Grave

Released in late 1988, Sick Disgust Eternal is the first demo recorded under the Grave name. It picks up from where Corpse’s Black Dawn left off, though there’s less thrash influence and a much stronger death metal vibe that clearly owes something to Scream Bloody Gore. The sound here is much better than most of what they did later. The rougher production gives the music a more raw feel, such as it is, and everything feels more urgent. Grave was one of those bands that definitely sounded better during their demo days. Their first full-length, by comparison, feels sterile and lifeless.

As the Swedish death metal style really solidified and so many bands went to the same studio to get the same sound, it killed off a lot of creativity, even if the sound itself was good. This demo has a darker feeling than their later works. Just listen to the riffs, solos, and screams on “Annihilated Gods". Even the intro for the tape adds to the atmosphere, something that was later cut. You can really hear that the band is still developing their style here, especially on "Infernal Massacre" which may be the oldest of the three tracks. It sounds a bit more connected to the Corpse material due to the thrash riffs while the Death influence is undeniable.

Sick Disgust Eternal one of the best things Grave ever recorded. Not only is it a solid demo, but it should also be interesting for those who want to track the band's evolution. Either way, this demo is definitely worth checking out.

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