One (Hellbound)

By glancing at the picture of its band members in the CD case, you'd think that Demiricous would be a boogie/blues band, judging from their appearance and the fact that they're kicking back a few brews at a bar. But once the little laser light hits track one of their debut CD, One, the sweet and soothing sounds of Slayer take your head clean off. The Indianapolis, Indiana natives work with the same musical ingredients as Tom Araya and company — galloping rhythms, repetitive riffs, fast tempos, and screamed vocals. Produced by a gentleman who should be no stranger to Hatebreed and Shadows Fall fans, Zeuss, One is a must-hear for fans of extreme thrash/death metal. Like other bands of their ilk, it may be all "samey sounding" to new listeners, but for those who are on their third copy of Reign in Blood, One may be the best debut to come along in ages. It's getting harder and harder nowadays to separate the metal purists from the poseurs (the latter a popular buzzword in the '80s metal community), and One will confirm that the gentlemen in Demiricous have metal running through their veins.