UMUR "From Beyond" is the first demo by Swedish death metal act Desultory. Originally released in June 1990 on cassette tape limited to 500 copies. The demo was recorded and mixed on June 3rd and 4th, 1990 at Sunlight Studio in Stockholm, Sweden. Desultory formed in 1989 and released three demos and the compilation EP "Forever Gone (1992)" (which compiles the material from the 1991 "Death Unfolds" demo and the 1992 "Visions" demo) before signing a three-album deal with Metal Blade Records. The band released their debut full-length studio album "Into Eternity" in February 1993.

The four tracks on "From Beyond" are quite different in style from the melodic old school Swedish death metal style on the subsequent releases (with the exception of some of the melodic guitar solos, there are very few similarities), as the band started out playing a more raw thrash metal style, with blackened thrash metal vocals (Chronos from Venom has not lived in vain). The material is not particularly unique, but it´s well performed, relatively well written, and definitely well produced. This could well have been released as a "regular" studio/label recording. No murky demo sound quality here.

So "From Beyond" is well worth a listen, if you enjoy raw blackened thrash metal, but for fans of Desultory´s later material this is not a mandatory listen, and there is a good reason why the material from this demo wasn´t included on the compilation EP "Forever Gone (1992)". It would have made the compilation very inconsistent in sound and style. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.