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In Hate... (1992)
Released in November 1992, In Hate... is the second demo from Sarcasm. This is pure death metal with a truly dark and hellish feeling.Only about six months had passed since their first effort, and yet there is already such clear improvement on display, from the songwriting to the playing itself. As well, the production is a bit sharper, though still rough and well-suited to the material.
The slower doom riffs are reminiscent of early My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost, but they possess a filthy, grimy quality that adds to the morbid atmosphere. Some feel like slowed-down Celtic Frost riffs, but stretched and tortured to evoke something even darker. Even the faster sections are accompanied by subtle touches that deepen the sound and prevent it from ever feeling one-dimensional. The vocals alternate between deeper, hoarse growls that seem like a struggle in some moments, and raspier cries that carry a more tormented vibe. The background screams on “Nail Her Up”, for example, are bloodchilling. The haunting solos and eerie licks create the sense that you've descended to the very depths of the abyss. This pitch-black feeling is oppressive and suffocating at times. Sparse keyboards are used here and there, just enough to accentuate the horror rather than distract from it.
In Hate... is a very strong demo, proof that Sarcasm was already developing into one of Sweden’s better death metal bands of the time. Why they didn’t end up recording a full-length by sometime in 1993 is beyond me, as they were clearly onto something here. Either way, their demos remain essential for those interested in the deeper corners of early '90s Swedish death metal.
The slower doom riffs are reminiscent of early My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost, but they possess a filthy, grimy quality that adds to the morbid atmosphere. Some feel like slowed-down Celtic Frost riffs, but stretched and tortured to evoke something even darker. Even the faster sections are accompanied by subtle touches that deepen the sound and prevent it from ever feeling one-dimensional. The vocals alternate between deeper, hoarse growls that seem like a struggle in some moments, and raspier cries that carry a more tormented vibe. The background screams on “Nail Her Up”, for example, are bloodchilling. The haunting solos and eerie licks create the sense that you've descended to the very depths of the abyss. This pitch-black feeling is oppressive and suffocating at times. Sparse keyboards are used here and there, just enough to accentuate the horror rather than distract from it.
In Hate... is a very strong demo, proof that Sarcasm was already developing into one of Sweden’s better death metal bands of the time. Why they didn’t end up recording a full-length by sometime in 1993 is beyond me, as they were clearly onto something here. Either way, their demos remain essential for those interested in the deeper corners of early '90s Swedish death metal.
(4 Aug. 2025)
Dark (1993)
Hailing from Sweden, Sarcasm was quite a prolific band in their earliest days. Within an eleven-month period, they recorded four demo tapes, with such frequent output allowing their development to be closely tracked. It’s interesting to hear how things took shape and gradually fell into place.
In the case of Dark, recorded in April 1993, the band had improved in just about every possible way. Unlike the earlier tapes that were more muddy, this one is just as gritty but clearer, with a sharper kind of rawness. The thinner, razor-like guitar tone suits the faster tremolo-picked riffs perfectly and even gives the material a slight black metal feeling at times. That said, the actual chord progressions stay firmly within a chromatic death metal framework. These faster sections are seamlessly mixed with slower doom passages and haunting solos, both of which Sarcasm had been using since the beginning. The vocals have also improved, moving away from the hoarse, almost struggling sound of the previous demo into a raspier, black metal style that matches the music’s vicious tone.
Dark is a very short demo, clocking in at under ten minutes, yet Sarcasm made the most of every moment. The way they weave together speed, tension, and melody results in a cohesive and genuinely dark atmosphere. Sarcasm had clearly refined their sound by this point and it's a shame that after the following demo the band would fade into obscurity. At any rate, this is definitely worth a listen.
In the case of Dark, recorded in April 1993, the band had improved in just about every possible way. Unlike the earlier tapes that were more muddy, this one is just as gritty but clearer, with a sharper kind of rawness. The thinner, razor-like guitar tone suits the faster tremolo-picked riffs perfectly and even gives the material a slight black metal feeling at times. That said, the actual chord progressions stay firmly within a chromatic death metal framework. These faster sections are seamlessly mixed with slower doom passages and haunting solos, both of which Sarcasm had been using since the beginning. The vocals have also improved, moving away from the hoarse, almost struggling sound of the previous demo into a raspier, black metal style that matches the music’s vicious tone.
Dark is a very short demo, clocking in at under ten minutes, yet Sarcasm made the most of every moment. The way they weave together speed, tension, and melody results in a cohesive and genuinely dark atmosphere. Sarcasm had clearly refined their sound by this point and it's a shame that after the following demo the band would fade into obscurity. At any rate, this is definitely worth a listen.
(2 Aug. 2025)
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