UMUR
"Dismembered" is the first studio demo released by Swedish death metal act Dismember. The demo was independently released in December 1988. The band released the "Rehearsal Tape - 88" demo under the Dismemberizer monicker during the autumn of 1988, but "Dismembered" is the first official Dismember demo. All material from the demo has been re-released and is available on the 2005 "Complete Demos" compilation album (Regain Records). Dismember formed in May 1988 and released two rehearsal demos and two studio demos before disbanding in October 1989, as a consequence of drummer Fred Estby leaving to join Carnage (shortly after guitarist David Blomqvist also followed).
After changing their name from Dismemberizer to Dismember, the band settled on the trio lineup of Robert Sennebäck (vocals), David Blomqvist (guitars), and Fred Estby (Drums). On this release Nicke Andersson (Nihilist/Entombed) however guests playing bass. The music has changed quite a bit from the relatively crude sounding "Rehearsal Tape - 88" demo, and it´s not only as a result of "Dismembered" being recorded at a studio and not just being a rehearsal recording, but the tracks are now also more death metal styled although there are still some grindcore/hardcore traits left (D-beats and semi-fast blasting parts). Robert Sennebäck´s vocals aren´t deep death metal growls though, but rather a higher pitched aggressive screaming, which is pretty extreme and intense, but in some ways closer to black metal vocals than to death metal ditto.
The demo features three tracks and a total playing time of 12:06 minutes, and Dismember successfully display what they are capable of during the playing time. There´s great power and aggression here, and a healthy amount of brutality, delivered in a savage organic fashion. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.