UMUR "Demo #1" is a demo release by US death metal act Incantation. The demo was recorded in May and June 1990 and despite the title of the demo, Incantation had actually already recorded a rehearsal demo in January 1990, so if you count that, this is demo number 2. Three out of the four tracks from this demo would be re-recorded and included on the band´s 1992 debut full-length studio album "Onward to Golgotha". Six tracks were originally recorded during the May/June 1990 recording sessions, but "Unholy Massacre" and "Deliverance of Horrific Prophecies" do not appear on this demo. The former would be included on the August 1990 "Entrantment of Evil" EP, and the latter would be included on the November 1991 "Deliverance of Horrific Prophecies" single.

While the previous rehearsal demo was a raw, savage, and noisy product, "Demo #1" is a well sounding professional studio recording. It´s rough around the edges, raw, and unpolished, but it´s still a well sounding demo release for the genre and the time. "Profanation" has survived from the rehearsal demo and we´re finally able to hear the track in all it´s brutal and savage glory. The remaining tracks are of an equally high quality, and as Incantation are the kind of act who take no prisoners, the music style and sound on all four tracks on the demo are pretty similar. This is pummeling, brutal, and murky sounding death metal from the deepest depths of hell. An act like Morbid Angel is a reference, but it´s definitely Immolation that I´m mostly thinking about, when listening to this demo.

It´s no mystery to me that Incantation were signed on the merits of the material on this demo. These are high quality death metal compositions in the most brutal end of the scale (for 1990) and when they are presented in a well sounding production and delivered by inspired and well playing musicians as they are here, this demo ends up a winner. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.