Please forgive me for being brutal (or do not, for I do not care, actually), but I will keep this very short. But this is the x-th re-release of Demoncy’s Joined In Darkness, and I do not want to waste my time on unnecessary stuff. So, here a very short biography: Demoncy are an outfit by Ixithra (think: Incursus, Profanatica, Mysterian, Profane Grace (!), Crimson Moon and many more), formed more than twenty five years ago. In the early years, this project recorded some demos and a couple of ‘real’ albums, but probably Joined In Darkness was some kind of ‘break-through’ (though, the album didn’t reach the top-20 on any international hit-parade). I adored the album, brought out in 1999 via Baphomet Records (I bought the Hammerheart-edition, which was released some months later). But the stuff has been re-released several times, and that’s why I am confused. But I won’t paralyse on the ‘why’ or ‘when’. And you know why? Well, this album is just KULT! I can guess all of you did buy / steal it in meantime, but if not, well, then I will tell you why, right here, right now. Joined In Darkness brings back to life (death?) the essence of no-nonsense Black Metal. no gimmicks, no trends, no fakeness. Just the purity in the vein of, well, let’s mention Blasphemy, Profanatica, Impiety, Bestial Warlust and Beherit.
For sure it fits the Forever Plagued-roster, for this is one of those labels that understands / promotes the essential importance of this sonic approach that did inspire / influence the worldwide scene. And this brings me to my brutality, which I mentioned when starting this review: I will say no more. If you have this material, you can call yourself a connoisseur. If you have not, you have to do it right now. Reasons might be: you’re too young to know the initial release, or you were brainwashed in the past (and now, finally, experiencing the true path of aural pleasure), or you finally got rid of infantile / narrow-minded / … ignorance.
Oh yes, this edition contains bonus material, taken from the vinyl-split with Dark Opus… And new artwork, once again…