A new and welcome release is the demo of the recently formed Australian band DEAD RIVER RUNS DRY. The members are by no means new and deserve an introduction. Vocalist Brad Gentle used to play in ORACLE OF THE VOID or his live duties for BLEAKWOOD, THE VEIL, NAZXUL and GREED OF RAPACITY. Drummer Dan Nahum may be known from his duty for AZOTH, INTORMENT BLACK, INFINITUM or SWORD TOWARDS SELF. Bassplayer Krist Sadler was involved with MOON, VYRION and a few others. Guitarist Byron Struck formerly played in ORACLE OF THE VOID as well. "Winter 2012" offers four Black Metal tracks with a good production, especially on the drums (this is one of the rare Black Metal releases where cymbals and hi-hat are clearly distinguishable). Lots of atmosphere and up tempo aggression (in the first two tracks) that keeps your head banging constantly. Probably due to their experience these guys know what works and they don’t need any fancy (or goofy) tricks to draw attention. Just powerful riffs, a great brutal vocalist, variation and a musicianship that stands strong, as the first two tracks ‘The Weapon Bleak’ and ‘Paradigm Of Barbaric Antiquity’ offer. Admitted, the power and intensity decreases when the speed is reduced. Final track ‘Dying Gleam Of The Sun Eternal’ suffers that fate and in lesser extant ‘Way Of The Plunderer’. More emphasis is laid on the riffing in that situation which turned out to be too common to blow me away. Listening to "Winter 2012" made me think of WATAIN, DESTROYER 666 and some old SATYRICON maybe. All in all this is a very cool demo and the fury in the first tracks make me look out for their next release. Checking this out is easy, since it can be found at different sites. For more info go to www.facebook.com/deadriverrunsdry, http://deadriverrunsdry.bandcamp.com