There’s something uniquely raw about the Death Metal scene that emerged from Milwaukee in the early ’90s. At its heart, bands like DR.SHRINKER, ACCIDENTAL SUICIDE and MORTA SKULD dominated, but one that flew slightly under the radar and still deserves its place in the annals of underground Death Metal history is PHANTASM. Their 1990 demo, “Lycanthropy”, reissued on vinyl and CD by The Devil’s Elixirs is a prime example of the spirit prevalent in the scene at the time. What makes “Lycanthropy” interesting is that it’s not your typical Death Metal fare. The two central figures behind PHANTASM on the demo, Scott McKillop and Tony Brandt, were no strangers to the scene; they both participated in DR.SHRINKER, for example. This familiarity translates to a distinctive and slightly offbeat sound, one that blends the darkness of Death Metal with a sense of humor. It’s this sense of twisted fun (I think) that separated PHANTASM from the more conventional Death Metal bands when the demo was released. Musically, “Lycanthropy” is certainly immersed in heaviness, but with a noticeable pace that is slower than many of their peers back then. There’s a deliberate sense of discomfort here; think early AUTOPSY meets a more obscure, almost psychedelic edge. Here, the tracks are incessant, but not in the sense of bands like DEATH or MASSACRE; rather, PHANTASM’s songs move along like a rhythm under your skin. The eerie atmosphere is consumed by Tony Brandt’s vocals, full of malevolent energy. McKillop’s guitar and bass lines carry the heaviness required to vomit up a demo like this. With tracks like ‘A Burning Sensation’, ‘Keeper Of The Dead’ and ‘The Dead Care Center’, PHANTASM explores an intricate circle of influences that may range from bands like D.R.I. or early MASTER, giving them that sort of weave of dissonant breaks, as evidenced. ‘Palace Of Blood’ and the track ‘Lycanthropy’, also complete the picture. I really liked the fact that “Lycanthropy” (the demo) has the energy that came from those early recordings, a rawness that is often lost in the vast region of new releases. I’m positive that bands like PHANTASM were pushing boundaries, fusing grotesque horror with humor and dark riffs. “Lycanthropy” is a piece of Death Metal history that refuses to be forgotten. If you like your Death Metal quirky, dark and experimental, then dive into this journey through the shadows called “Lycanthropy.” More info: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063662262307, www.facebook.com/thedevilselixirsrecords