Artist: Evil Deceiver
Country: USA
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2025
Rather hot on the heels of the band’s self-titled demo that was released in the very waning days of 2024, Evil Deceiver returns with yet another demo. In the review I did for the first demo I closed off with the expectation that Zombi Danz Records would pick up that particular tape for a possible reissue in the near future. Well, that indeed happened, so some rumors can end up being true. ‘Hymns To Death’ is a self-released demo tape limited to 15 copies, just like ‘Evil Deceiver’, and made available through the obscure Bloodthorn label. But again, Zombi Danz Records will be releasing this tape in a somewhat larger edition in collaboration with Nuclear War Now! Productions. In the process, the latter will also go for a reissue of the first demo. In the likely case you have missed the original run of ‘Hymns Of Death’ or slept on ‘Evil Deceiver’, you’ll have another chance soon.
‘Hymns To Death’ is basically a seamless continuation of what the band presented on their self-titled debut demo. That means that, depending on your musical perspective this is either Black Metal-infused Death Metal or Death Metal-fueled Black Metal. I personally opt for the first perception as it clearly shares common ground with the evil sort of Death Metal that is primarily forged out of the deepest pits of hell in the USA. Although there’s some melodicism that is much more rooted in Black Metal’s tradition, resemblances with bands like Imprecation, Morbosidad and to some extent Sadistic Intent are hard to deny.
In addition, ‘Evil Deceiver’ had a rather sharp sound and production values feeling much more related to Black Metal as well. And, frankly, that is pretty much the only difference between these two first demos. ‘Hymns To Death’ has a much denser and slightly heavier sound, consequently making the whole thing feel further shifting toward the old style American Death Metal characteristics. The title of this demo may not have been chosen so by chance either.
But regardless of the way you look and listen at it, Evil Deceiver is still delivering an overall thoroughly impressive piece of dark music that will appeal the majority of those into Extreme Metal. At least, if you hold dear the ancient values of the genre, both in terms of musicality and aesthetics. Something for which Zombi Danz Records is actually always the right place to go.
