It’s a bit late that I present you with another killer release from Darkness Shall Rise Productions. It’s due to the fact that I received this CD relatively late (since its release in summer of 2024) and due to personal circumstances (health issues) which are objective reasons for this delay. Meanwhile I think it’s never too late to present releases of this calibre and excellence for wider metal audience. Thus, I’m talking of mighty first wave Swedish death metal horde from Unleashed and their latest 13-tracker release, Before The Creation Of Time.

Before The Creation Of Time is a compilation of band’s demos that they put out before their classic debut Where No Life Dwells from 1991. Two of these were straight-up demos; The Utter Dark (3 songs), …Revenge (3 songs), and the complete Bielefeld recording session (7 songs), which contains songs from the And The Laughter Has Died… 7” EP, the Century Media Promo Tape, and songs from the Century Media compilation In The Eyes Of Death.

Tracklist:

1. The Dark One (The Utter Dark)

2. Ancient Dead (The Utter Dark)

3. Violent Ecstacy (The Utter Dark)

4. The Utterdark Revenge (…Revenge)

5. Unleashed (…Revenge)

6. Where Life Ends (…Revenge)

7. The Dark One (Bielefeld session)

8. If They Had Eyes (Bielefeld session)

9. Dead Forever (Bielefeld session)

10. Unleashed (Bielefeld session)

11. Where Life Ends (Bielefeld session)

12. The Utterdark Revenge (Bielefeld session)

13. Violent Ecstacy (Bielefeld session)

All songs have been carefully restored and remastered by Patrick W. Engel at the ‘Temple of Disharmony’ studio. The overall sound on this compilation, and all its three recordings, is as one would expect it from an early death metal; fast-paced, suitably raw and dirty while retaining the brutality and that savage production which makes this (re)recording a very listenable and pleasant to the ears.

While the whole release is a nice flash-back to the spirit of the 90s Swedish death metal scene and its very beginnings, I would just briefly mention my two favourite tracks; “The Dark One” (being a bludgeoning track of pure death metal sonic assault) and “Dead Forever” where this catchy & hook driven groove collides against simple yet fast-paced gallops of basic death metal. I have always prefered the versions from the Bielefeld Session, as these songs are a little more unpolished and primordial, but other versions and tracks are equally good.

A superb job has been done with this reissue. For some it’s a trip down memory lane, while for younger fans it’s a great introduction to the early and humble beginnings for this iconic death metal band!

The booklet for this particular 2024 Before The Creation Of Time release also includes a brand new interview with the founding member of the band, Johnny Hedlund (vocals & bass), conducted specifically for this reissue.

In conclusion; if you love that 90s Swedish death metal scene and want to revisit the early days, then you must add Before The Creation Of Time to your collection. Don’t hesitate to have a look at Darkness Shall Rise and order your copy now!