Sardonic Order – Autumn Rehearsal 2025

Artist: Sardonic Order
Country: Canada
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Digital Demo
Year: 2025

Although Sardonic Order is a brand new Black Metal band with this specific release being their debut, the exact title of this 2-track demo is quite telling. This is indeed a rehearsal demo that should serve as an introduction as to what this Canadian duo is up to and what to expect from the future.

With a rehearsal recording, you know you probably shouldn’t expect the best results, but this sounds pretty good. Better even than most regular demos or even some bands’ albums. That said, it may be a bit poorly balanced, with the drums sounding a bit loud and the sound as a whole being a bit pale. But the strength of these debut recordings lies in the compositions. The first of the two is still a bit tame and has a predictable progression, especially the second part of the song still sounds a bit amateurish with rather clumsy rock structures. But the second song, that’s where the beauty of this first demo lies. Although it is clear that it is not yet at the same level, it reminds me of the better songs from Armagedda’s early work. Good riffs, beautiful transitions, exciting dynamics and the guitar sound fits well with the bleak atmosphere of the song. Fans of late nineties Darkthrone as well as Judas Iscariot will find something to enjoy here. The melancholic melodies, repetitive riffs and drum patterns, particularly on the last song, “Celestial War Invocation”, make this 10-minute demo a very worthwhile start.