The Demo Review:
Band Name: Excoriation
Band Members: Jeremy Herr (bass), Doug Rogers (vocals), Matt Graham (guitar), Mike Dunham (drums)
Location: Syracuse, NY

Rating: 4 Skulls

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    • Jotun's Review:
    I must say that in all the time I have been reviewing demos, there may have only been four or five demos that can compare to Excoriation. Unlike most demos of garage bands and spare-time projects, Excoriation really have their shit together like they've made it their sole purpose in life to shock the shit out of their listeners and critics alike.

    Part of that has to do with the experience in the band (including bassist Herr, formerly of one of upstate New York's most destructive death metal bands, Violent Fury). Another part has to do with the experience behind the mixing board, as Terrance Hobbs and Josh Barohn (Suffocation) have added their unique touch to this seven-song CD.

    Excoriation is technically proficient and comprehensive all at the same time. Rather than the music just running off into oblivion, all of the tracks have a unique purpose and direction. Nine times out of ten, that purpose is to obliterate your senses in pure, fast death metal rage. But other times, the purpose is to add stop-and-go surprises, such as the point three-quarters through track five, "Tortured by Dissolution." Almost all of the transitions from verse to chorus and back again flow seamlessly, which is in stark contrast to the majority of demos we receive that sound more like the band is composing the sum of a number of parts as they record it.

    Rogers' vocals sound similar to a Glen Benton, with rawer throat gurgles than a hungry trash compactor. Herr also throws in the occasional bass tweak, but keeps the pace steadily through much of the demo. Dunham's drumming is outstanding, but parts of it are drowned out by the overall under-produced sound - an intentional one (?) given those in charge of the production. Finally, one can't forget the guitar workmanship by Graham, who's blazing picking speed is only disrupted by the occasional thrashy, "Reign In Blood"-like diatribe.

    In the end, I have to ask these guys to get in the van and get the hell out of Syracuse - not because it is a bad place to start from (quite the opposite) - but because the rest of the world is dying to hear you, whether they realize it or not.
    4 out of 5

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