siLLy puPPy WORMSBLOOD is one of those bands that i discovered randomly in the bargain bin at the used music store in a sea of other metal acts. Since the price was right and i was intrigued how their artwork stood out amongst the crowd i thought i’d give it a chance. More often than not these kinds of buys don’t amount to much but i have fallen for this Oshkosh, WI based band that is based in black metal but adds many other elements to their music that make it more interesting than the ordinary black metal band of the 2000s.

This is a psychedelic type of black metal with the usually black metal attributes finding their way into the mix but usually the music is a mix of only one or two characteristics of black metal with the others being more folk or psychedelic. Ranging from mellow to furious and back again through trippy Pagan folk interludes with deranged vocal contributions, this band redefines the kvltness of the 90s and makes this collection of demos always keeping a melodic element churning throughout. To my surprise i find myself listening to this on a regular basis!

MASTERY OF CREATION DEMOS is a compilation of 3 demos.

Side A consists of the “Bound Beaten” demos from 2008 and the “Odal” demos from 2006. Both of these demos are only available on this compilation. Side B consists of “The Grave Hill” demo which was released but is presented here in its entirety.

The “Bound Beaten Demos” is only two tracks. “Fragments Of The Witch” starts off with a frantic guitar riff, tribal drums with Zodiac “Wyrdskull” Widdershins’ vocal screams and shrieks that remind me of Summoning’s frenzied freakouts although there are echo effects and death grunts as well. The music morphs into a more psychedelic and trippy keeping a melodic guitar riff going for a while before becoming faster black metal. The drumming also morphs into faster metal drumming. Lots of changes in this one. “Hollow Cost Nothing” is characterized by its echoed death grunts and marching rhythmic guitars and much shorter in duration.

The “Opal Demos” are more acoustic Pagan darkness than full-on black metal with the exception of the vocals. “The First Dim Shinings” sounds like a ritual under the moonlight in some darkened forest summoning Pagan forces or something. “Sig Bind” is a bit more frenzied and electrified

Side B is “The Grave Hill Demos” was actually released. See my review for it separately.

siLLy puPPy Every once in a while i pick up some new music randomly solely off my impressions of the feel of the artwork. Well in the case of Oshkosh, WI based WORMSBLOOD i scored big time. While firmly placed in the black metal world, this band generates some seriously psychedelic atmospheres at times which sounds like a mix of black metal and Krautrock. On this first demo release though we get WORMSBLOOD in more of a black metal mode with lo-fi production, kvlt imagery, Summoning like shrieks and rasps and occasional haunting echoey arpeggios that sound like Dracula’s coming to dinner.

There are plenty of added sound effects as well such as dogs barking, wolves howling and birdies chirping. Pagan stuff. The music can be calm and placid or erupt into a fury but kept on its leash by tribal drumming instead of blastbeats but these too are included from time to time. While many bands releasing their first demo tend to imitate their favorite heroes of yesterdecade, WORMSBLOOD proves on this first release that they are forward thinkers that know how to meld different ideas, tweek the sound production in new ways, add sound effects all the while giving you that good old underground black metal feel that will leave you checking to see if there are monsters under your bed.

This demo is more readily available on the compilation “Mastery Of Creation Demos.”