WOW! This is AFFLICTED at the top of their game! Everything the band put out prior to their first full length has been neatly packaged and re-issued with the best possible intentions here. Disc 1’s tracks are from the time when the band was called AFFLICTED CONVULSION, the three demos released under that moniker have been added in to provide a glimpse into how the band sounded prior to shortening their name to AFFLICTED. The first five tracks are from the “Toxic Existence” demo from 1989 and this is the band at its rawest and most unfiltered form. I particularly like the title of the last song here but otherwise, this is actually a wild demo, it’s just kids having fun with no boundaries whatsoever. Check it out, this demo actually brought a smile to my face because it’s just fun. Moving forward to tracks from 6 to 10, taken from the demo “Psychedelic Grindcore”, although the track ‘Utilization’ opens with a cloud of distortion, it slowly leads to a better vision of what’s happening. This is the pinnacle of demo sound that we all heard and grew up with. I remember, when I’d find a rare demo or a cult demo, this is exactly what it sounded like and I disliked it, but through time, the organic sound made peace with me and I really enjoy these terrible demos with hopeless sound. The first thing is, these transport you back into time, into a space when everything was jarring, the cassette, the speakers and the table on which your music system was placed. I remember sitting there and just going wild to some tunes. “Psychedelic Grindcore” evokes that exact feeling and I like that it touches upon that time more than the quality of the content itself which technically, I shouldn’t be saying, but AFFLICTED CONVULSION has had my undiverted attention so far! Next up is the “Beyond Redemption” demo from 1990, now this is where the sound firstly feels mature but then you realize this is just the band doing their best. This is perhaps the best sounding demo and the aggression is captured quite well, I’d definitely encourage you to check this demo out if the first two don’t speak to you. Considering this demo was released in 1990, the band had a blueprint already in terms of international and local Metal releases, which I attribute to the absolutely plain approach to the songwriting here. The solos still rip though so watch out for those! Disc 2 is where the band is in their new avatar, a shortened name and a wild approach. Kickstarting with the promo tape from 1990, the sound is defined, the approach is clear and actually, the band sound really focussed, in short the 1990 promo tape, even though with just two tracks ‘Consumed In Flames’ and ‘In Years To Come’, the band makes a bloody brilliant impression. The vocals, although deep, invoke a sense of Black Metal’ish spirit that goes quite well with what the band is doing with their entire sound. This is fun, I don’t know how you’ve enjoyed disc 1, but AFFLICTED hits it out of the park with the demos and promos on disc 2. I’m not going to write about every single demo or single that has been put together on this disc, but I’d urge you to play this disc because this is absolutely wonderful Death Metal. Give it a spin and I’m sure you will jump around like you did when you were in your teens. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/centurymedia