UMUR "Complete Demos" is a compilation release by Swedish death metal act Dismember. The compilation was released through Regain Records in June 2005. It compiles the material from the three Dismember studio demos released in 1988-1990: "Dismembered" (1988), "Last Blasphemies" (1989), and "Reborn in Blasphemy" (1990). Dismember formed in May 1988 as Dismemberizer, but after recording a rehearsal demo ("Rehearsal Tape - 88"), changed their name in time for the release of the "Dismembered" demo, which was released in December 1988. Dismember disbanded in October 1989 after releasing the first two demos, because drummer Fred Estby (and shortly after guitarist David Blomqvist) was asked to join Carnage. They accepted and recorded the "Dark Recollections" album in February 1990, but as band founder/guitarist Michael Amott was asked to join Carcass shortly after the recording sessions and accepted, Carnage split-up, and the remaining members reformed Dismember and recorded the "Reborn in Blasphemy" demo, which they released in August 1990 (even before "Dark Recollections" saw a release in November 1990).

"Complete Demos" is presented in chronological order so it opens with the three tracks from the "Dismembered" (1988) demo. It´s an early version of death metal with grindcore/hardcore traits and a high pitched screaming vocalist in front. The three tracks from the January 1989 "Last Blasphemies" demo shows progression both in terms of the demo featuring a better sounding production job, but also deeper growling vocals. "Complete Demos" concludes with the four tracks from the "Reborn in Blasphemy" (1990) demo, and that demo shows a mature band, which would soon deservedly be signed on the merits of that particular demo. It´s such a high quality death metal demo which reeks quality and skill. While the first two demos are more interesting as historical documents "Reborn in Blasphemy" (1990) is worth listening to over and over again. It´s arguably one of the greatest Swedish death metal demos from those days. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Reborn in Blasphemy" is the third studio demo release by Swedish death metal act Dismember. The demo was independently released in August 1990 although Nuclear Blast Records also released a label version of the demo. All material from the demo has been re-released and is available on the 2005 "Complete Demos" compilation album (Regain Records). Dismember formed in May 1988 and released two rehearsal demos and two studio demos before disbanding in October 1989, as a consequence of drummer Fred Estby leaving to join Carnage (shortly after guitarist David Blomqvist also followed).

After recording Carnage debut full-length studio album "Dark Recollections" in February 1990, guitarist/founder of Carnage Michael Amott was asked to join Carcass, and when he accepted the invitation Carnage immeditately folded. "Dark Recollections" hadn´t even seen a release at that point (and wouldn´t until November 1990), and while the remaining members were of course disappointed that the band folded, they opted to soldier on by reforming Dismember. Initially with the trio lineup of Matti Kärki (vocals), Fred Estby (drums), and David Blomqvist (guitars, bass). Original guitarist Robert Sennebäck did not rejoin at this point, as he was a member of Unleashed. He would rejoin though in time to record Dismember´s debut full-length studio album "Like an Everflowing Stream" (1991). Dismember are helped out on "Reborn in Blasphemy" by Nicke Andersson (Nihilist/Entombed) who plays most lead guitars on the demo.

If you´re familiar with the early Dismember demos, it´s really interesting to hear how much they have developed as composers and musicians since Dismember disbanded in October 1989. It´s only been 10 months, but their recording experiences with Carnage undoubtedly pushed them to become more skilled and the addition of Kärki to the ranks is also a major positive. Kärki´s vocals are growling, intelligible, and commanding. The fact that "Reborn in Blasphemy" was recorded at Sunlight Studio and therefore features what today is known as the fat and brutal Swedish death metal sound doesn´t diminish the impact of the demo. This is through and through a high quality demo release and arguably one of the best quality Swedish demos from that time. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Rehearsal Demo '89" is a rehearsal demo by Swedish death metal act Dismember. The demo was recorded on the 18th of January 1989 and was originally only circulated to friends of the band. It features the same three tracks which appears on the "Last Blasphemies" (1989) demo plus "Deathevokation" from the "Dismembered" (December 1988) demo.

For a rehearsal demo the sound quality is actually pretty well sounding (the vocals are bit too low in the mix but other than that this sounds pretty good to my ears). It´s of course a very raw and unpolished recording, but it´s not the type of release, where it sounds like you´re standing on one side of the door, while the band is playing on the other side. This sound puts you in the middle of the rehearsal room, which is greatly charming and it all feels very authentic and raw. As far as I can hear there´s not bass on this recording, but I may be mistaken. It doesn´t matter that much though as it´s the intensity of the performance and the brutality and extremity of the material which are in focus, and those elements work perfectly here.

Upon conclusion "Rehearsal Demo '89" is definitely worth a listen to fans of seminal late 80s death metal demo recordings, and it shows perfectly why Dismember were counted among the most interesting Swedish death metal bands in those days. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Last Blasphemies" is the second studio demo release by Swedish death metal act Dismember. The demo was independently released in 1989. It´s the successor to the December 1988 demo "Dismembered". All material from the demo has been re-released and is available on the 2005 "Complete Demos" compilation album (Regain Records). Dismember formed in May 1988 and released two rehearsal demos and two studio demos before disbanding in October 1989, as a consequence of drummer Fred Estby leaving to join Carnage (shortly after guitarist David Blomqvist also followed).

"Dismembered" featured a death metal style with grindcore/hardcore traits, but the three tracks on "Last Blasphemies" is closer to pure death metal, which is most of all a result of lead vocalist Robert Sennebäck now performing growling vocals instead of the higher pitched screaming he performed on "Dismembered". The music has also become darker, more brutal, and generally a bit slower (although Dismember still bash away when that is needed and Fred Estby´s drumming is still highly influenced by hardcore). All three tracks from the 12:47 minutes long demo would be re-recorded and included on Carnage´s "Dark Recollections" album from November 1990.

"Last Blasphemies" features a well sounding demo quality production. It´s raw and brutal, yet detailed enough for all details to be audible in the mix. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Dismembered" is the first studio demo released by Swedish death metal act Dismember. The demo was independently released in December 1988. The band released the "Rehearsal Tape - 88" demo under the Dismemberizer monicker during the autumn of 1988, but "Dismembered" is the first official Dismember demo. All material from the demo has been re-released and is available on the 2005 "Complete Demos" compilation album (Regain Records). Dismember formed in May 1988 and released two rehearsal demos and two studio demos before disbanding in October 1989, as a consequence of drummer Fred Estby leaving to join Carnage (shortly after guitarist David Blomqvist also followed).

After changing their name from Dismemberizer to Dismember, the band settled on the trio lineup of Robert Sennebäck (vocals), David Blomqvist (guitars), and Fred Estby (Drums). On this release Nicke Andersson (Nihilist/Entombed) however guests playing bass. The music has changed quite a bit from the relatively crude sounding "Rehearsal Tape - 88" demo, and it´s not only as a result of "Dismembered" being recorded at a studio and not just being a rehearsal recording, but the tracks are now also more death metal styled although there are still some grindcore/hardcore traits left (D-beats and semi-fast blasting parts). Robert Sennebäck´s vocals aren´t deep death metal growls though, but rather a higher pitched aggressive screaming, which is pretty extreme and intense, but in some ways closer to black metal vocals than to death metal ditto.

The demo features three tracks and a total playing time of 12:06 minutes, and Dismember successfully display what they are capable of during the playing time. There´s great power and aggression here, and a healthy amount of brutality, delivered in a savage organic fashion. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.