Depravity - Demo I

Descent into depravity.

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on June 4th 2021)

Metal has always been a very diverse genre, with many countries having their own takes on different styles that make indulging in every scene a complete joy. But none have caught my attention like the Finnish death metal scene of the 90s. Despite how short lived it was, it has proven to be quite influential over the past few years, and quite varied as well, with bands ranging from pure heaviness (Abhorrence, Rippikoulu) to weird unhinged technicality like Demilich. But Finnish death metal’s defining characteristic proved to be its solemn and dark atmosphere. Among these bands that defined this particular aspect of the sound was Depravity, who is known for the Silence of the Centuries EP, which has since become one of the scene’s most well-known releases. However, like many other bands before them, they too had to start from somewhere, which brings us to their 1991 Demo.

What we have here is a primitive version of the band, with them eschewing the more atmospheric aspects of their sound for the most part, instead opting for a straightforward death metal approach. There's tracks that barely break a minute here, like "Sceptic Attitudes" and "Infernal Supremacy", and feature primarily fast, grinding riffing that blows by without leaving too much of an impression. That being said, there are some hints of the more forlorn songwriting the band would later employ on tracks like "The Harnessed Dice" and "The Figtree", both of which feature otherworldly acoustic and organ sections respectively, which inject a dose of the macabre and melancholy atmosphere the scene is known for. The leads are also worth a mention for how varied they are, ranging from more slow and melodic ones to some that are much faster and lean more towards traditional death metal (see 2:53 of "The Figtree").

The production is a mixed bag, because on one hand its dinginess enhances the feel of the demo, while on the other it robs it of some of its energy. The instruments themselves sound fine, that is, whenever they are audible. Everything is surprisingly quiet, and the bass drum can get a little lost in the mix along with the bass guitar. Had either of those been a bit higher up in the mix, as well as everything being a touch louder in general this demo's atmosphere would have been greatly improved.
Depravity's first demo is not what one I'd refer to as essential, seeing as the band went on to do far greater things in their future. It’s definitely a nice curio to check out if you're interested in the band's evolution, or if you're like me and are just willing to consume Finndeath in all its forms. Anyone who is curious about the style or the band would be better off giving Silence of the Centuries a listen first, and then coming back to this.

Highlights: The Harnessed Dice, The Figtree, Infernal Supremacy

Rating: 69%  

 

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