UMUR
This is the first demo release by Immolation after they changed their name from Rigor Mortis in April 1988. The demo was recorded in July 1988 at Sleepy Hollow Sound/Dobbs Ferry. The demo is the first release featuring vocalist/bassist Ross Dolan, who has replaced Andrew Sakowicz and also the first release to feature new drummer Neal Boback who replaced Dave Wilkinson.
The demo features two tracks in "Immolation" and "Dawn of Possession". Both tracks feature a raw, brutal and slightly muddy sound that perfectly compliments the savage death metal tracks. Compared to the Rigor Mortis demos which featured a thrash metal influenced death metal sound, the two tracks on the this demo are fully fledged US death metal. Early Morbid Angel is very similar in sound and style to how these two tracks sound. Both tracks would eventually appear in re-recorded versions on the band´s debut full-length studio album "Dawn of Possession (1991)". These demo versions of the tracks are also available on the Immolation compilation album "Stepping on Angels... Before Dawn (1995)".
The two tracks on the demo are among the very early examples of US death metal and while acts like Death, Possessed and Morbid Angel had already pioneered the genre, Immolation should still be counted among the seminal acts in the genre if you ask me. The quality of the two tracks, the playing and the raw sound production are really successful to my ears and a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is deserved.