Album of the Day: One (Hellbound) by Demiricous

2015 will bring the release of a new Slayer album, and whether you think that band has been doing lackluster work for years or you just think that their most recent, first post-Jeff Hanneman single, “Implode,” was a disappointment, ten out of ten metal fans of at least average mental health and IQ level agree: this new release will probably chug shit. Please note that I say it will “probably” chug shit, because I recognize that their a chance the album could be good. There just hasn’t been any evidence to suggest as much so far.

But it kinda doesn’t matter, for the reason I think it basically never matters when an older band loses their way creatively: there is, inevitably, a younger band or bands doing what they used to do, only better than they are currently doing it (e.g., Morbid Angel will very likely continue to keep making crappy records for the remainder of their career, but Gojira, who by their own admission were massively influenced by MA, continue to rule).  Sadly, Indiana’s Demiricious will probably not take the place of Slayer, given that, despite constantly insisting that they’re coming back, the band seems to be more or less inert. Happily, Demiricious never achieved the level of success they deserved, which means a lot of you reading this right now have never heard their 2006 debut full-length, One (Hellbound), which is arguably the best Slayer album Slayer never made. So it’ll be new to you!

That part about this being the best Slayer album not made by Slayer isn’t an exaggeration, by the way: the way The Sword often sound JUST like Sabbath and Throwdown often sound JUST like Pantera, instrumental versions of the songs on One (Hellbound) could easily be used to convince someone that he was listening to Slayer. Like, if you told me that Demiricous went into Jeff Hanneman’s subconscious, Inception-style, and extracted the riffs from his mind to make this album, I’d be inclined to believe you.

It’s really only the charred-black vocals (and bass… coincidence?!?!) of Nate Olp, which were clearly far more influenced by death metal than by Tom Araya or any other thrash singer, that betray Demiricous’ identity.

So, yeah, the new Slayer album might be about as much as fun as a game of patty-cake with Rick Allen. But thanks to Demiricous, it kinda doesn’t matter.