This demo mixes the anthemic aspects of 1980s heavy metal and melodic speed metal with the primitivism of early war metal, achieving a sound later than Venom but earlier than Slayer, while covertly working in techniques from underground metal for a hooky but self-possessed release.

Most impressively, this band adopts the uptempo relentless bass-drum throb of Nordic black metal and enwraps its classic heavy metal riffs in that, but uses a great deal of tremolo picking and chromatic fills twisted into riffs to give that a modern feel, bringing the 1980s into the 1990s without sacrificing its anthemic choruses and cumulative rhythmic intensity of verses.

These vocals sound like something inspired by the generation of metal that gave us Nifelheim and later Merciless, a type of melodic speed metal that interpreted itself through the generations of metal that developed alongside it. Energetic and unique despite being made of old parts, Hideous Death makes for a good listen.

Tags: hideous death, Speed Metal