I've only got around ten demos that rate in my "all-time favorites" list and Avernus's Sadness is one of them. This is one of the godliest demos I've ever heard. Maybe this is because I got it at a time in my life that sucked and the music and lyrics fit appropriately, maybe not. All I know is it's fucking heavy, it's angry, it's extremely depressing/melancholic and it's loaded with atmosphere. Believe it or not, this is one of the best mixes of death and doom to ever be created. Rick McCoy's vocals are damn brutal and thick; actually, his vocal style is one of the coolest I've heard. He sounds like no one else. It's a shame he's singing cleanly these days. The rest of the band keeps things brutal with a very heavy guitar sound and a drum sound I like to called "pissed": awesome, sharp snare sound and thudding bass drum. I mean, Rick Yifrach really pounds the shit out of his kit on this tape. I can't imagine being his drum set.

The songs themselves are all over six minutes each, with one as long as nine minutes. For me, the doom junkie I am, this is not a problem. Even if you can't handle long songs, the band throws a lot of changes in to keep things interesting. It's hard to say which out of the four songs is my favorite. It's probably "Faustian Heart", what with it's great blend of pure anger and utter sorrow. Rick's first roar in this song kills. "So beautiful is your naivete/Angelic, pathetic/I'll break your fucking wings!" The truly depressing thing is what Avernus has turned into. For those who have heard their rather horrid 'Of the Fallen' CD and find it (extremely) lacking, try this on for size. It should still be easily available. I wish they'd press this on CD dammit!

© 1999 goden