LURKING TERROR is an old school, grinding Death Metal five-piece that started out in 2021, but its members are by no means newcomers to the scene. The current line-up consists of vocalist Enrique Chavez (ex-SADISTIC INTENT, ex-CENOTAPH), drummer Joel Marquez (ex-SADISTIC INTENT, ex-INFINITUM OBSCURE), guitarist Vincent Cervera (ex-SADISTIC INTENT), guitarist Noel Bello (ex-INFINITUM OBSCURE, ex-INFERNAL CONJURATION) and bassist Lorenzo Kemp (ex-TEMBLAD). Since they are having three former SADISTIC INTENT members in their ranks, it should come as no surprise that their name was taken from the opening track of SADISTIC INTENT’s 1990 EP “Impending Doom…”. In October 2023, LURKING TERROR digitally released their debut demo, featuring the two tracks ‘In Darkness’ and ‘End Of Days’. Both songs appear in remastered versions on this five-track EP, which was released on CD and vinyl (with a different cover artwork) via M-Theory Audio. Musically, LURKING TERROR can broadly be categorized as an old school Death Metal band, but they frequently flirt with Deathgrind elements, which refreshingly sets them apart from many of the newer bands that have emerged in recent years. But to get a better idea of their sound, let’s take a closer look at the five tracks on “A World in Darkness”. The opening track ‘In Darkness’ (also released as a video) immediately kicks things off with high-speed double bass drumming and raw energy. The song quickly shifts into a d-beat rhythm, accompanied by a grim and deathly vocal performance. Around the 1:40 mark, the tempo slows down, descending into doom-laden territory with a ‘Black Sabbath’ (the song) kind of feel. The ensuing solo section has a strong early SLAYER vibe but, as a whole, also reminds me of later SADISTIC INTENT, before returning to the uptempo d-beat pace. Next up is ‘End Of Days’, which starts off slower, yet still very uptempo, with a drumbeat that instantly reminded me of TERRORIZER’s ‘Fear Of Napalm’, while the riffing again recalls SADISTIC INTENT. After a short break, the song explodes into a furious blast-beat driven section with a strong TERRORIZER feel. Around the 1:50 mark, it slows down for the solo section – an old SLAYER / MORBID ANGEL style lead, backed by heavy riffing that once again brings SADISTIC INTENT to mind in terms of sound and style. ‘Venomous’ is another fast-paced d-beat track with some short midtempo sections incorporated. At 3:19, it’s the longest song on the EP and also arguably the most complex, featuring multiple tempo changes and another ripping solo in classic SLAYER fashion. ‘Overcome Or Obey’ is a straightforward uptempo d-beat assault, which speeds up significantly toward the end. The EP closer ‘This Is War’, also released as a lyric video, is another lightning-fast track. With its blistering solo, it transitions into pure old school SLAYER territory, featuring classic Hanneman / King riffing before concluding with machine-gun fire and lots of guitar feedback. Final thoughts: Enrique Chavez’s vocal delivery on these five tracks is significantly more guttural than in his SADISTIC INTENT days, where he had a raspier, more Thrash infused tone. However, his deeper growls fit LURKING TERROR’s material perfectly. The production is powerful and raw, avoiding the pitfalls of modern, overly digital sound. To sum it up: with “A World In Darkness”, LURKING TERROR has delivered a very strong first musical statement that should firmly establish them on the international Death Metal / Deathgrind map. Looking forward to their full-length album, which is scheduled for release later this year! For more information please visit www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083387374661 or www.facebook.com/salemrosemusic