Tracks 1 to 6 taken from "In the Darkest Anguish" Demo 2005
Tracks 7 to 10 taken from "Pendulum Demise" Demo 2009
Tracks 11 to 14 taken from "...of the Ghastly Stench" Demo 2017
Excoriate's …Of The Ghastly Stench 2017 demo infiltrates the listener's psyche with a potent blend of death and doom, showing off years of honed craftsmanship in an evocative, gritty soundscape. The album channels a raw, South American death metal spirit akin to acts like Mystifier and Headhunter DC, yet infuses it with melodic twists reminiscent of the Dutch death-doom scene. The release feels nostalgically unpolished, capturing the essence of ’90s underground metal with its stripped-back, black-and-white cassette art, unrefined guitar tone, and swampy production across the four tracks.
The pacing of the EP is masterfully done, starting with “Teofisto,” an instrumental prelude that sets the mood for the eerie “Oh! Peaceful Derketa.” This track refuses to settle into any predictable groove, with riffs that twist and turn unexpectedly, leaving a haunting and memorable impact. Excoriate achieves an intricate structure here that few bands can pull off—particularly notable is a repeating riff that appears at just the right moments, capturing the essence of death-doom while adding an extra layer of suspense. Midway through, there’s a brooding transition that echoes the dark, ritualistic rhythms of Celtic Frost, eventually morphing into a melody reminiscent of Mystifier’s “Osculum Obscenum.”
The EP picks up the tempo with “Black Streams on the Ground of Cruelty,” retaining the off-kilter riffs and melodic complexity but with added urgency. Francisco Rojas’s guitar work is both fierce and experimental, casting an unsettling aura that intensifies on the final track, “Ghostly Stench of Mortal Remains.” Here, the serpentine tremolo riffs create a dark, immersive experience, while drummer Lino Contreras and vocalist Fernando Olivares deliver performances that feel intuitive, tightly connected to the shifting structure of the song. This unpredictability keeps the listener engaged, as the band forges ahead with a natural cohesion despite the unconventional arrangements.
Excoriate has taken the foundational elements of death metal and molded them into a distinct, signature style. Each track offers something new, avoiding genre clichés and achieving a sound that is moist, shadowy, and unmistakably sinister. If you think the early-’90s death metal revival has missed its mark, Excoriate is here to challenge that notion. With …Of The Ghastly Stench, Nihilistic Holocaust has uncovered a gem that’s worth celebrating. It’s a release that demands exploration of the band’s earlier demos—an essential listen for fans of genuinely haunting death metal.
