Reality
Demo
5.8
Here we have a band in the style of old Cannibal Corpse/Six Feet Under. Though there are plenty of artists out there who already perform more than able imitations of the aforementioned bands, it’s hard to say that the style isn’t enjoyable. Therefore, though Reality have absolutely nothing original about them, they’re fun as hell to listen to nonetheless. Hammer-on riffs, harmonic squeals, and catchy material constitute my favorite kind of death metal anyway, so even if this release doesn’t have any sort of wide appeal, it’s far better than most of the demo submissions I receive for review.
Reality’s tracks are, as is to be expected, built around riffs, and their style of composition is virtually identical to that of CC. Faster passages give way to chunky halftime sections and riffs are recumbent rather than performed only once. The reason this release appeals to me is that it reminds me of Corpse’s classic period, before they abandoned catchiness and groove in favor of technicality. Even if the writing is pretty linear, it’s fairly strong nonetheless.
The production is surprisingly good considering that this is a demo release. The drum sound is a little off and the guitar tone is a bit thin, but on the whole it’s nothing major and it doesn’t hold the release back. The musicianship is fairly strong, and though the material is simpler than a lot of death metal, the band’s tightness demonstrates technical competence.
To recap, although this is far from amazing, it’s definitely enjoyable. I’m sure that in a few years, Reality will be a more notable name, as their able performance hints at something better to come. Check this demo out if you’re into groovy stuff like Torture Killer or Insision; It’s good stuff. Belgium has once again shown itself to be a breeding ground for solid death metal.
