Single Slam: Demeted, Pandemia, Distance Divine, and Orthodox!

Today’s single slam features Demeted, Pandemia, Distance Divine, and Orthodox. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Demeted – Basilisk

Poland’s Demeted return with their ‘Rituals’ EP, released 9th May via Seek & Strike. Listeners can hear a glimpse of the EP with the first single ‘Basilisk’.

Demeted state:

The EP’s first single, ‘Basilisk,’ was inspired from a legend about a literal basilisk in Warsaw’s catacombs, where the monster was wreaking havoc and turning everyone to stone with its gaze. The lyrics focus on the perspective of the beast, where the power it possesses makes it invincible, but it’s also incredibly lonely and sad. This is an allegory to the reality where sometimes immense power takes away most genuine people from a person’s life. Most of these songs were inspired by indigenous Polish folklore legends. We all come from Poland and want to embrace the culture behind us. Musically, this song was especially challenging, because the guitar tunings forced us to come up with vocals that are really something different and unique when compared to the rest.

This EP is also the manifestation of our continuous evolution as a band. The sound has turned to a darker, more aggressive and mysterious tone, but the imagery was adjusted to resemble the offering’s main themes. Everything in the new release falls under the concept of displaying the forgotten and mysterious, indigenous culture of Poland from hundreds of years ago. The one specific element that clearly helps separate us from the rest of the bands in our genre is our sound flexibility. We can always find a way to create a catchy chorus, even if the song is really heavy and it would be impossible at the first glance.

“If there’s anything we can share with the world, it would be one thing – be proud of who you are, because your intrinsic value is immense. You just need to show it to the world and eventually there will be someone that’s going to cherish it.

A hefty and hardy track that delivers an unrelenting blast of heavy intensity, warped by an imaginative band who have dug deep and uncovered a darker side to themselves. It’s harsh, but it’s coming from a very passionate place, and that is what ends up kicking so much ass. Demeted are well and truly moving forward, and this kind of noise tells us that the future is going to be special.

Pandemia – Nightmare Paradox

Czech death metal veterans Pandemia have announced their sixth full length Darkened Devotion, which will be released on 16th May 2025 via Hammerheart Records. The new single ‘Nightmare Paradox’ is now streaming on all digital platforms.

Explains guitarist Alex:

This song shows the variety of our songwriting, from blast speeds to more groovy style of playing. It was one of the songs written early on and the riffs came out of nowhere during a moment of disturbed sleep at night. There is a strange timing in the opening riff, which was a challenge to lay down properly. It’s one of the parts on the album that sounds straightforward but has some weird measures underneath. Overall, it comes out as one of the hardest-hitting songs on the album, and it is a great tune of which we are super proud!

There’s a clear progression in sound and a clear showcase of experimentation when it comes to heaviness on this new single. It’s an egregious blast of brutality, and while that is highly enjoyable, there’s no arguing with the flashy technicality and groovy touches that crop up throughout. It’s an interesting listen, and it certainly creates anticipation for the new record. Check it out here.

Distance Divine – S.I.N.

Innovative DIY band Distance Divine continues to break boundaries with their latest release, ‘S.I.N’. Blending influences from techno, metal, punk, and pop, the song explores the struggle of grappling with personal choices and the desire for a fresh start.

A very creative track that shows how an amalgamation of genres can work well when in the hands of talent. That is Distance Divine and this anthemic track. Where accessibility meets invention and then a whole lot of craziness is thrown in too. It’s weird, but it’s wonderful. Check it out here.

Orthodox – Searching for A Pulse

On ‘A Door Left Open’, Orthodox capture the sense of unease and full-on dread one would feel having their comfort and routine violated. The album will be released on June 6th, 2025, via Century Media Records. The first single and video, ‘Searching for A Pulse’, is out now.

A track to be pummelled by, Orthodox are back, and with a track that crushes. Featuring brutish instrumentals and grim vocals, it draws influence from the hardcore side of things, but is rooted in the extreme. Thickly so. It’s a manic head banger with undue aggression that leaves you wanting so much more. This new album is going to slay.