DARKSIDE

Herbst ( demo 1993)

BENG ! / Czech Republic

Jan Sida

Austria for sure is not trhe promised land of death metal like for instance Forida or Scandinavia. But 
they have some interesting bands and DARKSIDE belongs to them for sure. I always liked bands, which 
don't wanna fit in the steps of others. Which go for individuality – mainly as far as their music is 
concerned. These guys are like this for sure ! The narrow walls of the category Death metal are 
enwidened not only by the use of keyboards (many hard bands already use them) but also by a certain kind 
of vocal arrangement. In the first floor thanks to those two reasons, DARKSIDE get their own expression.
All the above mentioned arguments are supported by the listening to this six-song demo. Already the 
first song The Black catches your attention with an interesting beginning. A baby's crying mixed with an 
arabic motive. Quiet before the storm. After this of course comes, what we expect. Strength and 
Heaviness. Only that these guys from Austria thought out everything very well. A lot of changes in the 
rythem combined with keyboard parts full of ideas kill every kind of boredom. Counting to this the 
darkness of dark guitars and the interesting voice we get the full display of the sound of DARKSIDE. 
Let's stay a little bit with the singer. His vocal approach is very interesting as mentioned before. 
Why ? Because his growls are not just growls without any changes. Frontman and guitarist Peter still 
shouts, but it's not only a manner in this case.
Between the best songs I would categorize the instrumental track Matter Of Greed , with a nice bubbling 
bass guitar, crystal drums and pieces of an imaginary poem being spoken in between. The second very good 
song is Requiem. Just the beginning already suggests a weird atmosphere. Howling wind with a tiny voice 
far away. Then there comes a wall of guitars and drums. The lyrics fall piece by piece. Everything is 
slow, deep. A bell from far away. But the best is still to come. A beautiful part with variations on a 
classical theme. The song gets faster. But not for long- again a break, a slow passage, rolling like a 
locomotive with shouting vocals, underlined with keyboards. This is a very good song. That doesn't of 
course mean that the others are not. On the contrary !
So, what can be said in the end ? That DARKSIDE did a great job and that they should get a good review. 
They deserve it.