes alive more, as the harmonies are well done. Surprisingly, a totally clean interlude rears up at the four minute mark. "An Unforgiving Truth" goes a different direction. It starts slow and clean, and then Death vocals augment the sound instead of providing the direction. I have to give the creator credit...while you can hear some of the amateur quality of the song, he also crafts some nice melodies here.

"When the Hope Withers and Dies" has an interesting main riff and the semi-clean vocals work well with the sound. Those sweep arpeggios are impressive as well. This track is very strong. The title track, "This Burden is Mine," has a tender opening through clean guitar and vocal parts. It builds slowly into a heavier sound but retains some of the original melody. I have to admit that I prefer the clean vocals over the vocally fry, but understand the purpose of the later. "Frail Fallable" has an almost Melodeath sound, from the guitar harmonies and the flow of the vocals. This is another strong track that uses emotion to pass on the heaviness. The guitar passages at the half way mark are reminiscent of IRON MAIDEN, and another example of how this band has left their mark all over the Metal genre of today. "Where Worlds End" has a great opening riff with plenty of musicality. Sometimes the blast beat drumming becomes too predictable but it doesn't take away from a strong sense of melody and I love the keyboards in support.

"From Rubble and Ruin" closes the album, with an official video. Harmonies fuel a song that is both bulky and melodic at the same time. For an independent release where one musician's vision is realized and performed, this is a good album. He has a strong sense of songwriting and what is takes to make memorable music. There is enough good on this album for a label to pick him up in my opinion, and I think there is a wide appeal to many different Metalheads out there.