EVIL CONSPIRACY are a True Metal band from Switzerland and indicate that their music is for fans of MANOWAR, HELLOWEEN and IRON MAIDEN. "The Demons Mark" is their third album released by Sleazy Rider Records. I've always found the term True Metal to be a bit of a pretentious term (is everything else False Metal then??) As this is my first review of 'True Metal', I prefer to let the music do the talking and with no expectations I dive in. EVIL CONSPIRACY are really a combination of Power Metal and Heavy Metal and opens the album with the title track "The Demons Mark" which starts with a heavy atmospheric intro before the vocals come in. Frederik's vocals are very clear though a little dominating in the mix. There are some great backing vocals in the chorus and it's a great start to the album.

Some acapella vocals begin "Illuminate the Darkness" before the fast chugging riff carries the song. There's a feel of menace in the chorus and the song is punctuated by some great lead guitar. "The Angelmaker" is the first single released by the band and opens with some simple guitar joined by atmospheric lead. This leads on to a grooving heavy riff and a memorable chorus. The long instrumental section had a more upbeat tone which seemed out of place to the more subdued darkness of the chorus. Other than that though, it's a very good song. There is generally a dark overtone to both the music and lyrics particularly 'The Hunt':

"I stand over you, you crying and screaming
Begging for mercy and none I will give
You're trying to crawl but I grab your hair and I drag you to a hole in the ground
Already prepared this will be your grave and here you will rest in pieces."

It's one of my favourite tracks as Frederik revels in the cruelty of whatever he is doing to his victims. It's a mid paced Power Metal anthem with a definite IRON MAIDEN feel later in the track. "Hung, Drawn and Quartered" has a dark fast galloping riff before Frederik's great vocals

"Being dragged away from a prison cell,
Knowing hell awaits for me
My body being stretched...bolts(?) pulled...from sockets...limb from limb...nothing left....her remains...endless painnnnnnn."

Some of the later lyrics wouldn't be out of place on a CANNIBAL CORPSE record and again I really enjoyed the gruesome storytelling. "Blinded" has a mid-paced heavy headbanging riff leading to a memorable chorus. Later in the track there's a great atmospheric breakdown with rumbling bass, cello and some ahhh ahhh vocals before a soaring lead guitar solo comes in. The song ends on a cello for over a minute but it's definitely one of my favourite tracks. The bonus track "Blow Your Mind" should have been called "Blowing Your Own Trumpet" as it's a short track about how the band will blow your mind with their music. It has an acoustic folk vibe and was clearly a bit of fun.

Whilst this album didn't blow my mind, it does have some great songwriting on a number of tracks. There are a few plodding moments though which does let it down. On "Satan's Wolves" Frederik seems to stretch the last word on a few lines in order to fit the melody and it got a bit irritating. Likewise "Dying Spirits" was well named with its plodding slow doomy riff which became boring. However the production is very good with some great musicianship and some memorable tracks.