Band:	Demiurg
Album:	Slakthus Gamleby
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	July 2010

01. Life Is A Coma
02. Death Grasp Oblivion
03. Travellers Of The Vortex
04. The Cold Hand Of Death
05. Cold Skin
06. From Laughter To Retching
07. Slakthus Gamleby
08. World Burial

I can say for certain that the curiously monikered Slakthus Gamleby, the third album by Swedish super-group Demiurg, has, from me, received the most spins of any record this side of 2010. Perhaps there's a natural gravitation toward anything featuring the multi-pie fingering legend Dan Swan but it's also because of the damned digestibility of the thing; goes down easier than a $12 street walker. Slick, meaty old-school death metal rhythms, growls and cleans from Rogga (with a superbly versatile repertoire I might add: from Åkerfeldt to Kjellson), a few hints of prog all cemented down with copious amounts of melody laid thick in the forms of magnanimous leads, synths and female power-vocals from Autumn's Marjan Welma all encompassed in a production you could eat your dinner off. Envisage Edge Of Sanity's Crimson II or Purgatory Afterglow with Bloodbath and Ribspreader's heavy pace, groove and aggression and you'll have a decent impression of the tone and style. In fact much of Edge Of Sanity's character creeps onto this one, unsurprising considering Swan's duties on leads and keyboards. Warby's sterling performance on drums is also worth mentioning.

The wide appeal of this album probably doesn't extend outwards forever though, I can see many a death metaller finding little challenge or interest here: although sparingly employed the female cleans may induce retching (though I thought they were rather excellent) and the pristine production and predilection for melody far outweighs the old-school brutality which only bears a skin deep significance and you can't overlook the fact that this has been done before in some shape or form (though rarely better) but in any light these minor dents and the fact it could have perhaps been a little longer have minor lasting impacts in what it is a thoroughly nourishing and varied number especially if you long for Crimson III or are a general fan of melodic death metal (of the more literal, non-Gothenburg variety in this case) with a bit of depth. The most exciting prospect of Slakthus Gamleby though is its potential for growth; the improvement from the previous record is easily discernible and you just know if another one ever materialises it could well be something extra special.