UMUR
"Realm of the Dark" is the second demo recording by Swedish thrash metal act Merciless. The demo was independently released in 1988. It´s the successor to the July 1987 "Behind the Black Door" demo and there´s been one lineup change since the first demo as lead vocalist Kåle (real name: Kalle Aurenius) has been replaced by Rogga Pettersson.
The raw and brutal thrash metal style of the first demo is continued here, but with some added speed and even more aggression. It´s also obvious that Merciless have honed their skills as musicians and as songwriters since the first demo because the quality of both features are higher here than on the debut demo. Pettersson is also a great addition to the lineup. Not that Aurenius was a bad singer (in fact he was a pretty great one), but there is a snarling (almost blackened) hatred and determination behind Pettersson´s delivery which is more powerful and convincing. "Realm of the Dark" features the perfect raw, savage, and brutal sounding production job, which greatly enchances the already ultra aggressive music style played by the band.
4 tracks and a total playing time of 13:25 are all Merciless need to make a statement of intent...they are gonna rip you head off and beat you to a pulp and with the caustic sonic assault of "Realm of the Dark" they certainly succeed in doing just that.
Merciless may not be the most unique act on the international scene (at this point they were obviously influenced by artists like Sodom, Kreator, Possessed, and Morbid Saint), but they were an important act on the Swedish scene and greatly influenced the burgeoning Swedish death metal scene (along with contemporary countrymen in Hatred, Morbid, Obscurity, and Mefisto) and in many cases almost served as mentors (...but not always good role models, as they were known for their wild party life style) for the younger kids on the scene, who would soon form bands like Unleashed, Nihilist/Entombed, and Dismember. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is fully deserved.