UMUR "1992-1994 Discography" is a compilation album release by US, Missouri based death metal act Timeghoul. The compilation was released through Dark Descent Records in February 2012. Timeghoul formed in 1987 under the Doom's Lyre monicker but changed their name to Timeghoul in August 1991. They recorded two demos before disbanding in 1994, both of which were more or less forgotten by time, until Dark Descent Records opted to compile the material from the two demos and release it as "1992-1994 Discography".

Stylistically Timeghoul were a bit ahead of their time, which is probably why they have retrospectively been praised and often cited as an inspiration. Their brand of old school death metal features both progressive songwriting ideas (including sections featuring clean singing), relatively technical playing, and a gloomy sci-fi lyrical universe, which many artists would later be inspired by.

The compilation opens with the four tracks from the April 1992 "Tumultuous Travelings" demo, which are raw, heavy, brutal, and quite varied death metal tracks. Tempo changes, dark sci-fi lyrics, and a good understanding of the effects of dynamics. The lyrics are sometimes delivered in a fast staccato fashion, which is a bit silly, but other than that Timeghoul were quite interesting and adventurous on this first demo.

The compilation closes with the two tracks from the August 1994 "Panaramic Twilight" demo. Both tracks are considerably longer ("Boiling in the Hourglass" is 8:29 minutes long and "Occurence on Mimas" is 10:41 minutes long) and are more complex in structure than the already quite unconventional tracks from the first demo. While the tracks from the first demo are all great, the two tracks from the "Panaramic Twilight" demo are the real attraction of "1992-1994 Discography". Progressive and technical death metal featuring many creative and unconventional songwriting ideas, riffs and rhythms, spiced up with loads of guitar harmonies, occasional clean vocals, tempo-changes, and some use of atmosphere enhancing keyboards. While the music still features regular old school death metal elements and sections, I´d say the way Timeghoul incorporate their innovative songwriting ideas are truly progressive and I fully understand why particurlay these two tracks have influenced a lot of artists.

Upon conclusion it was about time someone picked up Timeghoul´s two demos and gave them a proper release. Both demos feature material which fully warrant a reissue and thereby reach more ears. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Panaramic Twilight" is the second demo recording by US, Missouri based death metal act Timeghoul. The demo was independently released in August 1994. It´s the successor to the April 1992 "Tumultuous Travelings" demo. Timeghoul formed in 1987 under the Doom's Lyre monicker but changed their name to Timeghoul in August 1991. They recorded two demos before disbanding in 1994. They were long forgotten until Dark Descent Records opted to compile the material from the two demos and release the "1992-1994 Discography" compilation in February 2012.

The demo features 2 tracks and a total playing time of 19:10 minutes, which naturally means that both tracks are pretty long. Stylistically Timeghoul continue the progressive and technical old school death metal style featuring dark sci-fi lyrics, which they initiated on the April 1992 "Tumultuous Travelings" demo. They´ve evolved quite a bit since the first demo though and "Panaramic Twilight" is a much more progressive inclined death metal release and also a much more technical release than the previous demo was. The addition of occasional epic keyboards, more clean vocals than on the first demo, and quite a few more guitar harmonies, makes this demo a very unique listen considering that it was released in 1994.

The sound production has improved a lot since the first demo too, and with a bit more polish this could easily have been released as a label release. I understood the attraction of Timeghoul after listening to the "Tumultuous Travelings" demo, but if I hadn´t already been won over by listening to the first demo...I just have to say wow. These two tracks from "Panaramic Twilight" are mindblowing progressive/technical death metal, and it´s such a shame Timeghoul never got the chance to follow the two demos up with a full-length studio album. I can only imagine the greatness of such a release...a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Tumultuous Travelings" is the first demo recording by US, Missouri based death metal act Timeghoul. The demo was independently released in April 1992. Timeghoul formed in 1987 under the Doom's Lyre monicker but changed their name to Timeghoul in August 1991. They recorded two demos before disbanding in 1994. They were long forgotten until Dark Descent Records opted to compile the material from the two demos and release the "1992-1994 Discography" compilation in February 2012.

Stylistically the 4 tracks on the 25:29 minutes long demo are old school death metal, but it´s of the more progressive and semi-technical brand. Add to that dark sci-fi lyrical themes and Timeghoul did actually stand out a bit from the contemporary releases in 1992. Timeghoul are a well playing band and as composers they have a good understanding of what makes an impact on the listener and a good understanding of variation and dynamics. This is fairly complex in structure and not easy listening material, but that´s of course the attraction of it...the inpenetrable gloom, authenticism, and mystery.

"Tumultuous Travelings" features a raw and unpolished sounding production, but the listener is still able to hear everything in the mix and the rawness of the sound production suits the material well. After listening to "Tumultuous Travelings" it´s understandable why Dark Descent Records opted to unearth this demo from whatever shelf it was hidden on or archive it was buried in and make it available to the world. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.