EP Review: Demonstealer – The Holocene Termination (Demonstealer Records)

Sahil Makhija, better known as Demonstealer, has long been one of the pillars of the heavy metal scene in India. From being at the vanguard of a fledgling metal scene to becoming one of its most visible and respected proponents today, Demonstealer is integral to the growth of the Indian metal community.

He now returns, with his brilliant new EP The Holocene Termination, released 3rd December via Demonstealer Records.

If the immeasurable talents of Sahil Makhija wasn’t enough to get excited by a new Demonstealer release, the wealth of guests that join him on this EP, is.

Four tracks long, four beastly slabs of death metal, four tracks to make you grimace and gurn with pleasure. The title track kicks proceedings off and features Eugene Ryabchenko of Fleshgod Apocalypse, Jeff Hughell of Six Feet Under and Nick Padovani of Equipoise. A track that starts off intense and stays that way throughout. The wild and frantic instrumentation a perfect match for the sickeningly savage vocals. It’s an eye-watering and ear-aching start but the perfect example of what Demonstealer is all about.

Hard, hyper, and very heavy. That is still the name of the game with An Epoch of Degradation which features Krzysztof Klingbein of Deathspawn and Anton Zhikharev of Gorgasm. Here though, things get a little filthier and nasty sounding which isn’t too much a surprise when you see the talents involved.

Though any track that features Simon Schilling of Marduk, Gorgasm’s Anton Zhikharev again and Fabio Bartoletti of Fleshgod Apocalypse is going to be a ripping and tearing effort. Which From Extinction Begins Evolution is, possibly the heaviest track of the four. It will leave you with ringing ears and aching bones.

Finally, we get What She Creates She Will Destroy. A feverish blast of technicality and viciousness that features Robin Stone of The Amenta, Six Feet Under’s Jeff Hughell again and Veronica Bordacchini of Fleshgod Apocalypse. The most notable thing about this track are the wonderful clean vocals that cut through the wall noise to add some freshness to things.

Absolutely fantastic. An easy 10/10 release.

Demonstealer – The Holocene Termination Full Track Listing:

1. The Holocene Termination (feat. Eugene Ryabchenko (Fleshgod Apocalypse), Jeff Hughell (Six Feet Under) and Nick Padovani (Equipoise))
2. An Epoch of Degradation (feat. Krzysztof Klingbein (Deathspawn) & Anton Zhikharev (Gorgasm))
3. From Extinction Begins Evolution (feat. Simon Schilling (Marduk), Anton Zhikharev (Gorgasm) and Fabio Bartoletti (Fleshgod Apocalypse))
4. What She Creates She Will Destroy (feat. Robin Stone (The Amenta), Jeff Hughell (Six Feet Under) and Veronica Bordacchini (Fleshgod Apocalypse))

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