Daylight Massacre – A Lie Above Evil

6 Track Demo

I picked up this demo a while ago back at a gig where this band were supporting a completely forgetful, and therefore forgotten, act at “The Cave” in Chelmsford.

As much as I’d love to tell you more about this band, I know virtually nothing, they don’t have a site as far as my research can fathom. I do know this however, they are guys, and they are from Essex. Yes I know that’s about as narrowed down as Pavarotti’s waistline, but it’s the best I can do.

Now what do I think of this demo?

Six songs. Big noise. Little stimulation. This demo isn’t bad. It’s just that it’s so boring; it made me want to spend the whole twenty-five minutes and fifty-six seconds attempting to thread my own finger through the hole of a needle, just for something to do.

There are a few standout tracks, but to be honest, on this demo it isn’t hard for a song to stand out if it has even a strand of potential. Gods of War claims more passion in the vocal than the bleak opener Shadows Fade, but if it wasn’t for the ultra random keyboard beat box ending to Shadows Fade, I wouldn’t know that Gods of War was a different song.

Tracks 3, 4 and 5 are some of the stand out songs. Track 3 brought some promise, with more of an effort in terms of something resembling a song, rather just a mass of metal chords. A different vocal structure was brought into the fold, and a bit of call and response actually made it interesting. Track 4 brought with it a great intro and an inspired build up, and what it was leading up to didn’t disappoint with its more passionate vocal and Metallica-esque guitar breaks. This track would’ve been actually able to fulfill its potential if it had wrapped up around three minutes into the song. On track 5 it was nice to hear a break from the tonsil ripping vocal, even if it was a sporadic break, and what’s more, this track actually wrapped up when it should have.

For a second, I thought that this closing track was a Muse cover (you’ll hear why if you get this song!) But no, it’s not. Ok vocal, yeah, guitars yeah, oh hold on, for a review of this song just see Track 1 really…

My ears did prick up however…by the sound of a synth in the distance…There was no way if I could tell without assistance if these faint strings were in my head or on the track, but a second opinion confirmed the latter. And now I was confused? Was this simply a bad recording…or did the guys consider this under laid effect irrelevant to actually be heard sufficiently? Either way I am sure that if this addition was heard better, it would give this track and excellent lift, and this demo a solid closing.

Overall, this album’s ok. Ok, and that’s all I can say. It’s just the same old formula that I’ve heard so many times I’m jaded by it all. Most of the songs would need D.N.A testing just to tell them apart, and I don’t think many of you will be bothered enough to go to the lab and have that performed in order to have a listen.