ERODED demo 2006 review

ERODED (It) – Banner of the unrest exile
Demo CD 2006 – Self released
5 tracks – 21’05
Rated: 6,5/10
No you read it well, it’s not ERODED from Germany, this one comes from Italy and offers a quite tasty first demo of death metal from the early 90’s.
Quite surprising at first (yeah who could expect such death metal coming from Italy as their scene is more into black metal) I must say this demo is rather interesting in its way of mixing European 90’s death metal. Maybe not as obscure as their idols but ERODED delivers a mix of GRAVE, UNLEASHED and early PESTILENCE.
Tracks are dynamic and show variety in rhythmic changes. The slow parts smell the remains of dead bodies reminding the work of DEAD CONGREGATION, sometimes it’s really amazing by the similarity, you really feel listening to DEAD CONGREGATION (or maybe I abuse too much of “Purifying consecrated ground”) or their common use of artificial harmonics maybe the explanation. The vocals would have sounded more efficient it they were mixed louder, that’s the only weak point of “Banner…” beside the lack of originality. But ERODED has something to satisfy all the maniacs of old school putrid death metal. Another demo has been released in 2007, I’m quite eager to get it. Promising band.
http://www.myspace.com/eroded