DEMO REVIEW: Peasant – Demo MMXIX

Here I review the debut demo from UK Black Metal newcomers PEASANT. Featuring 3 new tracks to give a taste of what the band are about, time for some British brutishness. The demo is out now independently on Bandcamp with CD’s and Tapes to come in the future.

1. Rivers Of Rust opens blasting guitar grooves, a raw fuzz of insanity the is backed up by tight upbeat drums crashing away, the immediately 90s sound of the band is reminiscent of early Darkthrone or Gorgoroth before hideously intense screeches bring an almost depressive touch over mournful guitars. Within the first minute we go from total aggression to depression and back up to impactful grinding assaults, filled with atmosphere. The duo have this kickass pace that is captivatingly dark with a depravity to the sound, especially in the Nattramn like screams. Piercingly cold lead guitar work adds a further punch over the sombre riffs gorgeously for the hypnotic sway of the song to have even more impact before fading out. This opening track was furiously harsh, caustic and yet blissfully stunning. A strong beginning, excellent.
2. Impoverished And Broken comes in with another drum stick snapping start that leads into gorgeously macabre walls of guitar riffs and drum aggression, primitive instrumentals and snarling vocals bring back that old school Scandinavian sound that we are all familiar with but in a manner most unique and enticing. There is more depressive elements that draw out this expansively varied yet simplistic barrage of tearful yet ripping Black Metal for a beautifully written onslaught of true British Black Metal grimness. The catchy pace and intense momentum is exciting, with a volatile mixture of grooves and atmospherics much like in the first, making a great follow-up. Brilliant.
3. Grim Northern Wastelands falls into rank with monstrous blastbeats and Satanic Warmaster style walls of abrasively icy guitar riffs, filled with a gorgeous atmosphere that is bleak yet punishingly intense. The eerie vocals add beautifully to the chilling instrumentals in this final barrage of glorious atmospheric Black Metal delights that once again indulges both in the melancholic and the ferocious sides of the genre. Thrilling riff work takes a more violent turn with intensified blasts before the song dissipates into ambient keys and bleak instrumentals with a truly Burzum reminiscent sound and horrifyingly shrill vocals. Phenomenally intimidating and truly old school sounding, this was a glorious finish to the demo. Wonderful.

Within three tracks we are given a diverse mixture of raw aggression and sanguine melancholy that is utterly brilliant with a superb execution that cascades sombre riffing, blasting drum grooves and gruesomely harsh screeching. PEASANT do a magnificent job of conveying their vast sounds and emotive expressions on such a short release, that hopefully leads to a full length album. If you are more into atmospheric and emotive Black Metal with a raw soundscape that truly indulges all emotions, then check this demo out right away. -8/10