UMUR
"Demo #2" is the second demo recording by UK death metal act Cancer. The demo was independently released in 1989. It´s the successor to the 1988 "No Fuckin Cover" demo.
There´s been some obvious musical development from the first demo to this one. Cancer are now more brutal and heavy, and lead vocalist/guitarist John Walker has changed his voice and vocal style to a caustic sounding aggressive snarling. Five out of the seven songs on the 28:09 minutes long demo would be re-recorded and included on Cancer´s May 1990 debut full-length studio album "To the Gory End". Cancer always had a lot of brutal and aggressive thrash metal riffs and rhythms in their music, so in that respect they never been 100% pure death metal, and that´s of course also the case on this early release by the band.
It´s a relatively lo-fi recorded demo, and I wouldn´t be surprised if it is a rehearsal demo recorded in one take. No matter the circumstances of the recording process, Cancer more than proves why they would soon be signed for the release of their debut album...they simply sound ready. A 2.5 star (50%) rating is warranted.