⛧
Embodiment of Evil (1992)
Indulgence was formed in 1991 by members of defunct Polish bands Scarecrow and Morgoth. In August 1992, they recorded their one and only demo, Embodiment of Evil. The music here is vile death/thrash with somewhat of a black metal feeling at times, echoing the South American scene of the late '80s.
The production is rough and murky, with the guitars buried in the mix compared to the drums and vocals. This adds to the raw aggression and darkness found on this release. There are times when the music becomes so chaotic that it nearly feels as if everything will fall apart, but it manages to hold together just barely. “First Was the Wind” and “Nobody” are prime examples, driven by intense, unrestrained blasting that sounds like the music is descending into a maelstrom of total madness. The vocals are harsh and raspy but not completely inhuman. There is a feeling of hatred and torment conveyed throughout the songs.
The Exodus cover is surprising, yet actually fits in quite well. The maniacal vocals seem like a natural extension of the original, and the playing demonstrates that the band can be very tight when they want to be. The traditional Bay Area thrash riffs throughout this recording are solid, but the vicious, tremolo-picked death metal passages possess a true sense of darkness. Some of the most ominous moments of the demo are found on “Elloe”, especially the slower doom riffs and clean guitar in the opening and near the end. The title track feels like the closest thing to the old Scarecrow demo, with some of the most vicious riffs on Embodiment of Evil, almost foreshadowing what Cannibal Corpse would do later on The Bleeding.
Indulgence reared its ugly head for only a brief moment before returning to the obscure abyss of the Polish underground. Yet another band demonstrating potential that went unrealized, in a scene overflowing with similar acts. Either way, at least they captured their hellish sound on tape a single time before disappearing. Anyone into raw death/thrash with a late '80s/early '90s feel should certainly give this a listen.
The production is rough and murky, with the guitars buried in the mix compared to the drums and vocals. This adds to the raw aggression and darkness found on this release. There are times when the music becomes so chaotic that it nearly feels as if everything will fall apart, but it manages to hold together just barely. “First Was the Wind” and “Nobody” are prime examples, driven by intense, unrestrained blasting that sounds like the music is descending into a maelstrom of total madness. The vocals are harsh and raspy but not completely inhuman. There is a feeling of hatred and torment conveyed throughout the songs.
The Exodus cover is surprising, yet actually fits in quite well. The maniacal vocals seem like a natural extension of the original, and the playing demonstrates that the band can be very tight when they want to be. The traditional Bay Area thrash riffs throughout this recording are solid, but the vicious, tremolo-picked death metal passages possess a true sense of darkness. Some of the most ominous moments of the demo are found on “Elloe”, especially the slower doom riffs and clean guitar in the opening and near the end. The title track feels like the closest thing to the old Scarecrow demo, with some of the most vicious riffs on Embodiment of Evil, almost foreshadowing what Cannibal Corpse would do later on The Bleeding.
Indulgence reared its ugly head for only a brief moment before returning to the obscure abyss of the Polish underground. Yet another band demonstrating potential that went unrealized, in a scene overflowing with similar acts. Either way, at least they captured their hellish sound on tape a single time before disappearing. Anyone into raw death/thrash with a late '80s/early '90s feel should certainly give this a listen.
(6 Aug. 2025)
Last Updated: You are Visitor #: