Artist: Inquisition / Demonical
Country: USA / Sweden
Label: Agonia Records
Formats: Split 7″ EP
Year: 2025
What we have here is a split 7” EP with a title that inspires little enthusiasm. This “Deadly Alliance” offers two bands from the current Agonia Records roster, but other than that have very little, if anything, in common. Inquisition is the American Black Metal band from Colombian origin that still is a bit overshadowed by controversies about alleged indecencies and Demonical is a Swedish Death Metal band that never really got off the ground. On paper, not exactly a recipe for instant success. This idea is reinforced when one realises that the two bands each offer one song that, although both recorded live, were not recorded on the same date or venue. Furthermore, no effort has been made to connect the two bands with an overarching theme or idea. But still, I went for it and bought the EP, here’s my two cents on it…
One surprise though, Inquisition’s track, ‘Infernal Evocation Of Torment’, originally appeared on the ‘Nefarious Dismal Orations’ album that was initially released by No Colours Records in 2007. In all honesty, I would’ve expected a song from one of the two Agonia Records-released albums, not only because they are newest and pretty damn good, but because Agonia Records might want to promote their output a little with this EP. Anyway, anyone who has ever had the chance to see Inquisition perform live will instantly recognize the relentless power the duo unleashes on stage. In fact, I personally have never seen a band consisting out of two people to produce such an overwhelming wall of sound. The recording quality is very good and makes this an overall enjoyable listen, but it might not surprise that it doesn’t add much to their legacy or your collection, for that matter. People who have attended Steelfest in 2024 might want to get it anyway, as it was recorded there, in that case you have a nice musical souvenir.
Demonical is a band that has always left me cold. I do like my fair share of Swedish Death Metal, but just like bands as Entrails, Evocation, Paganizer and countless others, they just don’t seem to get it. Cranking out some HM2 riffs is not making anything Death Metal. Good Swedish Death Metal requires melody, groove, dynamics and a serious rough edge to it. None of these elements can be left out, otherwise it will automatically be second rate and most likely boring. That is what is the case with Demonical as well. They have a bit of melody, groove and dynamics, but they left out the raw edges to the guitars and drums. Consequently, it all sounds tame and mediocre. ‘Death Metal Darkness’, which the bands offers on their side of the split 7” EP, originally appeared on the band’s second album from 2009. Admittedly, that was in a time when old school and Swedish Death Metal started to gain a lot of traction and Demonical played a very minor role in getting the hype going, but they were quickly overshadowed with bands who had actually something to offer. It only appealed to fans of safe Death Metal, and that will probably always be the case. The extremely “good” recording quality of this song also makes you wonder how this can really appeal to those who still love to return to their beloved Death Metal classics of the late 80s and early 90s.
