Autaric is a four piece death metal band based in Regina, SK. Naturally with this being a demo one would expect the sound quality to be very hit or miss, but in the case of this demo the production is very good, in fact it wouldn't be far off to say that it is one of the best sounding demos I've had the pleasure of listening to. Even though it isn't extremely difficult to guess some of the bands influences they show enough originality that it doesn't turn into a problem.
Autaric plays death metal in a very speedy manner. The demo runs just over 12 minutes but somehow Autaric manages to churn out an alarming amount of memorable moments. The only thing that could possibly be complained about is how quick it ends after you press play. This is an excellent quality for a band to have. If Autaric ever releases a full-length with music up to par with what is featured on this demo they will have a high class album on their hands.
Some of the guitarwork featured is nothing short of impressive and it is clear when listening that the guitarists have the art of writing a riff mastered. The melodic style of the leads blends extremely well with the chaotic sound that the rhythm drives to the listener like a baseball bat to the skull. Some of the more intricate guitar sections really give the demo the boost it needs in terms of overall sound. The solo featured on the track "Seeds Sewn Of Humanity" is nothing short of orgasmic, more moments like this definitely wouldn't hurt. Overall the guitarwork throughout creates an epic feel that is sure to give this demo plenty of replay value fans of the genre.
In terms of vocals the band incorporates two styles. One of which is a high pitch scream that pierces each time the vocalist opens his mouth. When these screams are meet with the deep growl it makes for a very effective sound. Although what was described above may not sound like anything groundbreaking the screams used sound unlike most that have been used time and time again by other bands they have a certain strain to them that makes them sound very unique.
The drums sound great and are played with a great deal of precision. They hold down the rhythm perfectly and there really isn't one thing to complain about regarding them. Constant blasting isn't a problem because of how often the timing is switched up throughout the short playtime. Overall everything goes together very well and the action of every instrument seems to be well thought out. On occasion the bass is audible. On the song "Vile Temptress" it makes an appearance and the result is superb. Unfortunately moments like this don't pop up more often, it isn't a major flaw but giving the bass a bit more time in the spotlight wouldn't have hurt at all.
Overall this band has the chops to hold their own against some of the more well known bands in the genre. It wouldn't be a bad thing to see Autaric replacing some of the generic bands that seem to be getting on every death metal tour over the past couple years. Even the people who typically skip on demos should give this one a listen. It has better sound quality then most of the demos out there to be heard. Get it.
