Aftermass – Demo

I couldn't find much information about these guys. All I know is that they were a death/thrash band from the go-nowhere town of Saint Clair Shores, Michigan. They released only one demo in 1989 before splitting up. Let's hope it's good.

One thing's for sure: their performance is fast and vicious, like a mixture of Morbid Saint and Kreator. The drummer is a beast. The speed and power of his blast beats would give Dave Lombardo a run for his money. He also makes sure to play plenty of double bass and fills to keep things interesting. The bass can be heard really well in the rough production, and he plucks those strings with demonic fervor. The vocalist performs two styles. The first is a rather high-pitched and razor-filled scream that falls somewhere between Pat Lind and early Chuck Schuldiner. He also performs some clean vocals that remind me of Bobby Ellsworth. Together, they create a great juxtaposition. I really love the guitars. They sound more extreme than Morbid Saint but not quite as extreme as Death. Of course, what's most important is how well they were written, and they certainly hold up. They sound dark and diabolical, but they also have an infectious, headbanging quality to them.

This demo is the reason why I dig so deep in the underground. Despite having to pass through thousands of layers of shit, I always hope that I find one gem that is worth my while. Aftermass was definitely worth my while. The drumming is insane in the fury it displays, the vocalist sounds like he's possessed, and the riffing is both ravenous and catchy. It's too bad they never released anything else. They would have really made a name for themselves.