UMUR "The Truth" is a compilation album by Swedish thrash metal act Mefisto. The album was released through Blooddawn Productions in 1999. It compiles the material from the band´s two 1986 demos "Megalomania" (May 1986) and "The Puzzle" (November 1986), which was the only material recorded and released by Mefisto during their orginal run from 1985-1987. While the name Mefisto may not ring a bell to many people these days, they are considered one of the early originators of the Swedish extreme metal scene (along with artists like Bathory, Merciless, and Obscurity). As the two original cassette tape demos have long been out of print and therefore rare collector´s items, it´s arguably a great idea to release "The Truth", and bring to light these two influential releases.

Stylistically Mefisto are strongly influenced by the German speed/thrash metal scene, and of course by Bathory, but their music also occassionally features traditional heavy metal influences (a Mercyful Fate influence pops up once or twice). The band are well playing and especially the lead guitar work and the sharp thrashy riffs deserve a mention. The vocals on the first demo are grunted snarls delivered in staccato style, while they are slightly more aggressive snarling on the second demo (but still delivered in staccato style). The first demo is more immediate while the second demo is a bit more experimental, but "The Truth" works well and has a good tracklist flow. There´s not a significant difference between the sound productions of the two demos, which further strengthens the feeling that "The Truth" is a compilation album which works as both a well constructed listening experience as well as a valid historic document. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "The Puzzle" is the second demo by Swedish thrash metal act Mefisto. The demo was independently released on cassette tape in November 1986. It´s the band´s second 1986 demo tape, as they released the "Megalomania" demo in May 1986. Mefisto was a relatively shortlived act forming in 1985, releasing two demos in 1986, and disbanding in 1987, but many Swedish extreme metal musicians have later cited them as an influential act on the mid-80s Swedish metal scene. The demo was a rare collector´s item for many years, but it was re-released in 1999 along with the material from the "Megalomania" demo on "The Truth" compilation album.

Stylistically the material on "The Puzzle" continues the raw German influenced thrash metal style of the material on "Megalomania" (with a nod towards Bathory), but it´s slightly more rhythmically sophisticated. There are still nods toward speed/traditional heavy metal and some great lead guitar work, and it´s safe to say that Mefisto are a well playing unit. The vocals are still raw snarling, delivered in staccato style, but they are slightly more aggressive this time around, and it suits the band´s music well.

"The Puzzle" features a well sounding production job, and while this maybe lacks the last notch up to sound like a professional recording, it´s still a fairly well sounding demo release. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Megalomania" is the first demo by Swedish thrash metal act Mefisto. The demo was independently released on cassette tape in May 1986. Mefisto formed in 1985 in Stockholm and while not many people are familiar with them and they disbanded in 1987 after releasing two demos, they played an integral part in bringing more extreme sounding metal to the Swedish metal audience. In those days Bathory was one of the few Swedish artists playing what today is considered metal in the more extreme end of the spectrum, but a few others (including Mefisto, Merciless, and Obscurity) also existed in the underground. This was a few years before the Swedish death metal explosion, and many of the late 80s/early 90s Swedish death metal acts cite Mefisto as a source of inspiration. The demo was a rare collector´s item for many years, but it was re-released in 1999 along with the material from the November 1986 demo "The Puzzle" on "The Truth" compilation album.

Stylistically the material on the 4 track, 19:07 minutes long demo is strongly influenced by the blackened speed/thrash metal attack of the unholy German triumvirate of Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction (with a springle of Bathory). In some ways it almost makes them sound South American. Mefisto are a very well playing act though (although the drums are relatively simple and one-dimensional), and there´s slightly more to their music than some of the most savage South American artists were able to deliver. The lead guitar parts are for example worth a mention, and the occasional nod towards traditional heavy metal is also quite refreshing amidst the rawness of the speed/thrash metal attack. "Betrayed Truth" for example features a part which sounds a lot like Mercyful Fate (complete with a falsetto vocal part). The vocals are otherwise grunted snarls delivered in staccato style.

"Megalomania" is a well produced demo, and with a few tweaks here and there, it could easily have been released as a studio EP instead of a demo. Upon conclusion the material isn´t revolutinizing, and Bathory of course still takes the spot as the most influential Swedish extreme metal act from the early- mid-80s, but Mefisto arguably did play an important part in being inspirational to some youngsters who would go on and create a distinct sounding and important music scene only a few years down the line. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.