Demonic Cremator is a Scottish duo which was formed in 2009 to execute true oldschool black metal. It seems that they were really inspired to do this stuff right from the beginning, as they released three shorter releases and a full-lenght the same year the band was founded. This EP is meant to serve as a single from their upcoming second full-lenght, so it can safely be said that their enthusiasm for their music hasn't toned down.
The band opens up their core as soon as the first notes are heard. "My Dying Breath..." is a very minimalistic mid-pace song with two-or-three -chord riffs backed by a crude bass guitar rhythm, really repetitive and simple drumming and hoarse vocals that sound like something between a commanding shout and speaking. Sound familiar? Yes, this one is pretty much a tribute to Hellhammer, only with more thrash-like and sharper sounds and an overall thrashier approach, which shows in the drumming and the harsh but clear guitar distortion for example. It's a really pleasing listen for the most part, and not least because of the really charismatic vocals that successfully venerate Tom Warrior's vocal style. It's a bit too monotonous for my tastes despite the faster lead guitar action in its end, but good for an occasional listen for sure.
The following two songs are faster and more crude. "The Holding Place" starts with speed metal-like soloing and goes forward with simple thrash-riffs backed by a fast thrash beat. The vocals on this one are even rawer and hoarser than the ones on the A-side, and although I like the variation it can't be denied that the almost whisper-like vocal style is powerless. The follow-up is pretty similar, except it doesn't have any of the speed-metal solos that made the previous song so energetic. A decent tune, but nothing too memorable.
Overall the seven-inch is pretty decent, and I hope that the band's upcoming album is as good as the A-side leads one to think. I just hope that the album will have some wilder parts also, a bit like the speed metal-stuff on the B-side. The one main thing bothering me here are the programmed drums, as even though they sound pretty decent on the a-side aside of the weak cymbals, on B-side's faster parts their programmed nature really damages the songs. Some real, organic and lively drumming would really lift the band's music to a new level.
If you get this release, then do it based on the A-side. The flipside is pretty much just bonus material that at least I won't be digging into too often, as the two songs are just of poor quality when compared to the actual single song - and at least I see them as "bonus material" of sorts, which is why I didn't let them lower the grade too much. The cover arts don't give much reason for celebration, but I blame the oldschool approach as a style, not the band members themselves. A project worth checking out if you're into oldschool black/thrash worship.