Demoncy is another long-running American black metal band, and Joined In Darkness is their third offering to the Cloven-Hoofed One. Demoncy creates one hell of a raw black metal album, and has a very filthy and Satanic sound. The guitar sound is very dark and powerful, carrying the excellent dark black metal riffing. A good deal of the material is fast-paced, and it all exudes the same eerie atmosphere which is tantamount in a wonderful black metal release. The drums are done courtesy of a drum machine, and this does not detract in any way whatsoever from Demoncy‘s Satanic assault pouring from your stereo. Remember, there are absolutely great black metal bands which use drum machines, namely Mutiilation, Manes, Baltak and Countess among tons of others.

The vocals are so dark and reptilian that they conjure images of the most twisted inhabitants of Hell’s lower planes proselytizing the glory of Satan. Surely, this is the soundtrack to the nuclear winter which will annihilate the human race. Ixithra is the sole performer on this ripping disc, and he proves that he is at the forefront of truly Satanic black metal in the American and world scenes. There is an extremely foreboding sense coming from the riffs.

The packaging on this release, although almost always a secondary factor in the quality of a band, is perfect. The artwork depicting catacombs, skulls, and a rather awesome looking ritual chamber adorned with a pentagram is courtesy of underground artist extraordinaire Michael Riddick. Baphomet Records is supposed to re-release the first two Demoncy offerings in a 2CD set, Faustian Dawn and Within The Realms Of Sylvan Frost, sometime very soon. I await this re-release with bated breath, as Demoncy is surely one of the most crushing black metal entities out there. A perfect example of the darkest and most foreboding black metal.

Review bySodomy-Kommando