⛧
Voices from the Graves (1987)
Exorcist was another short-lived band from Communist-era Poland, formed in the mid-'80s. Voices from the Graves, recorded in November 1987, was their first proper demo. This is vicious thrash metal with influences from early Slayer and Destruction. While the vocals are quite harsh and primal, this alone isn't enough to call this death/thrash as it's labeled online. This material features purely speed and thrash riffing throughout.
The sound here is very raw, as it was recorded live in the cellar of the drummer's house. The vocals have a unique distortion, likely due to the mic going through a guitar amp. Some of the melodies are reminiscent of Tormentor's The Seventh Day of Doom demo, released the same year. Lyrically, this leans more toward what would have been considered black metal at the time. Despite how rough the production is, the material is fairly well-developed and not entirely as primitive as the presentation might make it seem at first. The songwriting is strong, as all of the riffs fit seamlessly, and frequent lead solos add another dimension to the hellish sound without ever feeling out of place or random.
To echo a sentiment that is all too common for these late '80s Polish bands, here is another case of potential that was never fully realized, as Exorcist would fade away not long after. That said, they did reform nearly twenty years later to finally release a studio album that included all of their demo material, though with the caveat of a somewhat modern production and different vocalist. Either way, if you like savage, aggressive thrash with dark melodies and a raw sound, Voices from the Graves is definitely worth a listen.
The sound here is very raw, as it was recorded live in the cellar of the drummer's house. The vocals have a unique distortion, likely due to the mic going through a guitar amp. Some of the melodies are reminiscent of Tormentor's The Seventh Day of Doom demo, released the same year. Lyrically, this leans more toward what would have been considered black metal at the time. Despite how rough the production is, the material is fairly well-developed and not entirely as primitive as the presentation might make it seem at first. The songwriting is strong, as all of the riffs fit seamlessly, and frequent lead solos add another dimension to the hellish sound without ever feeling out of place or random.
To echo a sentiment that is all too common for these late '80s Polish bands, here is another case of potential that was never fully realized, as Exorcist would fade away not long after. That said, they did reform nearly twenty years later to finally release a studio album that included all of their demo material, though with the caveat of a somewhat modern production and different vocalist. Either way, if you like savage, aggressive thrash with dark melodies and a raw sound, Voices from the Graves is definitely worth a listen.
(30 June 2025)
Last Updated: You are Visitor #: