DEMO REVIEW: Baxaxaxa – The Old Evil

After a demo in 1992 and a split in 2002, BAXAXAXA could have easily fallen into obscurity within the German Black Metal underground but with the help of Iron Bonehead Productions, their brand new demo is now out to spread mystical evil to the world.

Dungeon synth soundscapes open the demo with a grandiose yet simple medieval cinematic. The ancient vibrancy certainly is a fitting start to a Black Metal release from the belly of the underground. Raw guitars churn in over slow drum hits and have this mysteriously occultist feeling swathing the harsh music which is disgustingly raw, perfectly suitable for the maniacal screams that soon join the vitriolic instruments. The use of synths works surprisingly well with such lo-fi material to harken back to bands like Mystifier. The slower sections are reminiscent of bands like Goatlord which is met with a balance of barraging blastbeats entwined in savagely played guitars and more deathly howls from the vocalist which altogether have an inhuman and estranged feeling that is far removed from the “typical” Black Metal sound, something I welcome as such an extreme genre should never be predictable. Baxaxaxa have a really interesting primitive sound that feels a lot more complex than it actually is with brutishly concise but powerfully effective instrumentals creating a monstrously tense atmosphere alongside the glisteningly gorgeous synths that keep that medieval touch present. Overall this demo was a really fascinating comeback for a truly obscure band, which I do think will be an acquired taste for many but those into the weirder side of Black Metal should definitely give it a spin. The truly magnificent flame of pure old school Black Metal disdain is unquestionably at the heart of this evil and mystifying music, for which I commend it. A killer demo from a fascinatingly mysterious band, with excellent music that demands respect with its blisteringly harsh, provocative and bludgeoning Black Metal onslaught. -7/10