It is oddly refreshing these days to hear a demo that actually sounds like a demo. Such is the case with Portland thrashers, Excruciator’s four song offering, which sounds as if it actually went to tape with less than surgical precision.  The recording is, in truth, of perfectly listenable quality, but the rough edges compliment the band’s eighties thrash sound perfectly.

Excruciator does an enviable job of mimicking the more brutal eighties thrash bands, such as Kreator, Slayer and Dark Angel, and the band takes some influence, as well, from early death metal bands such as Possessed and Death.  While originality is certainly lacking, the performance is convincing and the riffing is savage.

The first two tracks, “By the Gates of Flesh” and “Nuclear Exmortis” are straightforward high-speed rippers, fueled by tight, but furious picking.  On “The Edenwitch of Torment” and “Malevolence Impure”, Excruciator reigns in the speed somewhat, allowing the band to develop some melody and atmosphere.  Far from dulling the band’s edge, this mid-paced attack in fact makes the band sound even heavier and more sinister.

Thrash records are a dime a dozen these days, and Excruciator certainly are not bringing anything new to the table, but this demo has an air of authenticity about it.  This is real thrash metal by a real thrash metal band.