Summary:
Demo quality death/thrash from a band that appears eager to pay their dues and develop as a unit. Still, this is blatantly minor league material.

Review:
This review needn't be longer than a paragraph. This is a demo, and it sounds like a demo, from a band that should still be recording demos. Nobody needs to hear Cryptic Stench, yet. The songs are pretty simple, but not painfully so. They've got choppy Slayer riffs. They've got melodic tremolo riffs. The drums sound like drums, no double bass ... and no triggers! "The House On Tombstone Hill" might as well be right out of the Possessed or early Slayer catalog with its ominous chord progressions, galloping thrash riffs, and manic solos. You've probably heard a few bands like this if you've ever showed up really early for a local metal festival. This is the kind of uncompromising, scene-shunning, workhorse metal that is best served as a parochial commodity.

What's encouraging about the Horrifyingly Mysterious demo is that Cryptic Stench actually sound like they've put the work in to sound like a real band. That's rare. These songs, while unremarkable, sound tight as hell. The production isn't remarkable, but doesn't prevent me from hearing what's going on in the least. There's no sloppy transitions, nobody going out of key or out of time. It's just four guys playing power-chord reliant death metal with workmen like efficiency. In the end though, listening to this demo was like watching a really well played WNBA match. I can respect the trueness form and strong fundamental backbone, but every once in a while I wanna see somebody throw it the fuck down.

I don't know what else to say. Cryptic Stench aren't ready for a record label. They just aren't doing anything all that interesting. But if you're from Ottawa, then this is the kind of local metal you should support. Go to a show, buy 'em a beer. I guarantee they sound just as good live as they do on tape.