UMUR
"First Regression" is the first demo recording by Danish death metal act Affliction. The demo was independently released on cassette tape in 1997. Affliction formed in 1992 under the Near Dark monicker. After recording and releasing this demo they changed their name to Spawned of Death, but nothing has yet been released under that name. Some of the members (drummer Lars Poulsen and guitarist T.C. Vibe) reappered as part of the Indespair lineup who recorded that band´s only full-length studio album "Oppressed by Contempt" (2004), and they were also part of the lineup who recorded the first Eciton album "Oppressed" (2005).
Stylistically this is pretty standard fare slow- to mid-paced, heavy, and brutal death metal. A contemporary Danish artist like Detest is a valid reference, although Affliction don´t quite hit the same high quality standards of that band. The tracks are decent enough and relatively effective and lead vocalist Michael Andresen is placed very high in the mix, which is how it should be with music like this. Somehow it all comes off pretty amaturish though. The sound production is actually decent for a demo, but some of the riffs are very simplistic and the same can be said about the drumming. So upon conclusion this is a sligthly below standard quality death metal demo by Affliction. A 2 - 2.5 star (45%) rating is warranted.