Artist: Living Evil
Country: Canada
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Digital Demo
Year: 2025
Living Evil is a new band formed by the duo that together also appear as the Traditional Doom Metal outfit Kathryn Danielle, whose debut finished high in my list of favorite demos of 2024. Besides that, drummer Blacklung is also active in Pillagery and Empty Chalice. Consequently, the two have a wide range of different musical ambitions covering Black Metal, Bestial Black/Death Metal and Doom Metal. Living Evil delivers somewhat of the one style of true metal elitism that was missing in their respective resumes: evil as phuck Speed Metal.
‘Curse The Cross’ is the first feat of the two in this setting, and is fodder for those who still like to dwell in the mid 80’s. All wrapped up in a powerful sound, but with a remarkably “open” production, the three songs, totaling a playing time of just under fifteen minutes, creates a truly authentic vibe. Because of the female vocals of Executioner (Kathryn Danielle), it is almost impossible not to make a connection to the other female-fronted Heavy Metal bands of the 1980’s. Although I can’t deny being a fan of schooled voice of Lee Aaron, my interest was immediately peaked with the slightly rougher vocal approach of Kathryn. Balancing somewhere in between Leather Leone (Chastain), Doro in her prime years with Warlock and Kate de Lombaert (Acid), rough around the edges but with a genuine aim for powerful singing. But, the Living Evil of course isn’t just about being female-fronted, music-wise the band has enough to offer. The catchy riffing, with its firm base in 80’s Speed/Heavy Metal, but with the occasional Thrash hooks, speak for themselves and clearly lift the band up a few levels.
With a mild resurgence of pure and powerful Heavy Metal that’s not averse to slight flirtations with Speed Metal, Thrash Metal or even Black Metal, Living Evil falls in rather fertile ground. This solid and even surprising demo gives every reason to believe that we may soon place Living Evil in the same league as bands like Smoulder, Black Sword Thunder Attack, Dolmen Gate, Tower or Savage Master.
