Spectral Manifest 

In Shadows Unseen Demo CD

Self Released 2009

This three track demo EP is the epitome of raw and reaches my ears all the way from the shores of America and features two original compositions and a Darkthrone coversong.  The title track opens this demo with a splicing together of coldly melodic riffing in the Nordic vein and thick, sludgy death metal which occasionally dwells in realms of blast beats.  Raspy vocals call out like a grim and distant spirit.  Up next is Fate of the Disgraced.  Dueling death metal vocals and black metal shrieks compliment alternating death metal riffing power and more atmospheric black metal passages such as the gloomy and slow section at the 3:22 mark.  The riffs on this song don't sound as dynamic or unified as they do on In Shadows Unseen lending the track a slightly disjointed feeling.  Spectral Manifest make a fairly interesting choice of Darkthrone songs choosing to cover Triumphant Gleam from Panzerfaust.  Though the sound is somewhat muffled their version is slightly more uptempo and fuzzed out than Darkthrone's original giving the song a little more frantic feel.  The production on this demo is decidedly primitive with the drums overpowering most of the rest of the instruments but not to the point where it is unlistenable.  Spectral Manifest displays plenty of potential on their debut demo and will certainly benefit from better production and songwriting maturation.